登陆注册
15463100000010

第10章 Chapter 7(1)

Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author When Jenny appeared, Mr. Allworthy took her into his study, and spoke to her as follows: "You know, child, it is in my power as a magistrate, to punish you very rigorously for what you have done;and you will, perhaps, be the more apt to fear I should execute that power, because you have in a manner laid your sins at my door.

"But, perhaps, this is one reason which hath determined me to act in a milder manner with you: for, as no private resentment should ever influence a magistrate, I will be so far from considering your having deposited the infant in my house as an aggravation of your offence, that I will suppose, in your favour, this to have proceeded from a natural affection to your child, since you might have some hopes to see it thus better provided for than was in the power of yourself, or its wicked father, to provide for it. I should indeed have been highly offended with you had you exposed the little wretch in the manner of some inhuman mothers, who seem no less to have abandoned their humanity, than to have parted with their chastity.

It is the other part of your offence, therefore, upon which I intend to admonish you, I mean the violation of your chastity;- a crime, however lightly it may be treated by debauched persons, very heinous in itself, and very dreadful in its consequences.

"The heinous nature of this offence must be sufficiently apparent to every Christian, inasmuch as it is committed in defiance of the laws of our religion, and of the express commands of Him who founded that religion.

"And here its consequences may well be argued to be dreadful; for what can be more so, than to incur the divine displeasure, by the breach of the divine commands; and that in an instance against which the highest vengeance is specifically denounced?

"But these things, though too little, I am afraid, regarded, are so plain, that mankind, however they may want to be reminded, can never need information on this head. A hint, therefore, to awaken your sense of this matter, shall suffice; for I would inspire you with repentance, and not drive you to desperation.

"There are other consequences, not indeed so dreadful or replete with horror as this; and yet such, as, if attentively considered, must, one would think, deter all of your sex at least from the commission of this crime.

"For by it you are rendered infamous, and driven, like lepers of old, out of society; at least, from the society of all but wicked and reprobate persons; for no others will associate with you.

"If you have fortunes, you are hereby rendered incapable of enjoying them; if you have none, you are disabled from acquiring any, nay almost of procuring your sustenance; for no persons of character will receive you into their houses. Thus you are often driven by necessity itself into a state of shame and misery, which unavoidably ends in the destruction of both body and soul.

"Can any pleasure compensate these evils? Can any temptation have sophistry and delusion strong enough to persuade you to so simple a bargain? Or can any carnal appetite so overpower your reason, or so totally lay it asleep, as to prevent your flying with affright and terror from a crime which carries such punishment always with it?

"How base and mean must that woman be, how void of that dignity of mind, and decent pride, without which we are not worthy the name of human creatures, who can bear to level herself with the lowest animal, and to sacrifice all that is great and noble in her, all her heavenly part, to an appetite which she hath in common with the vilest branch of the creation! For no woman, sure, will plead the passion of love for an excuse. This would be to own herself the mere tool and bubble of the man. Love, however barbarously we may corrupt and pervert its meaning, as it is a laudable, is a rational passion, and can never be violent but when reciprocal; for though the Scripture bids us love our enemies, it means not with that fervent love which we naturally beat towards our friends; much less that we should sacrifice to them our lives, and what ought to be dearer to us, our innocence.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 追忆者之穹光暗影

    追忆者之穹光暗影

    万物由心,阴阳逆行,真正的道理往往是不可揣测的,一切的运转都存在其固有的轨迹。二十一世纪中叶,科技井喷的同时也伴随着许多新兴事物的产生。一群志同道合、富有冒险精神的人成立了一个跨国际的组织TEU,探索远古的遗迹以及一些难以用常理解释的现象。作为一名研发工程师的岑今是该组织的外围成员,除此之外,还有一个不为人知的身份——国内唯一专职解决各类奇异事件网址的发起人……
  • 权志龙:都是谎言

    权志龙:都是谎言

    她是莫千寻,依旧高傲的落魄千金。他是权志龙,高高在上的韩娱巨星。他们看似是两条永远都不会相交的平行线,却偏偏相交了......-----莫千寻,“就像鱼离不开水,人离不开空气,我放不下他,理所当然!”权志龙,“她为我放弃一个莫氏,那么我便还她一个权莫氏!”
  • 蜕变的征程

    蜕变的征程

    肖遥,一个没有修炼天赋的普通少年,在一次偶然的遭遇下,心脏被不知名物体击碎。从此,他的身体发生巨大变化,踏上另类的修炼之途。他手握神兵为了心爱的女人挑战山门,为了兄弟踏平敌营,为了父母对抗皇族,为了人类阻击外敌,书写了一段属于他的传奇故事。
  • 柒柒回眸有独钟

    柒柒回眸有独钟

    女主:夏柒柒男主:梁萧女主为校花,男主为校草。因倩女幽魂这款游戏而见面,并一见钟情,发生一系列的爱情故事……
  • 剑啸八荒

    剑啸八荒

    大学刚毕业的林萧,异外的来到另一个世界,原本因地球末时代而无法修炼的上古练气士顶尖功法在这里确可以。《大衍古经》上古时代练气士中流传的第一功法。《炼魂决》最强神魂修炼法门。天下三大杀阵:诛仙剑阵、两仪微尘阵、十二都天神煞阵。从此,少年林萧踏上了一条强者之路。
  • 饕餮时代

    饕餮时代

    输与赢、成与败、生与死……在贪吃的时代中他们该何去何从,他们又会演绎出一场怎样的成王败寇……
  • 现代降魔录

    现代降魔录

    命运非你能操控.人生由谁来掌控.三世情缘.只为等君来伴一生戎马.只有爱人而战
  • 异界科技革命

    异界科技革命

    什么?你说阵法要绝对严谨?我直接输数据可不可以?什么?你说炼金要绝对的专注和精确?我机械化全自动的可不可以?什么?你说你说掌控信息就占据了先机?我全世界联网怎么样?穿越成蛇的叶世晴带着脑中的知识在异界掀起了狂热的一场科技革命……
  • 文字忆青春

    文字忆青春

    零星的往事是泪汪汪的却偏偏在黑夜咀嚼着那份思念
  • 十绝战神

    十绝战神

    为了心中梦想,苏然奋斗六载。可是六载之后,他才发现,梦想竟然不曾存在。所有的一切都是他的幻想。知道了这个残酷的事实,苏然改变了自己。淡然是他的人生态度。力量是他永恒的追求。不变的只有那颗滚烫的心。读者群:524257525