The Adventures of Roderick Random (Oxford World's Classics)

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Having been kept awake the greatest part of the night, by a thousand delightful reveries, I got up betimes. and flying to the place of rendezvous, had the pleasure of seeing Miss Williams approach with a smile on her countenance. She presented me with a letter from the idol of my soul, which I opened with the utmost eagerness, and was blessed with her approbation, in these terms: Shortly before he finishes his tale he is able to say: “If there be such thing as true happiness on Earth, I enjoy it.” Good for him. and I do not choose to disturb him, for sleep will do him great service.”“Ay,” said my fellow-mate, “he sleeps so sound (look you), Orbis Literae της Gutenberg ήταν γεμάτη από βαριά βιβλία, γεμάτα μοχθηρούς καλογερους και φαντάσματα που κυκλοφορούν ανάμεσα από τοίχους, πολεμοχαρείς μοχθηρούς ευγενείς και αφελείς αλλά καλόκαρδους χωρικούς που είναι ικανοί να πιστέψουν τα πάντα. Ε ναι λοιπόν, οι περιπέτειες του Ρόντερικ Ράντομ, έχουν ακριβώς αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά με μία ειδοποιό διαφορά, σε αντιπαραβολή με το Μελμώθ, τον Καλόγερο ή ακόμα και το Μόμπι Ντικ, του λείπει το γκόθικ στοιχείο, οπότε διαβάζεται χαλαρά, ανάλαφρα και χωρίς εκείνο το διαρκή φόβο που σε κάνει να σηκώνεις τα μάτια από τη σελίδα κάθε φορά που ο αέρας κάνει τις πόρτες του μπαλκονιού να τρίζουν ρωτώντας τον εαυτό σου «Και αν δεν είναι ο αέρας...»; Meanwhile, I was tempted by the richness of the prize, to practise upon Miss Grapwell's heart, but soon found it too well fortified with pride and indifference to yield.

I soon became acquainted with a good many people of fashion. At last, finding myself unable to support the expence of this ​amour much longer. I was determined to bring the matter to a crisis; and one evening, I complained of her indifference, described the tortures of suspence, and pressed her to disclose her sentiments with such earnestness, that she could not with all her art shift the subject. She let me know with a careless air, that she had no objection to my person, and if I could satisfy her mother in other particulars, I should not find her averse to the match. This was not a very agreeable declaration to me, whose aim had been to win her inclination first, and then secure my conquest by a private marriage. I waited on the mother, and with great formality demanded the daughter in marriage: The good lady behaved with great civility, and said, she did not doubt that I was in all respects qualified to make a woman happy; but it concerned her as a parent, anxious about the welfare of her child, to inquire into the particulars of my fortune, and what settlement I proposed to make. I replied without hesitation, that though my fortune was very small, I was a gentleman by birth and education, would maintain her daughter in the sphere of a gentlewoman, and settle her own dowry on her and her heirs for ever. This careful matron did not seem to relish my proposal, but observed, that there was no necessity for settling that upon her child which was her own already; however, if I pleased, her lawyer ​should confer with mine upon the matter; and in the mean time, she desired I would favour her with the perusal of my rent-roll. I went again with a view of explaining myself more fully to the old gentlewoman, and was told by the footman that his ladies were not at home; although I had seen Melinda through the blinds at the parlour window as I went up to the door. Random's maternal uncle, he is a sailor who attempts to support Random as best as he can between voyages. His conversation is laced with nautical terminology.tragedies, the titles of which were “The Stern Philosopher,”“The Double,”“The Sacrilegious Traitor,”“The When we arrived at our dinning-place, we found all the eatables in the inn bespoke by ​a certain nobleman. who had got the start of us, but I exerted myself in their behalf, and bribed the landlord with a glass of wine, to curtail his lordship's entertainment of a couple of fowls and some bacon, which I sent with my compliments to the ladies, they accepted my treat with a great many thanks, and desired I would favour them with my company at dinner. Having satisfied our appetites, and made ourselves very (illegible text), we reimbarked at the first warning. altered, and my lady was so alarmed that she had well nigh fainted?”“Yes, my dear,” replied the captain, “you know my lord said pull, Sir, you are no milk-sop—we shall do you justice.”“Shall you?” said he, shaking me by the hand; “odds then, career by one calling, “Yo he, avast there—scaldings!”“Scaldings!” answered Morgan; “Cot knows ’tis hot

Next morning, I met Miss Williams, who gave me joy of the progress I had made in the affections of her mistress. Transported at this news, I presented my rise, to the messenger, as a testimony of my gratitude; but she was above such mercenary considerations, and refused my compliment. As I fervently wished for another interview, where I might pour out the effusions of my love, I implored her advice and assistance in promoting this event. She promised to tell ​her lady, that I had endeavoured, by promises and persuasions, to prevail upon her to deliver a letter from me, which she had refused to charge herself with, until she should know Narcissa's sentiments of the matter. Soon after these alteration, the admiral pitched upon our ship to carry home dispatches ​dispatches for the ministry; accordingly we set sail for England.

THE ADVENTURES OF RODERICK RANDOM

I’ve given it four stars because even though it was a little tedious to read its stance as an early novel of some importance means I’d feel rude rating it any lower. The news of our marriage being spread, a certain set of persons, fond of scandal, began to inquire into the particulars of my fortune, which they no sooner understood to be independent than the tables were turned, and our acquaintance was courted as much as it was despised before. At length the metamorphosed barber took her but, and acted his part with such ridiculous extravagance, that the mirth of the whole company was excited at this expence, and she retired in great confusion, under pretence of being taken suddenly ill, ​and was followed by her gallant. They were no sooner gone, than an inquisitive whisper of “Who is he?” run round the room; and Chatter could give no other intelligence about him than that he was a man of fortune, just returned from his travels. At length the hour arrived, when our auxiliary seized the opportunity of the usher's absence, bolted and secured the door and immediately laid hold of the pedant by his collar, who bawled out, 'murder. thieves!' with the voice of a Stenter. Tho' I trembled all over, I knew there was no time to be lost, and accordingly got up and summoned our associates to my assistance: Strap without filled a glass of Burgundy for me, at my Lord Trippett’s table.”“And what may his name be, coptain?” said Joey. “His

We got out of the Channel with a prosperous breeze, which died away leaving us becalmed about fifty leagues to the westward of the Lizard; but this enaction did not last long; for next night our main-top sail was split with the wind which in the morning increased to a hurricane. I got out of bed and went above. The sea was swelled into the billows mountain high on the top of which our ship sometimes hung, as if it was about to be precipitated into the abyss below. Sometimes we sunk between two waves, that rose on each side higher than our main-top mast-head in a moment! Of all our fleet, consisting of an hundred and fifty sail, scarce twelve appeared, and these driving under their bare poled at the mercy of the tempest. At length the storm subsided, and the admiral discovering four-sail of ships to leeward, made signal for our ship and four more to chace: It was almost dark when we came up with the sternmost which we hailed, and enquired who they were? They said they were French men of war: upon which our captain bid them send their boat on board: they refused saying if he had any business with them to come on board their ship. On this both sides engaged, which lasted till broad day, when Captain Oakhum, finding he was ​like to gain neither honour nor advantage by the affair, pretended to be undeceived by seeing their colours. There's a sneaking dog! I always thought him a fellow without a soul, d--n me, a canting scoundrel, who has crept into business by his hypocrisy, and kissing the a--e of every body.’ – ‘Ay, ay,’ says another, ‘one might see with half an eye that the rascal has no honesty in him, by his going so regularly to church.’” (Chapter VII)

fifteen shillings which if you rob me of we must all starve together.”“Who’s that sobbing in the other corner?” said the supposed At this time, the captain being seized with a violent fit of the gout and gravel, applied to a cask of Holland gin, which was his sovereign prescription against all distempers: but whether he was at that time too sparing or took an over-dose of his cordial certain it is, he departed in the night and was found stiff next morning, to the no small satisfaction of Crampley, who succeeded to the command of the vessel. I suppose, sir, you are not pleased with my dress.”“Dress,” answered he, “you may caal it fat you please in your The eigthteenth century saw the birth of the modern novel, from the early (actually pre-eigthteenth century) works of Aphra Behn to the later works of Defoe, Swift, Richardson, Fielding, Goldsmith, Smollett and many others. The novel wouldn't become the leading form of literature until the onset of the Victorian Age, but to follow its development from its infancy to the more modern forms is fascinating.

On my return, I met my old comrade, 'squire Gawky, whom his father had sent, some time ago to town for his improvement. I made no scruple of informing him of the lowness of my circumstances and asking a About this time, my friend Strap informed me of an offer he had to go abroad with a gentleman, in quality of Valet de Chambre. I insisted upon his accepting the proposal, which he at last determined to embrace, with great reluctance, and in a few days took his leave of me, shedding a flood of tears, which I could not behold without emotion. Soon after, my attention was wholly engrossed in search of another mistress, and therefore of being revenged on Melinda; in both which scheme I was very much assisted by Billy Chatter. To him therefore I applied desiring he would introduce me to a partner of some figure at the next private assembly. He promised to gratify my desire by matching me with a partner worth thirty thousand pounds. Upon inquiry I found this person's name was Miss Biddy Gripewell; that her father, who had been a pawn broker, died intestate, by which means all his substance descended to his daughter; that during his life so far from being educated in a way suitable to such a great expectations, she was obliged to live like a servant-wench and do the most menial offices in the family. I was ratified at this piece of information, and consented, for one ​night, to personate a French marquis. that I might the easier fulfil my revenge. He proposed also, to procure such an one for Mr. Goosetrap. as would infallibly intail upon her the ridicule of all her acquaintance: for this purpose he mentioned his barber. who, he said, was an exceedingly great coxcomb, lately come from Paris. voice at my left hand, “for the spirit of folly begins to move.”“Out with it then, madam!” replied the soldier. “You seem to

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the famous engineer, affirmed that the place could not be taken.”“Yes,” said the Prince of Vandemont, “it may be taken by an