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Part II
About eleven at night my two ladies came home,
and having receiv'd rather a favourable account from Martha, who had run
down to let them in, for Mr. Crofts (that was the name of my brute) was
gone out of the house, after waiting till he had tired his patience for
Mrs. Brown's return, they came thundering up-stairs, and seeing me pale,
my face bloody, and all the marks of the most thorough dejection, they
employed themselves more to comfort and re-inspirit me, than in making
me the reproaches I was weak enough to fear, I who had so many juster and
stronger to retort upon them.
Mrs. Brown withdrawn, Phoebe came presently to bed to me, and what
with the answers she drew from me, what with her own method of palpably
satisfying herself, she soon discovered that I had been more frighted than
hurt; upon which I suppose, being herself seiz'd with sleep, and reserving
her lectures and instructions till the next morning, she left me, properly
speaking, to my unrest; for, after tossing and turning the greatest part
of the night, and tormenting myself with the falsest notions and apprehensions
of things, I fell, through mere fatigue, into a kind of delirious doze,
out of which I waded late in the morning, in a violent fever: a circumstance
which was extremely critical to reprieve me, at least for a time, from
the attacks of a wretch infinitely more terrible to me than death itself.
The interested care that was taken of me during my illness, in order
to restore me to a condition of making good the bawd's engagements, or
of enduring further trials, and however such an effect on my grateful disposition,
that I even thought myself oblig'd to my undoers for their attention to
promote my recovery; and, above all, for the keeping out of my sight of
that brutal ravisher, the author of my disorder, on their finding I was
too strongly mov'd at the bare mention of his name.
Youth is soon raised, and a few days were sufficient to conquer the
fury of my fever: but, what contributed most to my perfect recovery and
to my reconciliation with life, was the timely news that Mr. Crofts, who
was a merchant of considerable dealings, was arrested at the King's suit,
for nearly forty thousand pounds, on account of his driving a certain contraband
trade, and that his affairs were so desperate that even were it in his
inclination, it would not be in his power to renew his designs upon me:
for he was instantly thrown into a prison, which it was not likely he would
get out of in haste.
Mrs. Brown, who had touched his fifty guineas, advanc'd to so little
purpose, and lost all hopes of the remaining hundred, began to look upon
my treatment of him with a more favourable eye; and as they had observ'd
my temper to be perfectly tractable and conformable to their views, all
the girls that compos'd her flock were suffered to visit me, and had their
cue to dispose me, by their conversation, to a perfect resignation of myself
to Mrs. Brown's direction.
Accordingly they were let in upon me, and all that frolic and thoughtless gaiety in which those giddy creatures consume their leisure made me envy
a condition of which I only saw the fair side; insomuch, that the being
one of them became even my ambitions a disposition which they all carefully
cultivated; and I wanted now nothing but to restore my health, that I might
be able to undergo the ceremony of the initiation.
Conversation, example, all, in short, contributed, in that house, to
corrupt my native purity, which had taken no root in education; whilst
not the inflammable principal of pleasure, so easily fired at my age, made
strange work within me, and all the modesty I was brought up in the habit,
not the instruction of, began to melt away like dew before the sun's heat;
not to mention that I made a vice of necessity, from the constant fears
I had of being turn'd out to starve.
I was soon pretty well recover'd, and at certain hours allow'd to range
all over the house, but cautiously kept from seeing any company till the
arrival of Lord B . . ., from Bath, to whom Mrs. Brown, in respect to his
experienced generosity on such occasions, proposed to offer the perusal
ot that trinket of mine, which bears so great an imaginary value; and his
lordship being expected in town in less than a fortnight, Mrs. Brown judged
I would be entirely renewed in beauty and freshness by that time, and afford
her the chance of a better bargain than she had driven with Mr. Crofts.
In the meantime, I was so thoroughly, as they call it, brought over,
so tame to their whistle, that, had my cage door been set open, I had no
idea that I ought to fly anywhere, sooner than stay where I was; nor had
I the least sense of regretting my condition, but waited very quietly for
whatever Mrs. Brown should order concerning me; who on her side, by herself
and her agents, took more than the necessary precautions to lull and lay
asleep all just reflections on my destination.
Preachments of morality over the left shoulder; a life of joy painted
in the gayest colours; caresses, promises, indulgent treatment: nothing,
in short, was wanting to domesticate me entirely and to prevent my going
out anywhere to get better advice. Alas! I dream'd of no such thing.
Hitherto I had been indebted only to the girls of the house for the corruption of my innocence: their luscious talk, in which modesty was far
from respected, their description of their engagements with men, had given
me a tolerable insight into the nature and mysteries of their profession,
at the same time that they highly provok'd an itch of florid warm-spirited
blood through every vein: but above all, my bed-fellow Phoebe, whose pupil
I more immediately was, exerted her talents in giving me the first tinctures
of pleasure: whilst nature, now warm'd and wantoned with discoveries so
interesting, piqu'd a curiosity which Phoebe artfully whetted, and leading
me from question to question of her own suggestion, explain'd to me all
the mysteries of Venus. But I could not long remain in such a house as
that, without being an eye-witness of more than I could conceive from her
descriptions.
One day, about twelve at noon, being thoroughly recover'd of my fever,
I happen'd to be in Mrs. Brown's dark closet, where I had not been half
an hour, resting upon the maid's settle-bed, before I heard a rustling
in the bedchamber, separated from the closet only by two sash-doors, before
the glasses of which were drawn two yellow damask curtains, but not so
close as to exclude the full view of the room form any person in the closet.
I instantly crept softly, and posted myself so, that seeing every thing
minutely, I could not myself be seen; and who should come in but the venerable
mother Abbess herself! handed in by a tall, brawny young Horse-grenadier,
moulded in the Hercules style: in fine, the choice of the most experienced
dame, in those affairs, in all London.
Oh! how still and hush did I keep at my stand, lest any noise should
baulk my curiosity, of bring Madam into the closet!
But I had not much reason to fear either, for she was so entirely taken
up with her present great concern, that she had no sense of attention to
spare to any thing else.
Droll was it to see that clumsy fat figure of hers flop down on the
foot of the bed, opposite to the closet-door, so that I had a full front-view
of all her charms.
Her paramour sat down by her: he seemed to be a man of very few words,
and a great stomach; for proceeding instantly to essentials, he gave her
some hearty smacks, and thrusting his hands into her breasts, disengag'd
them from her stays, in scorn of whose confinement they broke loose, and
swagged down, navel-low at least. A more enormous pair did my eyes never
behold, nor of a worse colour, flagging-soft, and most lovingly contiguous:
yet such as they were, this neck-beef eater seem'd to paw them with a most
uninvitable gust, seeking in vain to confine or cover one of them with
a hand scarce less than a shoulder of mutton. After toying with them thus
some time, as if they had been worth it, he laid her down pretty briskly,
and canting up her petticoats, made barely a mask of them to her broad
red face, that blush'd with nothing but brandy.
As he stood on one side, for a minute or so, unbuttoning his waist-coat
and breeches, her fat, brawny thighs hung down, and the whole greasy landscape
lay fairly open to my view; a wide open-mouth'd gap, overshaded with a
grizzly bush, seemed held out like a beggar's wallet for its provision.
But I soon had my eyes called off by a more striking object, that entirely
engross'd them.
Her sturdy stallion had now unbutton'd, and produced naked, stiff,
and erect, that wonderful machine, which I had never seen before, and which,
for the interest my own seat of pleasure began to take furiously in it,
I star'd at with all the eyes I had: however, my senses were too much flurried,
too much concenter'd in that now burning spot of mine, to observe any thing
more than in general the make and turn of that instrument, from which the
instinct of nature, yet more than all I had heard of it, now strongly informed
me I was to expect that supreme pleasure which she had placed in the meeting
of those parts so admirably fitted for each other.
Long, however, the young spark did not remain before giving it two
or three shakes, by way of brandishing it; he threw himself upon her, and
his back being now towards me, I could only take his being ingulph'd for
granted, by the directions he mov'd in, and the impossibility of missing
so staring a mark; and now the bed shook, the curtains rattled so, that
I could scarce hear the sighs and murmurs, the heaves and pantings that
accompanied the action, from the beginning to the end; the sound and sight
of which thrill'd to the very soul of me, and made every vein of my body
circulate liquid fires: the emotion grew so violent that it almost intercepted
my respiration.
Prepared then, and disposed as I was by the discourse of my companions,
and Phoebe's minute detail of everything, no wonder that such a sight gave
the last dying blow to my native innocence.
Whilst they were in the heat of the action, guided by nature only,
I stole my hand up my petticoats, and with fingers all on fire, seized,
and yet more inflamed that center of all my senses: my heart palpitated,
as if it would force its way through my bosom; I breath'd with pain; I
twisted my thighs, squeezed, and compressed the lips of that virgin slit,
and following mechanically the example of Phoebe's manual operation on
it, as far as I could find admission, brought on at last the critical extasy,
the melting flow, into which nature, spent with excess of pleasure, dissolves and dies away.
After which, my senses recover'd coolness enough to observe the rest
of the transaction between this happy pair.
The young fellow had just dismounted, when the old lady immediately
sprung up, with all the vigour of youth, derived, no doubt, from her late
refreshment; and making him sit down, began in her turn to kiss him, to
pat and pinch his cheeks, and play with his hair: all which he receiv'd
with an air of indifference and coolness, that shew'd him to me much altered
from what he was when he first went on to the breach.
My pious governess, however, not being above calling in auxiliaries,
unlocks a little case of cordials that stood near the bed, and made him
pledge her in a very plentiful dram: after which, and a little amorous
parley, Madam sat herself down upon the same place, at the bed's foot;
and the young fellow standing sideway by her, she, with the greatest effrontery
imaginable, unbuttons his breeches, and removing his shirt, draws out his
affair, so shrunk and diminish'd, that I could not but remember the difference,
now crestfallen, or just faintly lifting its head: but our experienc'd
matron very soon, by chafing it with her hands, brought it to swell to
that size and erection I had before seen it up to.
I admired then, upon a fresh account, and with a nicer survey, the
texture of that capital part of man: the flaming red head as it stood uncapt,
the whiteness of the shaft, and the shrub growth of curling hair that embrowned
the roots of it, the roundish bag that dangled down from it, all exacted
my eager attention, and renewed my flame. But, as the main affair was now
at the point the industrious dame had laboured to bring it to, she was
not in the humour to put off the payment of her pains, but laying herself
down, drew him gently upon her, and thus they finish'd in the same manner
as before, the old last act.
This over, they both went out lovingly together, the old lady having
first made him a present, as near as I could observe, of three or four
pieces; he being not only her particular favourite on account of his performances,
but a retainer to the house; from whose sight she had taken great care
hitherto to secrete me, lest he might not have had patience to wait for
my lord's arrival, but have insisted on being his taster, which the old
lady was under too much subjection to him to dare dispute with him; for
every girl of the house fell to him in course, and the old lady only now
and then got her turn, in consideration of the maintenance he had, and
which he could scarce be accused of not earning from her.
As soon as I heard them go down-stairs, I stole up softly to my own
room, out of which I had luckily not been miss'd; there I began to breathe
freer, and to give a loose to those warm emotions which the sight of such
an encounter had raised in me. I laid me down on the bed, stretched myself
out, joining and ardently wishing, and requiring any means to divert or
allay the rekindled rage and tumult of my desires, which all pointed strongly
to their pole: man. I felt about the bed as if I sought for something that
I grasp'd in my waking dream, and not finding it, could have cry'd for
vexation; every part of me glowing with stimulating fires. At length, I
resorted to the only present remedy, that of vain attempts at digitation,
where the smallness of the theatre did not yet afford room enough for action,
and where the pain my fingers gave me, in striving for admission, tho'
they procured me a slight satisfaction for the present, started an apprehension,
which I could not be easy till I had communicated to Phoebe, and received
her explanations upon it.
The opportunity, however, did not offer till next morning, for Phoebe
did not come to bed till long after I was gone to sleep. As soon then as
we were both awake, it was but in course to bring our ly-a-bed chat to
land on the subject of my uneasiness: to which a recital of the love scene
I had thus, by chance, been spectatress of, serv'd for a preface.
Phoebe could not hear it to the end without more than one interruption
by peals of laughter, and my ingenuous way of relating matters did not
a little heighten the joke to her.
But, on her sounding me how the sight had affected me, without mincing
or hiding the pleasurable emotions it had inspir'd me with, I told her
at the same time that one remark had perplex'd me, and that very considerably.
---"Aye!" say she, "what was that?" --- "Why,"
replied I, "having very curiously and attentively compared the size
of that enormous machine, which did not appear, at least to my fearful
imagination, less than my wrist, and at least three of my handfuls long,
to that of the tender small part of me which was framed to receive it,
I can not conceive its being possible to afford it entrance without dying,
perhaps in the greatest pain, since you well know that even a finger thrust
in there hurts me beyond bearing . . . As to my mistress's and yours, I
can plainly distinguish the different dimensions of them from mine, palpable
to the touch, and visible to the eye; so that, in short, great as the promis'd
pleasure may be, I am afraid of the pain of the experiment."
Phoebe at this redoubled her laugh, and whilst I expected a very serious
solution of my doubts and apprehensions in this matter, only told me that
she never heard of a mortal wound being given in those parts by that terrible
weapon, and that some she knew younger, and as delicately made as myself,
had outlived the operation; that she believed, at the worst, I should take
a great deal of killing; that true it was, there was a great diversity
of sizes in those parts, owing to nature, child-bearing, frequent over-stretching
with unmerciful machines, but that at a certain age and habit of body,
even the most experienc'd in those affairs could not well distinguish between
the maid and the woman, supposing too an absence of all artifice, and things
in their natural situation: but that since chance had thrown in my way
one sight of that sort, she would procure me another, that should feast
my eyes more delicately, and go a great way in the cure of my fears from
that imaginary disproportion.
On this she asked me if I knew Polly Philips. "Undoubtedly,"
says I, "the fair girl which was so tender of me when I was sick,
and has been, as you told me, but two months in the house.": "The
same," says Phoebe. "You must know then, she is kept by a young
Genoese merchant, whom his uncle, who is immensely rich, and whose darling
he is, sent over here with an English merchant, his friend, on a pretext
of settling some accounts, but in reality to humour his inclinations for
travelling, and seeing the world. He met casually with this Polly once
in company, and taking a liking to her, makes it worth her while to keep
entirely to him. He comes to her here twice or thrice a week, and she receives
him in her light closet up one pair of stairs, where he enjoys her in a
taste, I suppose, peculiar to the heat, or perhaps the caprices of his
own country. I say no more, but to-morrow being his day, you shall see
what passes between them, from a place only known to your mistress and
myself."
You may be sure, in the ply I was now taking, I had no objection to
the proposal, and was rather a tip-toe for its accomplishment.
At five in the evening, next day, Phoebe, punctual to her promise,
came to me as I sat alone in my own room, and beckon'd me to follow her.
We went down the back-stairs very softly, and opening the door of a
dark closet, where there was some old furniture kept, and some cases of
liquor, she drew me in after her, and fastening the door upon us, we had
no light but what came through a long crevice in the partition between
ours and the light closet, where the scene of action lay; so that sitting
on those low cases, we could, with the greatest ease, as well as clearness,
see all objects (ourselves unseen), only by applying our eyes close to
the crevice, where the moulding of a panel had warped, or started a little
on the other side.
The young gentleman was the first person I saw, with his back directly
towards me, looking at a print. Polly was not yet come: in less than a
minute tho', the door opened, and she came in; and at the noise the door
made he turned about, and came to meet her, with an air of the greatest
tenderness and satisfaction.
After saluting her, he led her to a couch that fronted us, where they
both sat down, and the young Genoese help'd her to a glass of wine, with
some Naples bisket on a salver.
Presently, when they had exchanged a few kisses, and questions in broken
English on one side, he began to unbutton, and, in fine, stript to his
shirt.
As if this had been the signal agreed on for pulling off all their
cloaths, a scheme which the heat of the season perfectly favoured, Polly
began to draw her pins, and as she had no stays to unlace, she was in a
trice, with her gallant's officious assistance, undress'd to all but her
shift.
When he saw this, his breeches were immediately loosen'd, waist and
knee bands, and slipped over his ankles, clean off; his shirt collar was
unbuttoned too: then, first giving Polly an encouraging kiss, he stole,
as it were, the shift off the girl, who being, I suppose, broke and familiariz'd
to this humour, blush'd indeed, but less than I did at the apparition of
her, now standing stark-naked, just as she came out of the hands of pure
nature, with her black hair loose and a-float down her dazzling white neck
and shoulders, whilst the deepen'd carnation of her cheeks went off gradually
into the hue of glaz'd snow: for such were the blended tints and polish
of her skin.
This girl could not be above eighteen: her face regular and sweet-featur'd,
her shape exquisite; nor could I help envying her two ripe enchanting breasts,
finely plump'd out in flesh, but withal so round, so firm, that they sustain'd
themselves, in scorn of any stay: then their nipples, pointing different
ways, mark'd their pleasing separation; beneath them lay the delicious
tract of the belly, which terminated in a parting or rift scarce discernible,
that modesty seem'd to retire downwards, and seek shelter between two plump fleshy thighs: the curling hair that overspread its delightful front, cloathed
it with the richest sable fur in the universe: in short, she was evidently
a subject for the painters to court her sitting to them for a pattern of
female beauty, in all the true price and pomp of nakedness.
The young Italian (still in his shirt) stood gazing and transported
at the sight of beauties that might have fir'd a dying hermit; his eager
eyes devour'd her, as she shifted attitudes at his discretion: neither
were his hands excluded their share of the high feast, but wander'd, on
the hunt of pleasure, over every part and inch of her body, so qualified
to afford the most exquisite sense of it.
In the mean time, one could not help observing the swell of his shirt
before, that bolster'd out, and shewed the condition of things behind the
curtain: but he soon remov'd it, by slipping his shirt over his head; and
now, as to nakedness, they had nothing to reproach one another.
The young gentleman, by Phoebe's guess, was about two and twenty; tall
and well limb'd. His body was finely form'd and of a most vigorous make,
square-shoulder'd, and broad-chested: his face was not remarkable in any
way, but for a nose inclining to the Roman, eyes large, black, and sparkling,
and a ruddiness in his cheeks that was the more a grace, for his complexion
was of the brownest, not of that dusky dun colour which excludes the idea
of freshness, but of that clear, olive gloss which, glowing with life,
dazzles perhaps less than fairness, and yet pleases more, when it pleases
at all. His hair, being too short to tie, fell no lower than his neck,
in short easy curls; and he had a few sprigs about his paps, that garnish'd
his chest in a style of strength and manliness. Then his grand movement,
which seem'd to rise out of a thicket of curling hair that spread from
the root all round thighs and belly up to the navel, stood stiff and upright,
but of a size to frighten me, by sympathy, for the small tender part which
was the object of its fury, and which now lay expos'd to my fairest view;
for he had, immediately on stripping off his shirt, gently push'd her down
on the couch, which stood conveniently to break her willing fall. Her thighs
were spread out to their utmost extension, and discovered between them
the mark of the sex, the red-center'd cleft of flesh, whose lips, vermilioning
inwards, exprest a small rubid line in sweet miniature, such as Guido's
touch of colouring could never attain to the life or delicacy of.
Phoebe, at this gave me a gentle jog, to prepare me for a whispered
question: whether I thought my little maidenhead was much less? But my
attention was too much engross'd, too much enwrapp'd with all I saw, to
be able to give her any answer.
By this time the young gentleman had changed her posture from lying
breadth to length-wise on the couch: but her thighs were still spread,
and the mark lay fair for him, who now kneeling between them, display'd
to us a side-view of that fierce erect machine of his, which threaten'd
no less than splitting the tender victim, who lay smiling at the uplifted
stroke, nor seem'd to decline it. He looked upon his weapon himself with
some pleasure, and guiding it with his hand to the inviting slit, drew
aside the lips, and lodg'd it (after some thrusts, which Polly seem'd even
to assist) about half way; but there it stuck, I suppose from its growing
thickness: he draws it again, and just wetting it with spittle, re-enters,
and with ease sheath'd it now up to the hilt, at which Polly gave a deep
sigh, which was quite another tone than one of pain; he thrusts, she heaves,
at first gently, and in a regular cadence; but presently the transport
began to be too violent ot observe any order or measure; their motions
were too rapid, their kisses too fierce and fervent for nature to support
such fury long: both seem'd to me out of themselves: their eyes darted
fires: "Oh! . . . oh! . . . I can't bear it . . . It is too much .
. . I die . . . I am going . . ." were Polly's expressions of extasy:
his joys were more silent; but soon broken murmurs, sighs heart-fetch'd,
and at length a dispatching thrust, as if he would have forced himself
up her body, and then motionless languor of all his limbs, all shewed that
the die-away moment was come upon him; which she gave signs of joining
with, by the wild throwing of her hands about, closing her eyes, and giving
a deep sob, in which she seemed to expire in an agony of bliss.
When he had finish'd his stroke, and got from off her, she lay still
without the least motion, breathless, as it should seem, with pleasure.
He replaced her again breadthwise on the couch, unable to sit up, with
her thighs open, between which I could observe a kind of white liquid,
like froth, hanging about the outward lips of that recently opened wound,
which now glowed with a deeper red. Presently she gets up, and throwing
her arms round him, seemed far from undelighted with the trial he had put
her to, to judge at least by the fondness with which she ey'd and hung
upon him.
For my part, I will not pretend to describe what I felt all over me
during this scene; but from that instant, adieu all fears of what man could
do unto me; they were now changed into such ardent desires, such ungovernable
longings, that I could have pull'd the first of that sex that should present
himself, by the sleeve, and offered him the bauble, which I now imagined
the loss of would be a gain I could not too soon procure myself.
Phoebe, who had more experience, and to whom such sights were not so
new, could not however be unmoved at so warm a scene; and drawing me away
softly from the peep-hole, for fear of being over-heard, guided me as near
the door as possible, all passive and obedient to her least signals.
Here was no room either to sit or lie, but making me stand with my
back towards the door, she lifted up my petticoats, and with her busy fingers
fell to visit and explore that part of me where now the heat and irritations
were so violent that I was perfectly sick and ready to die with desire;
that the bare touch of her finger, in that critical place, had the effect
of a fire to a train, and her hand instantly made her sensible to what
a pitch I was wound up, and melted by the sight she had thus procured me.
Satisfied then with her success in allaying a heat that would have made
me impatient of seeing the continuation of the transactions between our
amourous couple, she brought me again to the crevice so favourable to our
curiosity.
We had certainly been but a few instants away from it, and yet on our
return we saw every thing in good forwardness for recommencing the tender hostilities.
The young foreigner was sitting down, fronting us, on the couch, with
Polly upon one knee, who had her arms round his neck, whilst the extreme
whiteness of her skin was not undelightfully contrasted by the smooth glossy
brown of her lover's.
But who could count the fierce, unnumber's kisses given and taken?
in which I could of ten discover their exchanging the velvet thrust, when
both their mouths were double tongued, and seemed to favour the mutual
insertion with the greatest gust and delight.
In the mean time, his red-headed champion, that has so lately fled
the pit, quell'd and abash'd, was now recover'd to the top of his condition,
perk'd and crested up between Polly's thighs, who was not wanting, on her
part, to coax and deep it in good humour, stroking it, with her head down,
and received even its velvet tip between the lips of not its proper mouth:
whether she did this out of any particular pleasure, or whether it was
to render it more glib and easy of entrance, I could not tell; but it had
such an effect, that the young gentleman seem'd by his eyes, that sparkled
with more excited lustre, and his inflamed countenance, to receive increase
of pleasure. He got up, and taking Polly in his arms, embraced her, and
said something too softly for me to hear, leading her withal to the foot
of the couch, and taking delight to slap her thighs and posteriors with
that stiff sinew of his, which hit them with a spring that he gave it with
his hand, and made them resound again, but hurt her about as much as he
meant to hurt her, for she seemed to have as frolic a taste as himself.
But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on
his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour,
straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right
place; and following her impulse, ran directly upon the flaming point of
this weapon of pleasure, which she stak'd herself upon, up pierc'd and
infix'd to the extremest hair-breadth of it: thus she sat on him a few
instants, enjoying and relishing her situation, whilst he toyed with her
provoking breasts. Sometimes she would stoop to meet his kiss: but presently
the sting of pleasure spurr'd them up to fiercer action; then began the
storm of heaves, which, form the undermost combatant, were thrusts at the
same time, he crossing his hands over her, and drawing her home to him
with a sweet violence: the inverted strokes of anvil over hammer soon brought
on the critical period, in which all the signs of a close conspiring extasy
informed us of the point they were at.
For me, I could bear to see no more; I was so overcome, so inflamed
at the second part of the same play, that, mad to an intolerable degree,
I hugg'd, I clasped Phoebe, as if she had wherewithal to relieve me. Pleased
however with, and pitying the taking she could feel me in, she drew me
towards the door, and opening it as softly as she could, we both got off
undiscover'd, and she reconducted me to my own room, where, unable to keep
my legs, in the agitation I was in, I instantly threw myself down on the
bed, where I lay transported, though asham'd at what I felt.
Phoebe lay down by me, and ask'd me archly if, now that I had seen
the enemy, and fully considered him, I was still afraid of him? or did
I think I could venture to come to a close engagement with him? To all
which, not a word on my side; I sigh'd, and could scarce breathe. She takes
hold of my hand, and having roll'd up her own petticoats, forced it half
strivingly towards those parts, where, now grown more knowing, I miss'd
the main object of my wishes; and finding not even the shadow of what I
wanted, where every thing was so flat, or so hollow, in the vexation I
was in at it, I should have withdrawn my hand but for fear of disobliging
her. Abandoning it then entirely to her management, she made use of it
as she thought proper, to procure herself rather the shadow than the substance
of any pleasure. For my part, I now pin'd for more solid food, and promis'd
tacitly to myself that I would not be put off much longer with this foolery
from woman to woman, if Mrs. Brown did not soon provide me with the essential
specific. In short, I had all the air of not being able to wait the arrival
of my lord B . . . tho' he was now expected in a very few days: nor did
I wait for him, for love itself took charge of the disposal of me, in spite
of interest, or gross lust.
It was now two days after the closet-scene, that I got up about six
in the morning, and leaving my bed-fellow fast asleep, stole down, with
no other thought than of taking a little fresh air in a small garden, which
our back-parlour open'd into, and from which my confinement debarr'd me
at the times company came to the house; but now sleep and silence reign'd
all over it.
I open'd the parlour door, and well surpriz'd was I at seeing, by the
side of a fire half-our, a young gentleman in the old lady's elbow chair,
with his legs laid upon another, fast asleep, and left there by his thoughtless
companions, who had drank him down, and then went off with every one his
mistress, whilst he stay'd behind by the courtesy of the old matron, who
would not disturb of turn him out in that condition, at one in the morning;
and beds, it is more than probable, there were none to spare. On the table
still remain'd the punch bowl and glasses, strew's about in their usual
disorder after a drunken revel.
But when I drew nearer, to view the sleeping one, heavens! what a sight!
No! no term of years, no turn of fortune could ever erase the lightning-like
impression his form made on me . . . Yes! dearest object of my earliest
passion, I command for ever the remembrance of thy first appearance to
my ravish'd eyes . . . it calls thee up, present; and I see thee now!
Figure to yourself, Madam, a fair stripling, between eighteen and nineteen,
with his head reclin'd on one of the sides of the chair, his hair in disorder'd
curls, irregularly shading a face on which all the roseate bloom of youth
and all the manly graces conspired to fix my eyes and heart. Even the languor
and paleness of his face, in which the momentary triumph of the lily over
the rose was owing to the excesses of the night, gave an inexpressible
sweetness to the finest features imaginable: his eyes, closed in sleep,
displayed the meeting edges of their lids beautifully bordered with long
eyelashes; over which no pencil could have described two more regular arches
than those that grac'd his forehead, which was high, prefectly white and
smooth. Then a pair of vermilion lips, pouting and swelling to the touch,
as if a bee had freshly stung them, seem'd to challenge me to get the gloves
off this lovely sleeper, had not the modesty and respect, which in both
sexes are inseparable from a true passion, check'd my impulses.
But on seeing his shirt-collar unbutton'd, and a bosom whiter than
a drift of snow, the pleasure of considering it could not bribe me to lengthen
it, at the hazard of a health that began to be my life's concern. Love,
that made me timid, taught me to be tender too. With a trembling hand I
took hold of one of his, and waking his as gently as possible, he started,
and looking, at first a little wildly, said with a voice that sent its
harmonious sound to my heart: "Pray, child, what o'clock is it?"
I told him, and added that he might catch cold if he slept longer with
his breast open in the cool of the morning air. On this he thanked me with
a sweetness perfectly agreeing with that of his features and eyes; the
last now broad open, and eagerly surveying me, carried the sprightly fires
they sparkled with directly to my heart. It seems that having drank too
freely before he came upon the rake with some of his young companions,
he had put himself out of a condition to go through all the weapons with
them, and crown the night with getting a mistress; so that seeing me in
a loose undress, he did not doubt but I was one of the misses of the house,
sent in to repair his loss of time; but though he seiz'd that notion, and
a very obvious one it was, without hesitation, yet, whether my figure made
a more than ordinary impression on him, or whether it was natural politeness,
he address'd me in a manner far from rude, tho' still on the foot of one
of the house pliers, come to amuse him; and giving me the first kiss that
I ever relish'd from man in my life, ask'd me it I could favour him with
my company, assuring me that he would make it worth my while: but had not
even new-born love, that true refiner of lust, oppos'd so sudden a surrender,
the fear of being surpriz'd by the house was a sufficient bar to my compliance.
I told him then, in a tone set me by love itself, that for reasons
I had not time to explain to him, I could not stay with him, and might
not even ever see him again: with a sigh at these last words, which broke
from the bottom of my heart. My conqueror, who, as he afterwards told me,
had been struck with my appearance, and lik'd me as much as he could think
of liking any one in my suppos'd way of life, ask'd me briskly at once
if I would be kept by him, and that he would take a lodging for me directly,
and relieve me from any engagements he presum'd I might be under to the
house. Rash, sudden, undigested, and even dangerous as this offer might
be from a perfect stranger, and that stranger a giddy boy, the prodigious
love I was struck with for him had put a charm into his voice there was
no resisting, and blinded me to every objection; I could, at that instant,
have died for him: think if I could resist an invitation to live with him!
Thus my heart, beating strong to the proposal, dictated my answer, after
scarce a minute's pause, that I would accept of his offer, and make my
escape to him in what way he pleased, and that I would be entirely at his
disposal, let it be good or bad. I have often since wondered that so great
an easiness did not disgust him, or make me too cheap in his eyes, but
my fate had so appointed it, that in his fears of the hazard of the town,
he had been some time looking out for a girl to take into keeping, and
my person happening to hit his fancy, it was by one of those miracles reserved
to love that we struck the bargain in the instant, which we sealed by an
exchange of kisses, that the hopes of a more uninterrupted enjoyment engaged
him to content himself with.
Never, however, did dear youth carry in his person, more wherewith
to justify the turning of a girl's head, and making her set all consequences
at defiance for the sake of following a gallant.
For, besides all the perfections of manly beauty which were assembled
in his form, he had an air of neatness and gentility, a certain smartness
in the carriage and port of his head, that yet more distinguish'd him;
his eyes were sprightly and full of meaning; his looks had in them something
at once sweet and commanding. His complexion outbloom'd the lovely-colour'd
rose, whilst its inimitable tender vivid glow clearly sav'd from the reproach
of wanting life, of raw and dough-like, which is commonly made to those
so extremely fair as he was.
Our little plan was that I should get out about seven the next morning
(which I could readily promise, as I knew where to get the key of the street-door),
and he would wait at the end of the street with a coach to convey me safe
off; after which, he would send, and clear any debt incurr'd by my stay
at Mrs. Brown's, who, he only judged, in gross, might not care to part
with one he thought so fit to draw custom to the house.
I then just hinted to him not to mention in the house his having seen
such a person as me, for reasons I would explain to him more at leisure.
And then, for fear of miscarrying, by being seen together, I tore myself
from him with a bleeding heart, and stole up softly to my room, where I
found Phoebe still fast asleep, and hurrying off my few cloaths, lay down
by her, with a mixture of joy and anxiety that may be easier conceived
than express'd.
The risks of Mrs. Brown's discovering my purpose, of disappointments,
misery, ruin, all vanish'd before this newkindl'd flame. The seeing, the
touching, the being, if but for a night, with this idol of my fond virgin-heart,
appeared to me a happiness above the purchase of my liberty or life. He
might use me ill, let him! he was the master; happy, too happy, even to
receive death at so dear a hand.
To this purpose were the reflections of the whole day, of which every
minute seem'd to me a little eternity. How often did I visit the clock!
nay, was tempted to advance the tedious hand, as if that would have advanc'd
the time with it! Had those of the house made the least observations on
me, they must have remark'd something extraordinary from the discomposure
I could not help betraying; especially when at dinner mention was made
of the charmingest youth having been there, and stay'd breakfast. "Oh!
he was such a beauty! . . . I should have died for him! . . . they would
pull caps for him! . . ." and the like fooleries, which, however,
was throwing oil on a fire I was sorely put to it to smother the blaze
of.
The fluctuations of my mind, the whole day, produc'd one good effect:
which was, that, through mere fatigue, I slept tolerably well till five
in the morning, when I got up, and having dress'd myself, waited, under
the double tortures of fear and impatience, for the appointed hour. It
came at last, the dear, critical, dangerous hour came; and now, supported
only by the courage love lent me, I ventured, a tiptoe, down-stairs, leaving
my box behind, for fear of being surpriz'd with it in going out.
I got to the street-door, the key whereof was always laid on the chair
by our bed-side, in trust with Phoebe, who having not the least suspicion
of my entertaining any design to go from them (nor indeed had I but the
day before), made no reserve or concealment of it from me. I open'd the
door with great ease; love, that embolden'd, protected me too: and now,
got safe into the street, I saw my new guardianangel waiting at a coach-door,
ready open. How I got to him I know not: I suppose I flew; but I was in
the coach in a trice, and he by the side of me, with his arms clasp'd round
me, and giving me the kiss of welcome. The coachman had his orders, and
drove to them.
My eyes were instantly fill'd with tears, but tears of the most delicious
delight; to find myself in the arms of that beauteous youth was a rapture
that my little heart swam in. Past or future were equally out of the question
with me. The present was as much as all my powers of life were sufficient
to bear the transport of, without fainting. Nor were the most tender embraces,
the most soothing expressions wanting on his side, to assure me of his
love, and of never giving me cause to repent the bold step I had taken,
in throwing myself thus entirely upon his honour and generosity. But, alas!
this was no merit in me, for I was drove to it by a passion too impetuous
for me to resist, and I did what I did because I could not help it.
In an instant, for time was now annihilated with me, we landed at a
public house in Chelsea, hosipitably commodious for the reception of duet-parties
of pleasure, where a breakfast of chocolate was prepared for us.
An old jolly stager, who kept it, and understood life perfectly well,
breakfasted with us, and leering archly at me, gave us both joy, and said
we were well paired, i' faith! that a great many gentlemen and ladies used
his house, but he had never seen a handsomer couple . . . he was sure I
was a fresh piece . . . I look'd so country, so innocent! well my spouse
was a lucky man! . . . all which common landlord's cant not only pleas'd
and sooth'd me, but help'd to divert my confusion at being with my new
sovereign, whom, now the minute approach'd, I began to fear to be alone
with: a timidity which true love had a greater share in than even maiden
bashfulness.
I wish'd, I doted, I could have died for him; and yet, I know not how,
or why, I dreaded the point which had been the object of my fiercest wishes;
my pulses beat fears, amidst a flush of the warmest desires. This struggle
of the passions, however, this conflict betwixt modesty and lovesick longings,
made me burst again into tears; which he took, as he had done before, only
for the remains of concern and emotion at the suddenness of my change of
condition, in committing myself to his care; and, in consequence of that
idea, did and said all that he thought would most comfort and reinspirit
me. After breakfast, Charles (the dear familiar name I must take the liberty
henceforward to distinguish my Adonis by), with a smile full of meaning,
took me gently by the hand, and said: "Come, my dear, I will show
you a room that commands a fine prospect over some gardens"; and without
waiting for an answer, in which he relieved me extremely, he led me up
into a chamber, airy and light-some, where all seeing of prospects was
out of the question, except that of a bed, which had all the air of having
recommended the room to him.
Charles had just slipp'd the bolt of the door, and running, caught
me in his arms, and lifting me from the ground, with his lips glew'd to
mine, bore me, trembling, panting, dying, with soft fears and tender wishes,
to the bed; where his impatience would not suffer him to undress me, more
than just unpinning my handkerchief and gown, and unlacing my stays.
My bosom was now bare, and rising in the warmest throbs, presented
to his sight and feeling the firm hard swell of a pair of young breasts,
such as may be imagin'd of a girl not sixteen, fresh out of the country,
and never before handled; but even their pride, whiteness, fashion, pleasing
resistance to the touch, could not bribe his restless hands from roving;
but giving them the loose, my petticoats and shift were soon taken up,
and their stronger center of attraction laid open to their tender invasion.
My fears, however, made me mechanically close my thighs; but the very touch
of his hand insinuated between them, disclosed them and opened a way for
the main attack.
In the mean time, I lay fairly exposed to the examination of his eyes
and hands, quiet and unresisting; which confirm'd him the opinion he proceeded
so cavalierly upon, that I was no novice in these matters, since he had
taken me out of a common bawdy-house, nor had I said one thing to prepossess
him of my virginity; and if I had, he would sooner have believ'd that I
took him for a cully that would swallow such an improbability, than that
I was still mistress of that darling treasure, that hidden mine, so eagerly
sought after by the men, and which they never dig for, but to destroy.
Being now too high wound up to bear a delay, he unbutton'd, and drawing
out the engine of love-assaults, drove it currently, as at a ready-made
breach . . . Then! then! for the first time, did I feel that stiff horn-hard
gristle, battering against the tender part; but imagine to yourself his
surprize when he found, after several vigorous pushes which hurt me extremely,
that he made not the least impression.
I complain'd but tenderly complain'd that I could not bear it . . .
indeed he hurt me! . . . Still he thought no more than that being so young,
the largeness of his machine (for few men could dispute size with him)
made all the dificulty; and that possible I had not been enjoy'd by any
so advantageously made in that part as himself: for still, that my virgin
flower was yet uncrop'd, never enter'd into his head, and he would have
thought it idling with time and words to have question'd me upon it.
He tries again, still no admittance, still no penetration; but he had
hurt me yet more, whilst my extreme love made me bear extreme pain, almost
without a groan. At length, after repeated fruitless trials, he lay down
panting by me, kiss'd my falling tears, and asked me tenderly what was
the meaning of so much complaining? and if I had not borne it better from
others than I did from him? I answered, with a simplicity fram'd to persuade,
that he was the first man that ever serv'd me so. Truth is powerful, and
it is not always that we do not believe what we eagerly wish.