The Adventures of Roderick Random
happiness: surly reason always interposed, and in a moment overthrew
the unsubstantial fabric, by chastising the extravagance of my hope,
and representing my unhappy situation in the right point of view. In
vain did I fly for refuge to the amusements of the place, and engage in
the parties of Jackson at cards, billiards, nine-pins, and fives; a
train of melancholy thoughts took possession of my soul, which even the
conversation of Melopoyn could not divert. I ordered Strap to inquire
every day at Banter’s lodgings, in expectation of hearing again from my
charmer; and my disappointment considerably, augmented my chagrin. My
affectionate valet was infected with my sorrow, and often sat with me
whole hours without speaking, uttering sigh for sigh, and shedding tear
for tear. This fellowship increased our distemper; he became incapable
of business, and was discarded by his master; while I, seeing my money
melt away without any certainty of deliverance, and, in short, all my
hopes frustrated, grew negligent of life, lost all appetite, and
degenerated into such a sloven that during the space of three months I
was neither washed, shifted, nor shaved; so that my face, rendered
meagre with abstinence, was obscured with dirt, and overshadowed with
hair, and my whole appearance squalid and even frightful; when, one
day, Strap brought me notice, that there was a man below who wanted to
speak with me. Roused at this intelligence, and in full hopes of
receiving a letter from the dear object of my love, I ran downstairs
with the utmost precipitation. And found to my infinite surprise my
generous uncle, Mr. Bowling! Transported at the sight, I sprang forward
to embrace him. Upon which he started aside with great agility, drew
his hanger, and put himself upon his guard, crying, “Avast, brother,
avast! Sheer off. Yo ho! you turnkey, why don’t you keep a better look
out? Here’s one of your crazy prisoners broke from his lashings, I
suppose.” I could not help laughing heartily at his mistake; but this I
soon rectified by my voice, which he instantly recollected, and shook
me by the hand with great affection, testifying his concern at seeing
me in such a miserable condition.
I conducted him to my apartment, where, in presence of Strap, whom I
introduced to him as one of my best friends, he gave me to understand,
that he was just arrived from the Coast Of Guinea, after having made a
pretty successful voyage, in which he had acted as mate, until the ship
was attacked by a French privateer, that the captain being killed
during the engagement, he had taken the command, and was so fortunate
as to sink the enemy; after which exploit he fell in with a merchant
ship from Martinico, laden with sugar, indigo and some silver and by
virtue of his letter of marque, attacked, took, and carried her safe
into Kinsale in Ireland, where she was condemned as a lawful prize; by
which means he had not only got a pretty sum of money, but also
acquired the favour of his owners, who had already conferred upon him
the command of a large ship, mounted with twenty nine-pounders, ready
to sail upon a very advantageous voyage, which he was not at liberty to
discover. And he assured me that it was with the greatest difficulty he
found me, in consequence of a direction left for him at his lodgings at
Wapping.
I was rejoiced beyond measure at this account of his good fortune; and,
at his desire, recounted all the adventures that had happened to me
since we parted. When he understood the particulars of Strap’s
attachment to me, he squeezed his hand very cordially, and promised to
make a man of him; then, giving me ten guineas for my present occasion,
took a direction for the tailor who arrested me, and went away in order
to discharge the debt, telling me at parting, that he would soon fetch
up all my leeway with a wet sail.
I was utterly confounded at this sudden transition, which affected me
more than any reverse I had formerly felt; and a crowd of incoherent
ideas rushed so impetuously upon my imagination, that my reason could
neither separate nor connect them; when Strap, whose joy had manifested
itself in a thousand fool-cries, came into my room with his shaving
utensils, and without any previous intimation, began to lather my
beard, whistling with great emotion all the while. I started from my
reverie, and, being too well acquainted with Strap to trust myself in
his hands while he was under such agitation, desired to be excused,
sent for another barber, and suffered myself to be trimmed. Having
performed the ceremony of ablution, I shifted, and dressing in my
gayest apparel, waited for the return of my uncle, who was agreeably
surprised at my sudden transformation.
This beneficent kinsman had satisfied my creditor, and obtained an
order for my discharge, so that I was no longer a prisoner; but, as I
had some reluctance to part with my friends and fellows in distress, I
prevailed upon Mr. Bowling to favour us with his company, and invited
Mr. Melopoyn and Jackson to spend the evening at my apartment, where I
regaled them with a supper, good wine, and the news of my release, on
which they heartily congratulated me, notwithstanding the loss of my
company, which, they were pleased to say, they should severely feel. As
for Jackson, his misfortune made so little impression on himself, and
he was altogether so loose, indifferent, and indiscreet, that I could
scarce pity his situation: but I had conceived a veneration and
friendship for the poet, who was, in all respects, an object much more
worthy of compassion and regard. When our guests withdrew, and my uncle
had retired, with an intention of visiting me next morning, I made up a
bundle of some linen and other necessaries; and, bidding Strap carry
them to Mr. Melopoyn’s lodgings, went thither myself, and pressed it
upon his acceptance, with five guineas, which, with much difficulty, he
received, assuring me at the same time, that he should never have it in
his power to make satisfaction. I then asked if I could serve him in
any other way; to which he answered, “You have already done too much;”
and, unable to contain the emotions of his soul any longer, burst into
tears, and wept aloud. Moved at this spectacle, I left him to his
repose, and, when my uncle returned in the morning, represented his
character in such a favourable light, that the honest seaman was
affected with his distress, and determined to follow my example, in
presenting him with five pieces more; upon which, that I might save him
some confusion, I advised Mr. Bowling to inclose it in a letter to be
delivered by Strap, after we should be gone.
This was accordingly done. I took a formal leave of all my acquaintance
in the gaol; and, just as I was about to step into a hackney coach at
the gate, Jackson calling me, I returned, and he asked me in a whisper,
if I could lend him a shilling! His demand being so moderate, and in
all likelihood the last he would make upon me, I slipped a guinea into
his hand, which he no sooner perceived, than he cried, “O Jesus, a
guinea!” then laying hold of a button of my coat, broke out into
laughter; and when his immoderate fit of convulsion was ended, told me
I was an honest fellow, and let me go. The coachman was ordered to
drive to Mr. Bowling’s lodgings, where, when we arrived, he entered
into a serious discourse with me, on the subject of my situation, and
proposed that I should sail with him in quality of his surgeon; in
which case he would put me in a method of getting a fortune in a few
years by my own industry; and assured me, that I might expect to
inherit all that he should die possessed of, provided I should survive
him. Though I was penetrated with a sense of his generosity, l was
startled at a proposal that offered violence to my love, and signified
my sentiments on that head, which he did not seem to relish; but
observed that love was the fruit of idleness, that when once I should
be employed in business, and my mind engaged in making money, I should
be no more troubled with these silly notions, which none but your
fair-weathered Jacks, who have nothing but their pleasure to mind,
ought to entertain. I was piqued at this insinuation, which I looked
upon as a reproach, and, without giving myself time to deliberate,
accepted his offer. He was overjoyed at my compliance, carried me
immediately to his chief owner, with whom a bargain was struck; so that
then I could not retract with honour, had I been ever so much averse to
the agreement. That I might not have time to cool, he bade me draw out
a list of medicines for a complement of five hundred men, adapted to
the distempers of hot climates and sufficient for a voyage of eighteen
months; and carry it to a certain wholesale apothecary, who would also
provide me in two well-qualified mates. While I was thus employed Strap
came in, and looked very blank, when he understood my resolution:
however, after a pause of some minutes, he insisted upon going along
with me; and at my desire was made ship’s steward by Captain Bowling,
who promised to be at the expense of fitting him out, and to lend him
two hundred pounds to purchase an adventure.
When I had delivered my list of medicines, chosen a couple of my own
countrymen for mates, and bespoke a set of chirurgical instruments, my
uncle told me, that by his last voyage he had cleared almost three
thousand pounds, one-third of which he would immediately make over and
put into my hands; that he would procure for me credit to the value of
so much more in such goods as would turn to best account in the country
to which we were bound; and that, although he looked upon my interest
as his own, he would keep the remaining part of his fortune in his own
disposal, with a view of preserving his independence, and the power of
punishing me, in case I should not make a good use of what he had
already bestowed.
Without troubling the reader with an account of the effect which this
surprising generosity had upon my mind, I shall only say, that his
promises were instantly performed, and an invoice of merchandise proper
for the voyage presented to me, that I might purchase the goods, and
ship them with all expedition. In the midst of this hurry, the
remembrance of my charming Narcissa often interposed, and made me the
most miserable of all mortals. I was distracted with the thought of
being torn from her, perhaps for ever; and though the hope of seeing
her again might have supported me under the torments of separation, I
could not reflect upon the anguish she must feel at parting with me,
and the incessant sorrows to which her tender bosom would be exposed
during my absence, without being pierced with the deepest affliction!
As my imagination was daily and nightly upon the rack to invent some
method of mitigating this cruel stroke, or at least of acquitting my
love and honour in the opinion of this gentle creature, I at length
stumbled upon an expedient, with which the reader will be made
acquainted in due time; and, in consequence of my determination, became
less uneasy and disturbed.
My business being finished, and the ship ready to sail, I resolved to
make my last appearance among my acquaintance at the other end of the
town, where I had not been since my imprisonment; and as I had, by the
advice of my uncle, taken off some very rich clothes for sale, I put on
the gayest suit in my possession, and went in a chair to the
coffee-house I used to frequent, where I found my friend Banter so
confounded at the magnificence of my dress, that, when I made up to
him, he gazed at me with a look of astonishment, without being able,
for some minutes, to open his lips; then pulling me aside by the
sleeve, and fixing his eyes on mine, accosted me thus: “Random, where