The Adventures of Peregrine PickleSmollett, T. (Tobias)
General
The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle
Smollett, T. (Tobias)
Adventure stories; Fiction; Picaresque literature
This acknowledgment calmed the tumult of his wrath, though he could not
for some days forgive the lieutenant; and the two young gentlemen rode
back to Tunley's, while Hatchway, taking the commodore's horse by the
bridle, reconducted him to his mansion, growling all the way to Jack for
his unjust and unfriendly decree; though he could not help observing,
as how he had made his words good, in making his adversary to strike his
top-sails: “And yet,” said he, “before God! I think the fellow's head is
made of a wood-pack: for my shot rebounded from his face like a wad of
spun-yarn from the walls of a ship. But if so be that son of a b-- of
a tree hadn't come athwart my weather-bow, d'ye see, I'll be d--d if
I hadn't snapt his main-yard in the slings, and mayhap let out his
bulge-water into the bargain.” He seemed particularly vain of this
exploit, which dwelt upon his imagination, and was cherished as the
child of his old age; for though he could not with decency rehearse
it to the young men and his wife at supper, he gave hints of his own
manhood, even at these years, and attested Hatchway as a voucher for his
mettle; while the triumvirate, diverted by his vanity, enjoyed in secret
the success of their imposition.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Peregrine takes leave of his Aunt and Sister--Sets out from the
Garrison-Parts with his Uncle and Hatchway on the Road, and with his
Governor arrives in safety at Dover.
This, however, was the last effort of invention which they practised
upon him; and everything being now prepared for the departure of his
godson, that hopeful youth in two days took leave of all his friends in
the neighbourhood. He was closeted two whole hours with his aunt, who
enriched him with many pious advices, recapitulated all the benefits
which, through her means, had been conferred upon him since his infancy,
cautioned him against the temptations of lewd women, who bring many a
man to a morsel of bread, laid strict injunctions upon him to live in
the fear of the Lord and the true Protestant faith, to eschew quarrels
and contention, to treat Mr. Jolter with reverence and regard, and above
all things to abstain from the beastly sin of drunkenness, which
exposes a man to the scorn and contempt of his fellow-creatures, and, by
divesting him of reason and reflection, renders him fit for all manner
of vice and debauchery. She recommended to him economy, and the care of
his health, bade him remember the honour of his family, and in all the
circumstances of his behaviour, assured him that he might always depend
upon the friendship and generosity of the commodore. Finally, presenting
him with her own picture set in gold, and a hundred guineas from her
privy purse, she embraced him affectionately, and wished him all manner
of happiness and prosperity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account