|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 41
CHAPTER FIVE
MORE AND MORE GREATNESS, UNPARALLELED IN HISTORY OR ROMANCE.
In order to accomplish this great and noble scheme, which the vast
genius of Wild had contrived, the first necessary step was to
regain the confidence of Heartfree. But, however necessary this
was, it seemed to be attended with such insurmountable
difficulties, that even our hero for some time despaired of
success. He was greatly superior to all mankind in the steadiness
of his countenance, but this undertaking seemed to require more of
that noble quality than had ever been the portion of a mortal.
However, at last he resolved to attempt it, and from his success I
think we may fairly assert that what was said by the Latin poet of
labour, that it conquers all things, is much more true when
applied to impudence.
When he had formed his plan he went to Newgate, and burst
resolutely into the presence of Heartfree, whom he eagerly
embraced and kissed; and then, first arraigning his own rashness,
and afterwards lamenting his unfortunate want of success, he
acquainted him with the particulars of what had happened;
concealing only that single incident of his attack on the other's
wife, and his motive to the undertaking, which, he assured
Heartfree, was a desire to preserve his effects from a statute of
bankruptcy.
The frank openness of this declaration, with the composure of
countenance with which it was delivered; his seeming only ruffled
by the concern for his friend's misfortune; the probability of
truth attending it, joined to the boldness and disinterested
appearance of this visit, together with his many professions of
immediate service at a time when he could not have the least
visible motive from self-love; and above all, his offering him
money, the last and surest token of friendship, rushed with such
united force on the well-disposed heart, as it is vulgarly called,
of this simple man, that they instantly staggered and soon
subverted all the determination he had before made in prejudice of
Wild, who, perceiving the balance to be turning in his favour,
presently threw in a hundred imprecations on his own folly and
ill-advised forwardness to serve his friend, which had thus
unhappily produced his ruin; he added as many curses on the count,
whom he vowed to pursue with revenge all over Europe; lastly, he
cast in some grains of comfort, assuring Heartfree that his wife
was fallen into the gentlest hands, that she would be carried no
farther than Dunkirk, whence she might very easily be redeemed.
Heartfree, to whom the lightest presumption of his wife's fidelity
would have been more delicious than the absolute restoration of
all his jewels, and who, indeed, had with the utmost difficulty
been brought to entertain the slightest suspicion of her
inconstancy, immediately abandoned all distrust of both her and
his friend, whose sincerity (luckily for Wild's purpose) seemed to
him to depend on the same evidence. He then embraced our hero, who
had in his countenance all the symptoms of the deepest concern,
and begged him to be comforted; saying that the intentions, rather
than the actions of men, conferred obligations; that as to the
event of human affairs, it was governed either by chance or some
superior agent; that friendship was concerned only in the
direction of our designs; and suppose these failed of success, or
produced an event never so contrary to their aim, the merit of a
good intention was not in the least lessened, but was rather
entitled to compassion.
Heartfree however was soon curious enough to inquire how Wild had
escaped the captivity which his wife then suffered. Here likewise
he recounted the whole truth, omitting only the motive to the
French captain's cruelty, for which he assigned a very different
reason, namely, his attempt to secure Heartfree's jewels. Wild
indeed always kept as much truth as was possible in everything;
and this he said was turning the cannon of the enemy upon
themselves.
Wild, having thus with admirable and truly laudable conduct
achieved the first step, began to discourse on the badness of the
world, and particularly to blame the severity of creditors, who
seldom or never attended to any unfortunate circumstances, but
without mercy inflicted confinement on the debtor, whose body the
law, with very unjustifiable rigour, delivered into their power.
He added, that for his part, he looked on this restraint to be as
heavy a punishment as any appointed by law for the greatest
offenders. That the loss of liberty was, in his opinion, equal to,
if not worse, than the loss of life; that he had always
determined, if by any accident or misfortune he had been subjected
to the former, he would run the greatest risque of the latter to
rescue himself from it; which he said, if men did not want
resolution, was always enough; for that it was ridiculous to
conceive that two or three men could confine two or three hundred,
unless the prisoners were either fools or cowards, especially when
they were neither chained nor fettered. He went on in this manner
till, perceiving the utmost attention in Heartfree, he ventured to
propose to him an endeavour to make his escape, which he said
might easily be executed; that he would himself raise a party in
the prison, and that, if a murder or two should happen in the
attempt, he (Heartfree) might keep free from any share either in
the guilt or in the danger.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|