The Female Quixote E-Book

Charlotte Lennox

• Herausgeber: Enrico Conti
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

The Female Quixote; or, The Adventures of Arabella is a novel written by Charlotte Lennox imitating and parodying the ideas of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote. Published in 1752, two years after she wrote her first novel, The Life of Harriot Stuart, it was her best-known and most-celebrated work. It was approved by both Henry Fielding and Samuel Richardson, applauded by Samuel Johnson, and used as a model by Jane Austen for Northanger Abbey. rabella, the heroine of the novel, was brought up by her widowed father in a remote English castle, where she reads many French romance novels, and imagining them to be historically accurate, expects her life to be equally adventurous and romantic. When her father died, he declared that she would lose part of her estate if she did not marry her cousin Granville…

Leseprobe

The Female Quixote Or, The Adventures of Arabella

Charlotte Lennox

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Table of Contents

Preface

Book 1.

Contains a Turn at Court, neither new nor surprising. — Some useless Additions to a fine Lady's Education. — The bad Effects of a whimsical Study, which some will say is borrowed from Cervantes.

Contains a Description of a Lady's Dress, in Fashion not much above Two thousand Years ago. — The Beginning of an Adventure which seems to promise a great deal.

In which the Adventure goes on after the accustomed Manner.

A Mistake, which produces no great Consequences — An extraordinary Comment upon a Behaviour natural enough — An Instance of a Lady's Compassion for her Lover, which the Reader may possibly think not very compassionate.

In which one would imagine the Adventure concluded, but for a Promise that something else is to come.

In which the Adventure is really concluded; tho', possibly, not as the Reader expected.

In which some Contradictions are very happily reconciled.

In which a Mistake, in point of Ceremony, is rectified.

In which a Lover is severely punished for Faults which the Reader never would have discovered, if he had not been told.

Contains several Incidents, in which the Reader is expected to be extremely interested.

In which a logical Argument is unseasonably interrupted.

In which the Reader will find a Specimen of the true Pathetic, in a Speech of Oroondates. — The Adventure of the Books.

The Adventure of the Books continued.

Book 2.

In which the Adventure of the Books is happily concluded.

Which contains a very natural Incident.

Which treats of a consolatory Visit, and other grave Matters.

Which contains some common Occurrences, but placed in a new Light.

The History of Miss Groves, interspersed with some very curious Observations.

Containing what a judicious Reader will hardly approve.

Which treats of the Olympic Games.

Which concludes with an excellent moral Sentence.

Containing some curious Anecdotes.

In which our Heroine is engaged in a very perilous Adventure.

In which the Lady is wonderfully delivered.

Book 3.

Two Conversations, out of which the Reader may pick up a great deal.

A solemn Interview.

In which the Interview is ended, not much to the Lover's Satisfaction, but exactly conformable to the Rules of Romance.

In which our Heroine is greatly disappointed.

Some curious Instructions for relating an History.

A very Heroic Chapter.

In which our Heroine is suspected of Insensibility.

By which we hope the Reader will be differently affected.

Book 4.

In which our Heroine discovers her Knowlege in Astronomy.

In which a very pleasing Conversation is left unfinished.

Definition of Love and Beauty. — The necessary Qualities of a Hero and Heroine.

In which our Heroine is engaged in a new Adventure.

Being a Chapter of Mistakes.

In which the Mistakes are continued.

In which the Mistakes are not yet cleared up.

Which contains some necessary Consequences of the foregoing Mistakes. — A Soliloquy on a LoveLetter.

Containing a LoveLetter in the Heroic Stile; with some occasional Reasonings by Lucy, full of Wit and Simplicity.

Book 5.

A Dispute very learnedly handled by two Ladies, in which the Reader may take what Part he pleases.

Which inculcates, by a very good Example, that a Person ought not to be too hasty in deciding a Question he does not perfectly understand.

In which our Heroine is in some little Confusion.

Where the Lady extricates herself out of her former Confusion, to the great Astonishment, we will suppose, of the Reader.

In which will be found one of the former Mistakes pursued, and another cleared up, to the great Satisfaction of Two Persons; among whom, the Reader, we expect, will make a Third.

Containing some Account of Thalestris, Queen of the Amazons, with other curious Anecdotes.

Book 6.

Containing the Beginning of Sir George's History; in which the ingenious Relator has exactly copied the Stile of Romance.

In which Sir George, continuing his surprising History, relates a most stupendous Instance of a Valour only to be parallelled by that of the great Oroondates, Caesareo, &c. &c. &c.

A LoveAdventure, after the Romantic Taste.

The Adventure continued.

An extraordinary Instance of Generosity in a Lover, somewhat resembling that of the great Artaxerxes, in Cassandra.

In which it will be seen, that the Lady is as generous as her Lover.

Containing an Incident full as probable as any in Scudery's Romances.

A single Combat fought with prodigious Valour, and described with amazing Accuracy.

In which the Reader will find a Description of a Beauty, in a Style truly sublime.

Wherein Sir George concludes his History; which produces an unexpected Effect.

Containing only a few Inferences, drawn from the foregoing Chapters.

Book 7.

For the Shortness of which the Length of the next shall make some Amends.

Not so long as was first intended; but contains, however, a surprising Adventure on the Road.

Which concludes with an authentic Piece of History.

In which one of our Heroine's Whims is justified, by some others full as whimsical.

Containing some historical Anecdotes, the Truth of which may possibly be doubted, as they are not to be found in any of the Historians.

Which contains some excellent Rules for Raillery.

In which the Author condescends to be very minute in the Description of our Heroine's Dress.

Some Reflexions very fit, and others very unfit for an AssemblyRoom.

Being a Chapter of the Satyrical Kind.

In which our Heroine justifies her own Notions by some very illustrious Examples.

In which our Heroine being mistaken herself, gives Occasion for a great many other Mistakes.

In which our Heroine reconciles herself to a mortifying Incident, by recollecting an Adventure in a Romance, similar to her own.

In which our Heroine's Extravagance will be thought, perhaps, to be carried to an extravagant Length.

A Dialogue between Arabella and Lucy, in which the latter seems to have the Advantage.

Book 8.

Contains the Conversation refer'd to in the last Chapter of the preceding Book.

In which our Heroine, as we presume, shews herself in two very different Lights.

The Contrast continued.

In which Mr. Glanville makes an unsuccessful Attempt upon Arabella.

In which is introduc'd a very singular Character.

Containing something which at first Sight may possibly puzzle the Reader.

In which if the Reader has not anticipated it, he will find an Explanation of some seeming Inconsistencies in the foregoing Chapter.

Which concludes Book the Eighth.

Book 9.

In which is related an admirable Adventure.

Which ends with a very unfavourable Prediction for our Heroine.

In which Arabella meets with another admirable Adventure.

In which is related the History of the Princess of Gaul.

A very mysterious Chapter.

Not much plainer than the former.

Containing indeed no great Matters, but being a Prelude to greater.

Which acquaints the Reader with two very extraordinary Accidents.

Which will be found to contain Information absolutely necessary for the right understanding of this History.

A short Chapter indeed, but full of Matter.

Being in the Author's Opinion, the best Chapter in this History.

In which the History is concluded.

Preface

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Middlesex

My Lord,

Such is the Power of Interest over almost every Mind, that no one is long without Arguments to prove any Position which is ardently wished to be true, or to justify any Measures which are dictated by Inclination.

By this subtil Sophistry of Desire, I have been persuaded to hope, that this Book may, without Impropriety, be inscribed to Your Lordship; but am not certain, that my Reasons will have the same Force upon other Understandings.

The Dread which a Writer feels of the public Censure; the still greater Dread of Neglect; and the eager Wish for Support and Protection, which is impressed by the Consciousness of Imbecillity; are unknown to those who have never adventured into the World; and I am afraid, my Lord, equally unknown to those, who have always found the World ready to applaud them.

'Tis, therefore, not unlikely, that the Design of this Address may be mistaken, and the Effects of my Fear imputed to my Vanity: They who see Your Lordship's Name prefixed to my Performance, will rather condemn my Presumption, than compassionate my Anxiety.

But, whatever be supposed my Motive, the Praise of Judgment cannot be denied me; for, to whom can Timidity so properly fly for Shelter, as to him who has been so long distinguished for Candour and Humanity? How can Vanity be so completely gratified, as by the allowed Patronage of him whose Judgment has so long given a Standard to the National Taste? Or by what other means could I so powerfully suppress all Opposition, but that of Envy, as by declaring myself,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's

Obliged and most Obedient

Humble Servant,

The Author?

Book 1.

Chapter 1.

Contains a Turn at Court, neither new nor surprising. — Some useless Additions to a fine Lady's Education. — The bad Effects of a whimsical Study, which some will say is borrowed from Cervantes.

The Marquis of —— for a long Series of Years, was the first and most distinguished Favourite at Court: He held the most honourable Employments under the Crown, disposed of all Places of Profit as he pleased, presided at the Council, and in a manner governed the whole Kingdom.

This extensive Authority could not fail of making him many Enemies: He fell at last a Sacrifice to the Plots they were continually forming against him; and was not only removed from all his Employments, but banished the Court for ever.

The Pain his undeserved Disgrace gave him, he was enabled to conceal by the natural Haughtiness of his Temper; and, behaving rather like a Man who had resigned, than been dismissed from his Posts, he imagined he triumphed sufficiently over the Malice of his Enemies, while he seemed to be wholly insensible of the Effects it produced. His secret Discontent, however, was so much augmented by the Opportunity he now had of observing the Baseness and Ingratitude of Mankind, which in some Degree he experienced every Day, that he resolved to quit all Society whatever, and devote the rest of his Life to Solitude and Privacy. For the Place of his Retreat he pitched upon a Castle he had in a very remote Province of the Kingdom, in the Neighbourhood of a small Village, and several Miles distant from any Town. The vast Extent of Ground which surrounded this noble Building, he had caused to be laid out in a Manner peculiar to his Taste: The most laborious Endeavours of Art had been used to make it appear like the beautiful Product of wild, uncultivated Nature. But if this Epitome of Arcadia could boast of only artless and simple Beauties, the Inside of the Castle was adorned with a Magnificence suitable to the Dignity and immense Riches of the Owner.

While Things were preparing at the Castle for his Reception, the Marquis, though now advanced in Years, cast his Eyes on a young Lady, greatly inferior to himself in Quality, but whose Beauty and good Sense promised him an agreeable Companion. After a very short Courtship, he married her, and in a few Weeks carried his new Bride into the Country, from whence he absolutely resolved never to Return.

The Marquis, following the Plan of Life he had laid down, divided his Time between the Company of his Lady, his Library, which was large and well furnished, and his Gardens. Sometimes he took the Diversion of Hunting, but never admitted any Company whatever; and his Pride and extreme Reserve rendered him so wholly inaccessible to the Country Gentry about him, that none ever presumed to solicit his Acquaintance.

In the Second Year of his Retirement, the Marchioness brought him a Daughter, and died in Three Days after her Delivery. The Marquis, who had tenderly loved her, was extremely afflicted at her Death; but Time having produced its usual Effects, his great Fondness for the little Arabella intirely engrossed his Attention, and made up all the Happiness of his Life. At Four Years of Age he took her from under the Direction of the Nurses and Women appointed to attend her, and permitted her to receive no Part of her Education from another, which he was capable of giving her himself. He taught her to read and write in a very few Months; and, as she grew older, finding in her an uncommon Quickness of Apprehension, and an Understanding capable of great Improvements, he resolved to cultivate so promising a Genius with the utmost Care; and, as he frequently, in the Rapture of paternal Fondness, expressed himself, render her Mind as beautiful as her Person was lovely.

Nature had indeed given her a most charming Face, a Shape easy and delicate, a sweet and insinuating Voice, and an Air so full of Dignity and Grace, as drew the Admiration of all that saw her. These native Charms were improved with all the Heightenings of Art; her Dress was perfectly magnificent; the best Masters of Music and Dancing were sent for from London to attend her. She soon became a perfect Mistress of the French and Italian Languages, under the Care of her Father; and it is not to be doubted, but she would have made a great Proficiency in all useful Knowlege, had not her whole Time been taken up by another Study.

From her earliest Youth she had discovered a Fondness for Reading, which extremely delighted the Marquis; he permitted her therefore the Use of his Library, in which, unfortunately for her, were great Store of Romances, and, what was still more unfortunate, not in the original French, but very bad Translations.

The deceased Marchioness had purchased these Books to soften a Solitude which she found very disagreeable; and, after her Death, the Marquis removed them from her Closet into his Library, where Arabella found them.

The surprising Adventures with which they were filled, proved a most pleasing Entertainment to a young Lady, who was wholly secluded from the World; who had no other Diversion, but ranging like a Nymph through Gardens, or, to say better, the Woods and Lawns in which she was inclosed; and who had no other Conversation but that of a grave and melancholy Father, or her own Attendants.

Her Ideas, from the Manner of her Life, and the Objects around her, had taken a romantic Turn; and, supposing Romances were real Pictures of Life, from them she drew all her Notions and Expectations. By them she was taught to believe, that Love was the ruling Principle of the World; that every other Passion was subordinate to this; and that it caused all the Happiness and Miseries of Life. Her Glass, which she often consulted, always shewed her a Form so extremely lovely, that, not finding herself engaged in such Adventures as were common to the Heroines in the Romances she read, she often complained of the Insensibility of Mankind, upon whom her Charms seemed to have so little Influence.

The perfect Retirement she lived in, afforded indeed no Opportunities of making the Conquests she desired; but she could not comprehend, how any Solitude could be obscure enough to conceal a Beauty like hers from Notice; and thought the Reputation of her Charms sufficient to bring a Croud of Adorers to demand her of her Father. Her Mind being wholly filled with the most extravagant Expectations, she was alarmed by every trifling Incident; and kept in a continual Anxiety by a Vicissitude of Hopes, Fears, Wishes, and Disappointments.