CHAPTER XIII.
_What happened to Joseph during his sickness at the inn, with thecurious discourse between him and Mr Barnabas, the parson ofthe parish._
As soon as Joseph had communicated a particular history of the robbery,together with a short account of himself, and his intended journey, heasked the surgeon if he apprehended him to be in any danger: to whichthe surgeon very honestly answered, "He feared he was; for that hispulse was very exalted and feverish, and, if his fever should prove morethan symptomatic, it would be impossible to save him." Joseph, fetchinga deep sigh, cried, "Poor Fanny, I would I could have lived to see thee!but God's will be done."
The surgeon then advised him, if he had any worldly affairs to settle,that he would do it as soon as possible; for, though he hoped he mightrecover, yet he thought himself obliged to acquaint him he was in greatdanger; and if the malign concoction of his humours should cause asuscitation of his fever, he might soon grow delirious and incapable tomake his will. Joseph answered, "That it was impossible for any creaturein the universe to be in a poorer condition than himself; for since therobbery he had not one thing of any kind whatever which he could callhis own." "I had," said he, "a poor little piece of gold, which theytook away, that would have been a comfort to me in all my afflictions;but surely, Fanny, I want nothing to remind me of thee. I have thy dearimage in my heart, and no villain can ever tear it thence."
Joseph desired paper and pens, to write a letter, but they were refusedhim; and he was advised to use all his endeavours to compose himself.They then left him; and Mr Tow-wouse sent to a clergyman to come andadminister his good offices to the soul of poor Joseph, since thesurgeon despaired of making any successful applications to his body.
Mr Barnabas (for that was the clergyman's name) came as soon as sentfor; and, having first drank a dish of tea with the landlady, andafterwards a bowl of punch with the landlord, he walked up to the roomwhere Joseph lay; but, finding him asleep, returned to take the othersneaker; which when he had finished, he again crept softly up to thechamber-door, and, having opened it, heard the sick man talking tohimself in the following manner:--
"O most adorable Pamela! most virtuous sister! whose example could aloneenable me to withstand all the temptations of riches and beauty, and topreserve my virtue pure and chaste for the arms of my dear Fanny, if ithad pleased Heaven that I should ever have come unto them. What riches,or honours, or pleasures, can make us amends for the loss of innocence?Doth not that alone afford us more consolation than all worldlyacquisitions? What but innocence and virtue could give any comfort tosuch a miserable wretch as I am? Yet these can make me prefer this sickand painful bed to all the pleasures I should have found in my lady's.These can make me face death without fear; and though I love my Fannymore than ever man loved a woman, these can teach me to resign myself tothe Divine will without repining. O thou delightful charming creature!if Heaven had indulged thee to my arms, the poorest, humblest statewould have been a paradise; I could have lived with thee in the lowestcottage without envying the palaces, the dainties, or the riches of anyman breathing. But I must leave thee, leave thee for ever, my dearestangel! I must think of another world; and I heartily pray thou may'stmeet comfort in this."--Barnabas thought he had heard enough, sodownstairs he went, and told Tow-wouse he could do his guest no service;for that he was very light-headed, and had uttered nothing but arhapsody of nonsense all the time he stayed in the room.
The surgeon returned in the afternoon, and found his patient in a higherfever, as he said, than when he left him, though not delirious; for,notwithstanding Mr Barnabas's opinion, he had not been once out of hissenses since his arrival at the inn.
Mr Barnabas was again sent for, and with much difficulty prevailed on tomake another visit. As soon as he entered the room he told Joseph "Hewas come to pray by him, and to prepare him for another world: in thefirst place, therefore, he hoped he had repented of all his sins."Joseph answered, "He hoped he had; but there was one thing which he knewnot whether he should call a sin; if it was, he feared he should die inthe commission of it; and that was, the regret of parting with a youngwoman whom he loved as tenderly as he did his heart-strings." Barnabasbad him be assured "that any repining at the Divine will was one of thegreatest sins he could commit; that he ought to forget all carnalaffections, and think of better things." Joseph said, "That neither inthis world nor the next he could forget his Fanny; and that the thought,however grievous, of parting from her for ever, was not half sotormenting as the fear of what she would suffer when she knew hismisfortune." Barnabas said, "That such fears argued a diffidence anddespondence very criminal; that he must divest himself of all humanpassions, and fix his heart above." Joseph answered, "That was what hedesired to do, and should be obliged to him if he would enable him toaccomplish it." Barnabas replied, "That must be done by grace." Josephbesought him to discover how he might attain it. Barnabas answered, "Byprayer and faith." He then questioned him concerning his forgiveness ofthe thieves. Joseph answered, "He feared that was more than he could do;for nothing would give him more pleasure than to hear they weretaken."--"That," cries Barnabas, "is for the sake of justice."--"Yes,"said Joseph, "but if I was to meet them again, I am afraid I shouldattack them, and kill them too, if I could."--"Doubtless," answeredBarnabas, "it is lawful to kill a thief; but can you say you forgivethem as a Christian ought?" Joseph desired to know what that forgivenesswas. "That is," answered Barnabas, "to forgive them as--as--it is toforgive them as--in short, it is to forgive them as a Christian."--Joseph replied, "He forgave them as much as he could."--"Well, well,"said Barnabas, "that will do." He then demanded of him, "If heremembered any more sins unrepented of; and if he did, he desired him tomake haste and repent of them as fast as he could, that they mightrepeat over a few prayers together." Joseph answered, "He could notrecollect any great crimes he had been guilty of, and that those he hadcommitted he was sincerely sorry for." Barnabas said that was enough,and then proceeded to prayer with all the expedition he was master of,some company then waiting for him below in the parlour, where theingredients for punch were all in readiness; but no one would squeezethe oranges till he came.
Joseph complained he was dry, and desired a little tea; which Barnabasreported to Mrs Tow-wouse, who answered, "She had just done drinking it,and could not be slopping all day;" but ordered Betty to carry him upsome small beer.
Betty obeyed her mistress's commands; but Joseph, as soon as he hadtasted it, said, he feared it would increase his fever, and that helonged very much for tea; to which the good-natured Betty answered, heshould have tea, if there was any in the land; she accordingly went andbought him some herself, and attended him with it; where we will leaveher and Joseph together for some time, to entertain the reader withother matters.
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