The Fortunate Mistress (Parts 1 and 2)
Page 3
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
The history of this beautiful lady is to speak for itself; if it is notas beautiful as the lady herself is reported to be; if it is not asdiverting as the reader can desire, and much more than he can reasonablyexpect; and if all the most diverting parts of it are not adapted to theinstruction and improvement of the reader, the relator says it must befrom the defect of his performance; dressing up the story in worseclothes than the lady whose words he speaks, prepared for the world.
He takes the liberty to say that this story differs from most of themodern performances of this kind, though some of them have met with avery good reception in the world. I say, it differs from them in thisgreat and essential article, namely, that the foundation of this is laidin truth of fact; and so the work is not a story, but a history.
The scene is laid so near the place where the main part of it wastransacted that it was necessary to conceal names and persons, lest whatcannot be yet entirely forgot in that part of the town should beremembered, and the facts traced back too plainly by the many peopleyet living, who would know the persons by the particulars.
It is not always necessary that the names of persons should bediscovered, though the history may be many ways useful; and if we shouldbe always obliged to name the persons, or not to relate the story, theconsequence might be only this--that many a pleasant and delightfulhistory would be buried in the dark, and the world deprived both of thepleasure and the profit of it.
The writer says he was particularly acquainted with this lady's firsthusband, the brewer, and with his father, and also with his badcircumstances, and knows that first part of the story to be truth.
This may, he hopes, be a pledge for the credit of the rest, though thelatter part of her history lay abroad, and could not be so well vouchedas the first; yet, as she has told it herself, we have the less reasonto question the truth of that part also.
In the manner she has told the story, it is evident she does not insistupon her justification in any one part of it; much less does sherecommend her conduct, or, indeed, any part of it, except herrepentance, to our imitation. On the contrary, she makes frequentexcursions, in a just censuring and condemning her own practice. Howoften does she reproach herself in the most passionate manner, and guideus to just reflections in the like cases!
It is true she met with unexpected success in all her wicked courses;but even in the highest elevations of her prosperity she makes frequentacknowledgments that the pleasure of her wickedness was not worth therepentance; and that all the satisfaction she had, all the joy in theview of her prosperity--no, nor all the wealth she rolled in, the gaietyof her appearance, the equipages and the honours she was attended with,could quiet her mind, abate the reproaches of her conscience, or procureher an hour's sleep when just reflection kept her waking.
The noble inferences that are drawn from this one part are worth all therest of the story, and abundantly justify, as they are the professeddesign of, the publication.
If there are any parts in her story which, being obliged to relate awicked action, seem to describe it too plainly, the writer says allimaginable care has been taken to keep clear of indecencies and immodestexpressions; and it is hoped you will find nothing to prompt a viciousmind, but everywhere much to discourage and expose it.
Scenes of crime can scarce be represented in such a manner but some maymake a criminal use of them; but when vice is painted in its low-prizedcolours, it is not to make people in love with it, but to expose it; andif the reader makes a wrong use of the figures, the wickedness is hisown.
In the meantime, the advantages of the present work are so great, andthe virtuous reader has room for so much improvement, that we make noquestion the story, however meanly told, will find a passage to his besthours, and be read both with profit and delight.