It will be naturally expected, that when I write the Life of
_Shamela_, I should dedicate it to some young Lady, whose Wit and
Beauty might be the proper Subject of a Comparison with the Heroine
of my Piece. This, those, who see I have done it in prefixing your
Name to my Work, will much more confirmedly expect me to do; and,
indeed, your Character would enable me to run some Length into a
Parallel, tho' you, nor any one else, are at all like the matchless
_Shamela_.
You see, Madam, I have some Value for your Good-nature, when in a
Dedication, which is properly a Panegyrick, I speak against, not for
you; but I remember it is a Life which I am presenting you, and why
should I expose my Veracity to any Hazard in the Front of the Work,
considering what I have done in the Body. Indeed, I wish it was
possible to write a Dedication, and get any thing by it, without one
Word of Flattery; but since it is not, come on, and I hope to shew my
Delicacy at least in the Compliments I intend to pay you.
_First_, then, Madam, I must tell the World, that you have tickled up
and brightned many Strokes in this Work by your Pencil.
_Secondly_, You have intimately conversed with me, one of the
greatest Wits and Scholars of my Age.
_Thirdly_, You keep very good Hours, and frequently spend an useful
Day before others begin to enjoy it. This I will take my Oath on; for
I am admitted to your Presence in a Morning before other People's
Servants are up; when I have constantly found you reading in good
Books; and if ever I have drawn you upon me, I have always felt you
very heavy.
_Fourthly_, You have a Virtue which enables you to rise early and
study hard, and that is, forbearing to over-eat yourself, and this in
spite of all the luscious Temptations of Puddings and Custards,
exciting the Brute (as Dr. _Woodward_ calls it) to rebel. This is a
Virtue which I can greatly admire, though I much question whether I
could imitate it.
_Fifthly_, A Circumstance greatly to your Honour, that by means of
your extraordinary Merit and Beauty; you was carried into the
Ball-Room at the _Bath_, by the discerning Mr. _Nash_; before the Age
that other young Ladies generally arrived at that Honour, and while
your Mamma herself existed in her perfect Bloom. Here you was
observed in Dancing to balance your Body exactly, and to weigh every
Motion with the exact and equal Measure of Time and Tune; and though
you sometimes made a false Step, by leaning too much to one Side; yet
every body said you would one time or other, dance perfectly well,
and uprightly.
_Sixthly_, I cannot forbear mentioning those pretty little Sonnets,
and sprightly Compositions, which though they came from you with so
much Ease, might be mentioned to the Praise of a great or grave
Character.
And now, Madam, I have done with you; it only remains to pay my
Acknowledgments to an Author, whose Stile I have exactly followed in
this Life, it being the properest for Biography. The Reader, I
believe, easily guesses, I mean _Euclid's Elements_; it was _Euclid_
who taught me to write. It is you, Madam, who pay me for Writing.
Therefore I am to both,
_A most Obedient, and_
_obliged humble Servant_,
Conny Keyber.
[Illustration]
LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR.
The EDITOR to _Himself_.
_Dear SIR_,
However you came by the excellent _Shamela_, out with it, without
Fear or Favour, Dedication and all; believe me, it will go through
many Editions, be translated into all Languages, read in all Nations
and Ages, and to say a bold Word, it will do more good than the
_C----y_ have done harm in the World,
_I am, Sir,_
_Sincerely your Well-wisher_,
Yourself.
[Illustration]
JOHN PUFF, _Esq; to the_ EDITOR.
_SIR_,
I have read your _Shamela_ through and through, and a most inimitable
Performance it is. Who is he, what is he that could write so
excellent a Book? he must be doubtless most agreeable to the Age, and
to _his Honour_ himself; for he is able to draw every thing to
Perfection but Virtue. Whoever the Author be, he hath one of the
worst and most fashionable Hearts in the World, and I would recommend
to him, in his next Performance, to undertake the Life of _his
Honour_. For he who drew the Character of Parson _Williams_, is equal
to the Task; nay he seems to have little more to do than to pull off
the Parson's Gown, and _that_ which makes him so agreeable to
_Shamela_, and the Cap will fit.
_I am, Sir,_
_Your humble Servant_,