Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Texts
- The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery
- Life’s Progress through the Passions: or, The Adventures of Natura
- LIFE'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE PASSIONS: INTRODUCTION
- Book the First
- BOOK the Second
- CHAP. I The inconsideration and instability of youth, when unrestrained by authority, is here exemplified, in an odd adventure Natura embarked in with two nuns, after the death of his governor
- CHAP. II The pleasures of travelling described, and the improvement a sensible mind may receive from it: with some hints to the censorious, not to be too severe on errors, the circumstances of which they are ignorant of, occasioned by a remarkable instance of an involuntary slip of nature
- CHAP. III The uncertainty of human events displayed in many surprizing turns of fortune, which befel Natura, on his endeavouring to settle himself in the world: with some proofs of the necessity of fortitude, as it may happen that actions, excited by the greatest virtue, may prove the source of evil, both to ourselves and others
- CHAP. IV The power of fear over a mind, weak either by nature, or infirmities of body: The danger of its leading to despair, is shewn by the condition Natura was reduced to by the importunities of priests of different perswasions. This chapter also demonstrates, the little power people have of judging what is really best for them, and that what has the appearance of the severest disappointment, is frequently the greatest good
- CHAP. V Shews that there is no one human advantage to which all others should be sacrificed: – the force of ambition, and the folly of suff ering it to gain too great an ascendant over us: – public grandeur little capable of atoning for private discontent; among which jealousy, whether of love or honour, is the most tormenting
- BOOK the Third
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. I - The inconsideration and instability of youth, when unrestrained by authority, is here exemplified, in an odd adventure Natura embarked in with two nuns, after the death of his governor
from BOOK the Second
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Texts
- The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery
- Life’s Progress through the Passions: or, The Adventures of Natura
- LIFE'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE PASSIONS: INTRODUCTION
- Book the First
- BOOK the Second
- CHAP. I The inconsideration and instability of youth, when unrestrained by authority, is here exemplified, in an odd adventure Natura embarked in with two nuns, after the death of his governor
- CHAP. II The pleasures of travelling described, and the improvement a sensible mind may receive from it: with some hints to the censorious, not to be too severe on errors, the circumstances of which they are ignorant of, occasioned by a remarkable instance of an involuntary slip of nature
- CHAP. III The uncertainty of human events displayed in many surprizing turns of fortune, which befel Natura, on his endeavouring to settle himself in the world: with some proofs of the necessity of fortitude, as it may happen that actions, excited by the greatest virtue, may prove the source of evil, both to ourselves and others
- CHAP. IV The power of fear over a mind, weak either by nature, or infirmities of body: The danger of its leading to despair, is shewn by the condition Natura was reduced to by the importunities of priests of different perswasions. This chapter also demonstrates, the little power people have of judging what is really best for them, and that what has the appearance of the severest disappointment, is frequently the greatest good
- CHAP. V Shews that there is no one human advantage to which all others should be sacrificed: – the force of ambition, and the folly of suff ering it to gain too great an ascendant over us: – public grandeur little capable of atoning for private discontent; among which jealousy, whether of love or honour, is the most tormenting
- BOOK the Third
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
NOVELTY has charms for persons of all ages, but more especially in youth, when manhood is unripened by maturity, when all the passions are afloat, and reason not sufficiently established in her throne by experience and reflection, the mind is fluctuating, easily carried down the stream of every diff erent inclination that invites, and seldom or never has a constant bent.
From seventeen or eighteen to one or two and twenty, I look upon to be that season of life in which all the errors we commit, will admit of most excuse, because we are then at an age to think ourselves men, without the power of acting as becomes reasonable men. It was in the midst of this dangerous time, that Natura set out in order to make the tour of Europe, and his governor dying soon after their arrival in Paris, our young traveller was left to himself, and at liberty to pursue whatever he had a fancy for.
The death of this gentleman was in effect a very great misfortune to Natura; but as at his time of life we are all too apt to be impatient under any restraint, tho' never so mild and reasonable, he did not consider it in that light; and therefore less lamented his loss, than his good nature would have made him do, had he been the companion of his travels in any other station than that of governor, the very name of which implied a right of direction over his behaviour, and a power delegated by his father of circumscribing every thing he did.
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- Information
- The Rash Resolve and Life's Progressby Eliza Haywood, pp. 110 - 129Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014