Даниэль Дефо - Roxana

He told me, that Money purchas’d Titles of Honour in almost all Parts of the World; tho’ Money cou’d not give Principles of Honour, they must come by Birth and Blood; that however, Titles sometimes assist to elevate the Soul, and to infuse generous Principles into the Mind, and especially, where there was a good Foundation laid in the Persons; that he hop’d we shou’d neither of us misbehave, if we came to it; and that as we knew how to wear a Title without undue Elevations, so it might sit as well upon us, as on another; that as to England , he had nothing to do, but to get an Act of Naturalization in his Favour, and he knew where to purchase a Patent for BARONET, [279] a Patent for Baronet : letters patent, an open letter or document conferring the rank of baronet. that is to say , to have the Honour and Title transferr’d to him; but if I intended to go Abroad with him, he had a Nephew, the Son of his Elder Brother, who had the Title of COUNT, with the Estate annex’d, [280] the Title of COUNT, with the Estate annex’d : In some continental countries, notably Germany, countships early on became territorial, rather than an hereditary personal honour. which was but small; and that he had frequently offer’d to make it over to him for a thousand Pistoles, which was not a great-deal of Money; and considering it was in the Family already, he wou’d, upon my being willing, purchase it immediately.

I told him , I lik’d the last best; but then, I wou’d not let him buy it, unless he wou’d let me pay the thousand Pistoles: No, No, says he , I refus’d a thousand Pistoles that I had more Right to have accepted, than that, and you shall not be at so much Expence now: Yes, says I , you did refuse it, and perhaps, repented it afterwards: I never complain’d, says he ; but I did, says I , and often repented it for you: I do not understand you, says he : Why, says I , I repented that I suffer’d you to refuse it: Well, well, said he , we may talk of that hereafter, when you shall resolve which Part of the World you will make your settl’d Residence in: Here he talk’d very handsomely to me, and for a good-while together; how it had been his Lot to live all his Days out of his Native Country, and to be often shifting and changing the Situation of his Affairs; and that I myself had not always had a fix’d Abode; but that now, as neither of us was very Young, he fancy’d I wou’d be for taking-up our Abode, where, if possible , we might remove no more; that as to his Part, he was of that Opinion entirely, only with this Exception, that the Choice of the Place shou’d be mine; for, that all Places in the World were alike to him; only with this single Addition, namely , that I was with him.

I heard him with a great-deal of Pleasure, as well for his being willing to give me the Choice, as for that I resolv’d to live Abroad, for the Reason I have mention’d already, namely , lest I shou’d at any-time be known in England , and all that Story of Roxana , and the Balls, shou’d come out; as also I was not a little tickl’d with the Satisfaction of being still a Countess , tho’ I cou’d not be a Princess .

I told Amy all this Story, for she was still my Privy-Counsellor; but when I ask’d her Opinion, she made me laugh heartily: Now, which of the two shall I take , Amy? said I ; shall I be a Lady, that is , a Baronet’s Lady in England , or a Countess in Holland ? the ready-witted Jade, that knew the Pride of my Temper too, almost as well as did myself, answer’d (without the least Hesitation) both Madam ; which of them! says she , (repeating the Words) why not both of them? and then you will be really a Princess ; for sure, to be a Lady in English , and a Countess in Dutch , may make a Princess in High-Dutch : Upon the whole, tho’ Amy was in jest, she put the Thought into my Head, and I resolv’d, that, in short , I wou’d be both of them; which I manag’d as you shall hear.

First , I seem’d to resolve that I wou’d live and settle in England , only with this Condition, namely , that I wou’d not live in London ; I pretended that it wou’d choak me up; that I wanted Breath when I was in London ; but that any-where else I wou’d be satisfied; and then I ask’d him, whether any Sea-Port Town in England wou’d not suit him? because I knew, tho’ he seem’d to leave off, he wou’d always love to be among Business, and conversing with Men of Business; and I nam’d several Places, either nearest for Business with France , or with Holland ; as Dover , or Southampton for the first ; and I pswich , or Yarmouth , or Hull , for the last ; but I took care that we wou’d resolve upon nothing; only by this it seem’d to be certain, that we shou’d live in England .

It was time now, to bring things to a Conclusion, and so in about six Weeks time more, we settl’d all our Preliminaries; and among the rest, he let me know, that he shou’d have the Bill for his Naturalization pass’d time enough; so that he wou’d be, (as he call’d it) an Englishman , before we marry’d : That was soon perfected, the Parliament being then sitting, and several other Foreigners joining in the said Bill, to save the Expence.

It was not above three or four Days after, but that, without giving me the least Notice that he had so much as been about the Patent for Baronet , he brought it me in a fine embroider’d Bag; and saluting me by the Name of my Lady — (joining his own Sirname to it) presented it to me, with his Picture set with Diamonds; and at the same time, gave me a Breast-Jewel worth a thousand Pistoles, and the next Morning we were marry’d: Thus I put an End to all the intrieguing Part of my Life; a Life full of prosperous Wickedness; the Reflections upon which, were so much the more afflicting, as the time had been spent in the grossest Crimes, which the more I look’d-back upon, the more black and horrid they appear’d, effectually drinking up all the Comfort and Satisfaction which I might otherwise have taken in that Part of Life which was still before me.

The first Satisfaction, however, that I took in the new Condition I was in, was in reflecting, that at length the Life of Crime was over; and that I was like a Passenger coming back from the Indies , [281] the Indies : When neither east or west is specified, the East Indies are meant. The West Indies were generally so called. who having, after many Years Fatigues and Hurry in Business, gotten a good Estate, with innumerable Difficulties and Hazards, is arriv’d safe at London with all his Effects, and has the Pleasure of saying, he shall never venture upon the Seas any-more.

When we were marry’d, we came back immediately to my Lodgings, (for the Church was but just-by) and we were so privately marry’d, that none but Amy and my Friend the QUAKER, was acquainted with it: As soon as we came into the House, he took me in his Arms, and kissing me, Now you are my Own , says he; O! that you had been so good to have done this eleven Years ago: Then, said I , you perhaps, wou’d have been tir’d of me long ago ; ’tis much better now, for now all our happy Days are to come; besides, said I , I should not have been half so rich; but that I said to myself, for there was no letting him into the Reason of it: O! says he , I shou’d not [have] been tir’d of you; but besides having the Satisfaction of your Company, it had sav’d me that unlucky Blow at Paris , which was a dead Loss to me, of above 8000 Pistoles, and all the Fatigues of so many Years Hurry and Business; and then he added , but I’ll make you pay for it all, now I have you: I started a little at the Words: Ay , said I, do you threaten already ? Pray what d’ye mean by that? and began to look a little grave .