“When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind
the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue
in this emergency. A residence in Turkey was
abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were
alike averse to it. By some papers of her father
which fell into her hands she heard of the exile of
her lover and learnt the name of the spot where he
then resided. She hesitated some time, but at
length she formed her determination. Taking
with her some jewels that belonged to her and a sum
of money, she quitted Italy with an attendant, a native
of Leghorn, but who understood the common language
of Turkey, and departed for Germany.
“She arrived in safety at a town about twenty
leagues from the cottage of De Lacey, when her attendant
fell dangerously ill. Safie nursed her with
the most devoted affection, but the poor girl died,
and the Arabian was left alone, unacquainted with
the language of the country and utterly ignorant of
the customs of the world. She fell, however,
into good hands. The Italian had mentioned the
name of the spot for which they were bound, and after
her death the woman of the house in which they had
lived took care that Safie should arrive in safety
at the cottage of her lover.”
Chapter 15
“Such was the history of my beloved cottagers.
It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the
views of social life which it developed, to admire
their virtues and to deprecate the vices of mankind.
“As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil,
benevolence and generosity were ever present before
me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor
in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities
were called forth and displayed. But in giving
an account of the progress of my intellect, I must
not omit a circumstance which occurred in the beginning
of the month of August of the same year.
“One night during my accustomed visit to the
neighbouring wood where I collected my own food and
brought home firing for my protectors, I found on
the ground a leathern portmanteau containing several
articles of dress and some books. I eagerly
seized the prize and returned with it to my hovel.
Fortunately the books were written in the language,
the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage;
they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s
Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter. The possession
of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now
continually studied and exercised my mind upon these
histories, whilst my friends were employed in their
ordinary occupations.
“I can hardly describe to you the effect of
these books. They produced in me an infinity
of new images and feelings, that sometimes raised me
to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest
dejection. In the Sorrows of Werter, besides
the interest of its simple and affecting story, so
many opinions are canvassed and so many lights thrown
upon what had hitherto been to me obscure subjects
