Робинзон Крузо
Start in life
giveusbutagoodshipandsea-room, andwethinknothingofsuchasquallofwindasthat; butyou’rebutafresh-watersailor,Bob. Come,letusmakeabowlofpunch, andwe’llforgetallthat; d’yeseewhatcharmingweather‘tisnow?’ Tomakeshortthissadpartofmystory, wewentthewayofallsailors; thepunchwasmadeandIwasmadehalfdrunkwithit: andinthatonenight’swickednessIdrownedallmyrepentance, allmyreflectionsuponmypastconduct, allmyresolutionsforthefuture. Inaword,astheseawasreturnedtoitssmoothnessofsurface andsettledcalmnessbytheabatementofthatstorm, sothehurryofmythoughtsbeingover, myfearsandapprehensionsofbeingswallowedupbytheseabeingforgotten, andthecurrentofmyformerdesiresreturned, IentirelyforgotthevowsandpromisesthatImadeinmydistress. Ifound,indeed,someintervalsofreflection; andtheseriousthoughtsdid,asitwere,endeavourtoreturnagainsometimes; butIshookthemoff, androusedmyselffromthemasitwerefromadistemper, andapplyingmyselftodrinkingandcompany,soonmasteredthereturnofthosefits -forsoIcalledthem; andIhadinfiveorsixdaysgotascompleteavictoryoverconscience asanyyoungfellowthatresolvednottobetroubledwithitcoulddesire. ButIwastohaveanothertrialforitstill; andProvidence,asinsuchcasesgenerallyitdoes,resolvedtoleavemeentirelywithoutexcuse; forifIwouldnottakethisforadeliverance, thenextwastobesuchaoneastheworstandmosthardenedwretchamongus wouldconfessboththedangerandthemercyof.
ThesixthdayofourbeingatseawecameintoYarmouthRoads; thewindhavingbeencontraryandtheweathercalm,wehadmadebutlittlewaysincethestorm.
