Робинзон Крузо
Ill and Conscience–Stricken
WhenIwasonthedesperateexpeditiononthedesertshoresofAfrica,Ineverhadsomuchasonethoughtofwhatwouldbecomeofme;oronewishtoGodtodirectmewhitherIshouldgo,ortokeepmefromthedangerwhichapparentlysurroundedme,aswellfromvoraciouscreaturesascruelsavages. ButIwasmerelythoughtlessofaGodoraProvidence;actedlikeamerebrutefromtheprinciplesofNature,andbythedictatesofcommonsenseonly,andindeedhardlythat.
WhenIwasdeliveredandtakenupatseabythePortugalcaptain,wellused,anddealtjustlyandhonorablywith,aswellascharitably,Ihadnottheleastthankfulnessinmythoughts. WhenagainIwasshipwrecked,ruined,andindangerofdrowningonthisisland,Iwasasfarfromremorse,orlookingonitasajudgment; Ionlysaidtomyselfoften,thatIwasanunfortunatedog,andborntobealwaysmiserable.
Itistrue,whenIgotonshorefirsthere,andfoundallmyship’screwdrowned,andmyselfspared,Iwassurprisedwithakindofecstasy,andsometransportsofsoul,which,hadthegraceofGodassisted,mighthavecomeuptotruethankfulness; butitendedwhereitbegun,inamerecommonflightofjoy,or,asImaysay,beinggladIwasalive,withouttheleastreflectionuponthedistinguishinggoodnessoftheHandwhichhadpreservedme,andhadsingledmeouttobepreserved,whenalltherestweredestroyed; oraninquirywhyProvidencehadbeenthusmercifultome; evenjustthesamecommonsortofjoywhichseamengenerallyhaveaftertheyaregotsafeashorefromashipwreck,whichtheydrownallinthenextbowlofpunch,andforgetalmostassoonasitisover,andalltherestofmylifewaslikeit.
