Робинзон Крузо

           ButbeingonedayatHull, whereIwentcasually, andwithoutanypurposeofmakinganelopementatthattime; but,Isay,beingthere,andoneofmycompanionsbeingabouttosailtoLondoninhisfather’sship, andpromptingmetogowiththem withthecommonallurementofseafaringmen, thatitshouldcostmenothingformypassage, Iconsultedneitherfathernormotheranymore, norsomuchassentthemwordofit; butleavingthemtohearofitastheymight,withoutaskingGod’sblessingormyfather’s, withoutanyconsiderationofcircumstancesorconsequences, andinanillhour,Godknows,onthe1stofSeptember1651, IwentonboardashipboundforLondon. Neveranyyoungadventurer’smisfortunes,Ibelieve,begansooner,orcontinuedlongerthanmine. TheshipwasnosooneroutoftheHumberthanthewindbegantoblowandtheseatoriseinamostfrightfulmanner; and,asIhadneverbeenatseabefore, Iwasmostinexpressiblysickinbodyandterrifiedinmind. IbegannowseriouslytoreflectuponwhatIhaddone, andhowjustlyIwasovertakenbythejudgmentofHeaven formywickedleavingmyfather’shouse, andabandoningmyduty. Allthegoodcounselsofmyparents, myfather’stears andmymother’sentreaties, camenowfreshintomymind; andmyconscience,whichwasnotyetcometothepitchofhardnesstowhichithassince, reproachedmewiththecontemptofadvice,andthebreachofmydutytoGodandmyfather. 

           Allthiswhilethestormincreased, andtheseawentveryhigh, thoughnothinglikewhatIhaveseenmanytimessince; no,norwhatIsawafewdaysafter; butitwasenoughtoaffectmethen,whowasbutayoungsailor, andhadneverknownanythingofthematter. Iexpectedeverywavewouldhaveswallowedusup, andthateverytimetheshipfelldown, asIthoughtitdid,inthetroughorhollowofthesea, weshouldneverrisemore;