Робінзон Крузо
Return to England
Inthisvessel,afteralongvoyage,IarrivedinEngland,the11thofJune,intheyear1687,havingbeenthirtyandfiveyearsabsent.
WhenIcametoEnglandIwasaperfectastrangertoalltheworldasifIhadneverbeenknownthere. Mybenefactorandfaithfulsteward,whomIhadleftintrustwithmymoney,wasalive,buthadhadgreatmisfortunesintheworld,wasbecomeawidowthesecondtime,andverylowintheworld. Imadehereasyastowhatsheowedme,assuringherthatIwouldgivehernotrouble; butonthecontrary,ingratitudetoherformercareandfaithfulnesstome,Irelievedherasmylittlestockwouldafford; which,atthattime,wouldindeedallowmetodobutlittleforher; butIassuredherIwouldneverforgetherformerkindnesstome,nordidIforgetherwhenIhadsufficienttohelpher,asshallbeobservedinitsplace.
IwentdownafterwardsintoYorkshire;butmyfatherwasdead,andmymotherandallthefamilyextinct,exceptthatIfoundtwosisters,andtwoofthechildrenofoneofmybrothers; andasIhadbeenlongagogivenoverfordead,therehadbeennoprovisionmadeforme; sothat,inaword,Ifoundnothingtorelieveorassistme;andthatlittlemoneyIhadwouldnotdomuchformeastosettlingintheworld.
Imetwithonepieceofgratitude,indeed,whichIdidnotexpect; andthiswas,thatthemasteroftheshipwhomIhadsohappilydelivered,andbythesamemeanssavedtheshipandcargo, havinggivenaveryhandsomeaccounttotheownersofthemannerhowIhadsavedthelivesofthemen,andtheship,theyinvitedmetomeetthem,andsomeothermerchantsconcerned,andalltogethermademeaveryhandsomecomplimentuponthesubject,andapresentofalmostL200sterling.
