Робінзон Крузо

           AndthusIhavegiventhefirstpartofalifeoffortuneandadventure,alifeofProvidence’schecker-worker,andofavarietytheworldwillseldombeabletoshowthelikeof; beginningfoolishly,butclosingmuchmorehappilythananypartofitevergavemeleavesomuchastohopefor. 

           AnyonewouldthinkthatinthisstateofcomplicatedgoodfortuneIwaspastrunninganymorehazards; andsoindeedIhadbeen,ifothercircumstanceshadconcurred. ButIwasinuredtoawanderinglife,hadnofamily,notmanyrelations,nor,howeverrich,hadIcontractedmuchacquaintance; andthoughIhadsoldmyestateintheBrazils,yetIcouldnotkeepthecountryoutofmyhead,andhadagreatmindtobeuponthewingagain; especiallyIcouldnotresistthestronginclinationIhadtoseemyisland,andtoknowifthepoorSpaniardswereinbeingthere,andhowtheroguesIlefttherehadusedthem. 

           Mytruefriend,thewidow,earnestlydissuadedmefromit,andsofarprevailedwithme,thatforalmostsevenyearsshepreventedmyrunningabroad,duringwhichtimeItookmytwonephews,thechildrenofoneofmybrothers,intomycare. Theeldesthavingsomethingofhisown,Ibredupasagentleman,andgavehimasettlementofsomeadditiontohisestateaftermydecease. TheotherIputouttoacaptainofaship,andafterfiveyears,findinghimasensible,bold,enterprisingyoungfellow,Iputhimintoagoodship,andsenthimtosea; andthisyoungfellowafterwardsdrewmein,asoldasIwas,tofartheradventuresmyself. 

           Inthemeantime,Iinpartsettledmyselfhere; for,firstofall,Imarried,andthatnoteithertomydisadvantageordissatisfaction,andhadthreechildren,twosonsandonedaughter;