Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 5
“Iamnonovel-reader—Iseldomlookintonovels—DonotimaginethatIoftenreadnovels—Itisreallyverywellforanovel.”Suchisthecommoncant.“Andwhatareyoureading,Miss—?”“Oh!Itisonlyanovel!”repliestheyounglady,whileshelaysdownherbookwithaffectedindifference,ormomentaryshame.“ItisonlyCecilia,orCamilla,orBelinda”;or,inshort,onlysomeworkinwhichthegreatestpowersofthemindaredisplayed,inwhichthemostthoroughknowledgeofhumannature,thehappiestdelineationofitsvarieties,theliveliesteffusionsofwitandhumour,areconveyedtotheworldinthebest-chosenlanguage.Now,hadthesameyoungladybeenengagedwithavolumeoftheSpectator,insteadofsuchawork,howproudlywouldshehaveproducedthebook,andtolditsname;thoughthechancesmustbeagainstherbeingoccupiedbyanypartofthatvoluminouspublication,ofwhicheitherthematterormannerwouldnotdisgustayoungpersonoftaste:thesubstanceofitspaperssooftenconsistinginthestatementofimprobablecircumstances,unnaturalcharacters,andtopicsofconversationwhichnolongerconcernanyoneliving;andtheirlanguage,too,frequentlysocoarseastogivenoveryfavourableideaoftheagethatcouldendureit.
