


                               Samuel Richardson

                                   Pamela, or

                                        

                                Virtue Rewarded

 In a series of familiar letters from a beautiful young damsel to her parents:
and afterwards, in her exalted condition, between her, and persons of figure and
  quality, upon the most important and entertaining subjects, in genteel life.
  Publish'd in order to cultivate the principles of virtue and religion in the
                        minds of the youth of both sexes

                             Preface by the Editor.

IF to Divert and Entertain, and at the same time to Instruct, and Improve the
Minds of the YOUTH of both Sexes:
    IF to inculcate Religion and Morality in so easy and agreeable a manner, as
shall render them equally delightful and profitable to the younger Class of
Readers, as well as worthy of the Attention of Persons of maturer Years and
Understandings:
    IF to set forth in the most exemplary Lights, the Parental, the Filial, and
the Social Duties, and that from low to high Life:
    IF to paint VICE in its proper Colours, to make it deservedly Odious; and to
set VIRTUE in its own amiable Light, to make it truly Lovely:
    IF to draw Characters justly, and to support them equally:
    IF to raise a Distress from natural Causes, and to excite Compassion from
proper Motives:
    IF to teach the Man of Fortune how to use it; the Man of Passion how to
subdue it; and the Man of Intrigue, how, gracefully, and with Honour to himself,
to reclaim:
    IF to give practical Examples, worthy to be followed in the most critical
and affecting Cases, by the modest Virgin, the chaste Bride, and the obliging
Wife:
    IF to effect all these good Ends, in so probable, so natural, so lively a
manner, as shall engage the Passions of every sensible Reader, and strongly
interest them in the edifying Story:
    AND all without raising a single Idea throughout the Whole, that shall shock
the exactest Purity, even in those tender Instances where the exactest Purity
would be most apprehensive:
    IF these, (embellished with a great Variety of entertaining Incidents) be
laudable or worthy Recommendations of any Work, the Editor of the following
Letters, which have their Foundation in Truth and Nature, ventures to assert,
that all these desirable Ends are obtained in these Sheets: And as he is
therefore confident of the favourable Reception which he boldly bespeaks for
this little Work; he thinks any further Preface or Apology for it, unnecessary:
And the rather for two Reasons, 1st. Because he can Appeal from his own
Passions, (which have been uncommonly moved in persuing these engaging Scenes)
to the Passions of Every one
