Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- CHAP. I The Author, contrary to his expectation, finds himself under a necessity of making an introductory Preface to this Volume, and at the same time presents the Reader with two letters of a pretty extraordinary nature
- CHAP. II The Author flatters himself will be no unacceptable present to all those of the fair sex, who are either truly innocent, or would preserve the reputation of being so
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with the catastrophe of an adventure very different from what the beginning may have given him reason to expect
- CHAP. IV Contains the rehearsal of a conversation which the Author accidentally happen'd to be witness of, and looks upon himself as bound by an indispensible obligation to make public; though perfectly conscious, from his observations of mankind, that there are a very great many of his readers who will labour all they can to bring these pages into discredit
- CHAP. V Presents the reader with the detail of a very remarkable incident, which, I believe, if consider'd with a due attention, there are but few people, especially of the Fair Sex, who will not find themselves enabled to become better members of society by having perused
- CHAP. VI Which, according to the Author's opinion, stands in no need of a prelude, as it contains only the sequel of an adventure too interesting to all degrees of people not to demand the attention of every reader
- CHAP. VII Is somewhat more concise than ordinary, but very much to the purpose, and will be found not the least worthy of any in the book of being regarded with attention
- CHAP. VIII Presents the public with the account of an incident which cannot but be deeply affecting to the youth of both sexes, and no less remarkable in its event than any the Author's Invisibilityship ever enabled him to discover
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. V - Presents the reader with the detail of a very remarkable incident, which, I believe, if consider'd with a due attention, there are but few people, especially of the Fair Sex, who will not find themselves enabled to become better members of society by having perused
from BOOK VII
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- BOOK VII
- CHAP. I The Author, contrary to his expectation, finds himself under a necessity of making an introductory Preface to this Volume, and at the same time presents the Reader with two letters of a pretty extraordinary nature
- CHAP. II The Author flatters himself will be no unacceptable present to all those of the fair sex, who are either truly innocent, or would preserve the reputation of being so
- CHAP. III Presents the reader with the catastrophe of an adventure very different from what the beginning may have given him reason to expect
- CHAP. IV Contains the rehearsal of a conversation which the Author accidentally happen'd to be witness of, and looks upon himself as bound by an indispensible obligation to make public; though perfectly conscious, from his observations of mankind, that there are a very great many of his readers who will labour all they can to bring these pages into discredit
- CHAP. V Presents the reader with the detail of a very remarkable incident, which, I believe, if consider'd with a due attention, there are but few people, especially of the Fair Sex, who will not find themselves enabled to become better members of society by having perused
- CHAP. VI Which, according to the Author's opinion, stands in no need of a prelude, as it contains only the sequel of an adventure too interesting to all degrees of people not to demand the attention of every reader
- CHAP. VII Is somewhat more concise than ordinary, but very much to the purpose, and will be found not the least worthy of any in the book of being regarded with attention
- CHAP. VIII Presents the public with the account of an incident which cannot but be deeply affecting to the youth of both sexes, and no less remarkable in its event than any the Author's Invisibilityship ever enabled him to discover
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
A certain sacred writer tells us, that the tongue is an unruly member, and preaches much concerning the government of it; – but I dare not presume to insist too much on his authority, as he has been, with others of his cotemporaries, pretty much exploded for almost half a century; and I might be look'd upon, by my polite readers, as a very old-fashion'd silly fellow to make any mention of him.
But I may venture, without running the risque of being read with a horse-laugh, to quote the words of another very great and learned person of a more modern date, who says, – that the tongue is the most dangerous of all weapons; – that it is capable of destroying all peace, all love, all harmony in the world; – of sowing dissentions among families; of disuniting the hearts of the dearest friends and relations; of ruining the reputation and fortune of whomsoever it is levell'd against; and that even murders and the worst of mischiefs may be occasion'd by it.
That the tongue, when it becomes the instrument of a malicious heart, carries a thousand daggers in it, is a truth which the observation of every one evinces. – But this is not all, – public abuse or private scandal, defamation and detraction, are not the only vices of the tongue, – an unguarded word is frequently productive of the most unhappy consequences, – it wounds, as it were, by chance-medley, and a person may be stabb'd in the most tender part without any intention in the giver of the blow.
A talkative disposition, or, in other words, a passion for repeating every thing one sees and hears, or even guesses at, is extremely dangerous to society; and tho' it is a foible proceeding rather from levity than ill-nature, sometimes produces the same effects; – those guilty of it, perhaps, may mean no hurt; – but, alas! they consider not how far the person to whom they are speaking may be interested in the report they make, and that what they imagine of no moment may stab him to the quick.
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- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 390 - 396Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014