During the interval of this operation, I opened my book...
1820
Wood-block engraving
7.9 cm high by 5.5 cm wide, vignetted
Source: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, facing page 27 [Plate 4].
[Click on image to enlarge it.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
During the interval of this operation, I opened my book, and the first words which met my eye were, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee." [page 27]
But now, when I began to be sick, and a leisurely view of the miseries of death came to place itself before me; when my spirits began to sink under the burden of a strong distemper, and nature was exhausted with the violence of the fever; conscience, that had slept so long, began to awake, and I began to reproach myself with my past life, in which I had so evidently, by uncommon wickedness, provoked the justice of God to lay me under uncommon strokes, and to deal with me in so vindictive a manner. These reflections oppressed me for the second or third day of my distemper; and in the violence, as well of the fever as of the dreadful reproaches of my conscience, extorted some words from me like praying to God, though I cannot say they were either a prayer attended with desires or with hopes: it was rather the voice of mere fright and distress. My thoughts were confused, the convictions great upon my mind, and the horror of dying in such a miserable condition raised vapours into my head with the mere apprehensions; and in these hurries of my soul I knew not what my tongue might express. But it was rather exclamation, such as, “Lord, what a miserable creature am I! If I should be sick, I shall certainly die for want of help; and what will become of me!” Then the tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no more for a good while. In this interval the good advice of my father came to my mind, and presently his prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of this story—viz. that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I would have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery. “Now,” said I, aloud, “my dear father’s words are come to pass; God’s justice has overtaken me, and I have none to help or hear me. I rejected the voice of Providence, which had mercifully put me in a posture or station of life wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would neither see it myself nor learn to know the blessing of it from my parents. I left them to mourn over my folly, and now I am left to mourn under the consequences of it. I abused their help and assistance, who would have lifted me in the world, and would have made everything easy to me; and now I have difficulties to struggle with, too great for even nature itself to support, and no assistance, no help, no comfort, no advice.” Then I cried out, “Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress.” This was the first prayer, if I may call it so, that I had made for many years. [Chapter VI, "Ill and Conscience-stricken"]
When I had been about a year in the island, I was taken extremely ill, which frightened me terribly, imagining I should die for want of proper help. This illness proved a violent ague, which made me so weak I could hardly carry my gun, and when the fit was on me, I was nearly perished with thirst. One night as I was ruminating on my sad condition, expecting the return of my fit, it occurred to my mind, that the Brazilians took no physic but tobacco, and I went, doubtless directed by heaven, to search for some in a chest, and their [sic] found a bible; I steeped some of the tobacco in rum, some I burnt in a pan of coals, holding my head over the fume, and some I chewed; during the interval of this operation, I opened my book, and the first words which met my eye were, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee." These words struck me to the soul; but the tobacco made me so sleepy that I could read no more. I therefore went to bed. . . . [page 27]
Left: Stothard's 1790 atmospheric realisation of Crusoe's working in his cave during the rainy season, Robinson Crusoe at work in his cave (copper-plate engraving, Chapter IV, "First Weeks on the Island"). Centre: Cruikshank's woodblock engraving of Crusoe in a spiritual crisis: "Jesus, . . . give me repentance." (1831). Right: Cassell's realisation of the same scene, Crusoe ill reading the Bible (1863-64). [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Many thanks for the assistance of the staff at Special Collections and University Archives, particularly John Frederick, Library Assistant, McPherson Library, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Defoe, Daniel. (adapted). The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Who Resided On an Uninhabited Island upwards of Twenty Eight Years. Embellished with Engravings on Wood. London: R. Harrild, Great Eastcheap, 1820.
Last modified 17 February 2018
