The Adventures of Roderick Random

Enamourment with Narcissa

When dinner is served, the narrator beholds Narcissa, the lady’s niece, for the first time. He is immediately captivated by her beauty and grace. She is described as seventeen years old, tall, with jet-black hair falling in ringlets upon her ivory neck, piercing yet tender eyes, and a complexion of delicate health. Her noble and humane aspect is so ravishing that the narrator feels his heart struck with admiration and love at first sight. He curses his servile position that places him beneath her notice while simultaneously blessing his fate for enabling him to see her daily. When Narcissa addresses him, asking about his treatment by robbers, he experiences extreme joy.

Recounting Past Misfortunes

Following Mrs. Sagely’s counsel, the narrator recounts his story to Narcissa: he was bound apprentice to a ship’s master against his inclination, the ship foundered at sea, and he and four others swam to shore where his companions overpowered him, stripped him to his shirt, and left him for dead. He further describes being found in a barn and the inhuman treatment he suffered from local people and a parson. The narrative draws tears from Narcissa’s eyes. The mistress remarks approvingly, “Ma foi! le garçon est bien fait!” and Narcissa compliments his understanding in the same language.

Gaining My Mistress’s Approval

The narrator’s story and appearance win the approval of both his mistress and Narcissa. The mistress’s French compliment on his good looks is echoed by Narcissa, who adds a flattering remark about his understanding in the same language. This approval solidifies his position as a footman in the household.

Account of the Young Squire

Conversation at dinner turns to the young squire, whom the mistress calls “the Savage.” Narcissa reports that he remains in bed recovering from last night’s drinking, preparing for a fox chase the next morning. He is to be joined by Sir Timothy Thicket, Squire Bumper, and other gentlemen of similar character, promising an uproarious dawn for the household. The virtuoso mistress declares she will stuff her ears with cotton and take opium to sleep through the noise.

Learning of Narcissa’s Circumstances

During dinner, the narrator learns from the kitchen servants that Sir Timothy Thicket is a wealthy local knight. A match has been projected between Sir Timothy and Narcissa by her brother, who in turn would marry Sir Timothy’s sister. The fortunes of both families are approximately equal, and the arrangement would provide for both young women while neither brother would be out of pocket. However, both ladies actively disdain the persons allotted to them by this scheme.

Hatred of Sir Timothy Thicket

This information immediately creates a mortal aversion to Sir Timothy in the narrator’s heart, as he now views the knight as his rival for Narcissa’s affection. The next morning, the narrator rises early to observe the hunting party and glimpses his competitor. He assesses that Sir Timothy’s personal qualities, excluding his estate, are not brilliant enough to cause him serious concern regarding winning Narcissa, whose affection he begins to hope he might gain despite his lowly station.

Examining the Lady’s Library and Works

With his mistress sleeping late after the hunters’ disturbance, the narrator seizes the opportunity to examine her study at leisure. He discovers numerous scraps of her own poetry on varied subjects, begun without completion. Notably, not one of her compositions mentions love. He counts fragments of five tragedies: “The Stern Philosopher,” “The Double,” “The Sacrilegious Traitor,” “The Fall of Lucifer,” and “The Last Day.” Her library contains the best English historians, poets, and philosophers, all French critics and poets, and a few Italian works, primarily poetry including Tasso and Ariosto. She possesses French translations of the classics but no Greek or Latin texts, revealing her ignorance of these languages.

The Lady’s Extravagant Behaviour

The narrator learns from the maid that his mistress is prone to whimsical fancies and strange delusions. She sometimes imagines herself an animal or a piece of furniture. Recently, in the character of a cat, she attacked the maid and scratched her face. On another occasion, she became convinced the general conflagration was imminent and could only be prevented by her own water, which she retained so long that her life was endangered. The household had to kindle a bonfire under her window to persuade her to evacuate, causing her to release what had caused her distemper. The narrator observes her squatting on the floor like a hare listening to hunters, mistaking him for a beagle. These episodes are cured only by music, which Narcissa administers by playing the harpsichord, her sweet voice producing a calming effect on her aunt’s troubled spirits.