ther, that she fell in an indecent Posture?" "The
Warmth of Imagination in this virtuous Censurer," continues _Pamela's
Conduct in High Life_, "supplies the rest: He can't suppose that she
could possibly fall but as he has painted her, and if the Editor has
been defective in CONVEYING THE MOST ARTFUL AND ALLURING AMOROUS IDEAS,
if the Letters do not abound with Incidents which must necessarily raise
in the unwary Youth that read them EMOTIONS _far distant_ from the
PRINCIPLES of VIRTUE. If they are not replete with _Images to enflame_,
the Censurer endeavours to repair the Fault[. H]e, not the Editor,
contrives to give an Idea of _Pamela_'s hidden Beauties, and would have
you imagine she lies in the most immodest Posture, such a one as Mrs.
_Jervis_ thought Things had gone farther, but can this be gathered from
_Pamela_'s Account, or is not this virtuous Censurer endeavouring to
impress in the Minds of Youth that read his Defence of Modesty and
Virtue, _Images_ that may _enflame_? _Was not_, says he, _the 'Squire
very modest to withdraw? for she lay in such a pretty Posture that
Mrs._ Jervis _thought it was worse_. Why did Mrs. _Jervis_ think this
from the pretty Posture? Nay, how could she think it from any Posture?
when the same Account tells us she and the 'Squire were obliged to burst
open the Door, for Mrs. _Jervis_ to get in to her Assistance; Is it not
more reasonable for Mrs. _Jervis_ to conclude as she did, from the
unruly lawless Passion with which she knew her Master tormented, from
the Obstinacy of his Temper, and from the Hopes he might entertain,
being Master of a large Fortune, that he might, born up by that, stem
the Tide of Justice, and perpetrate the greatest Villainy with Impunity?
We are told in the Letters that she fainted away, and fell on the Floor
stretch'd at her Length, and as her Gown was caught in, and torn by the
Door, she must fall too near it, in whatever Posture, to shew any
_latent_ Beauties, but what is there indecent in this Relation? Is there
any particular Posture described? Oh, but the Censurer lays her in one
which may _enflame_, you must imagine as lusciously as he does; if the
Letter has not discover'd enough, the pious Censurer lends a Hand, and
endeavours to _surfeit your Sight_ by lifting the Covering which was
left by the Editor, and with the Hand of a boisterous Ravisher takes the
Opportunity of _Pamela_'s being in a Swoon to ----" (I, xiv-xv).

30.28

Concerning "whether t