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  .., 2026.



Daniel Defoe  

Moll Flenders  



THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF THE FAMOUS MOLL FLENDERS, who was born in Newgate, and during the sixty years of her varied life (not counting her childhood), was kept for twelve years, married five times (once to her brother), a thief for twelve years, and an exile in Virginia for eight years, but at last grew rich, lived honestly, and died in repentance.      ,               (   )    ,    (      ),   ,     ,    ,       . Written from her own notes     

Author's Preface  

In recent times the public has become so accustomed to novels that a story of real life, in which the names of the characters and other information about them are hidden from the reader, is unlikely to be considered true;        ,    ,             ,     ; but in this regard we must leave the reader to his own judgment:           : let him take this book as he pleases.     ,    .

Moll Flanders is evidently writing here her own life, and at the outset she gives the reasons which compelled her to conceal her real name, so that nothing more can be said.  , ,        ,      ,      ." 

It is true that the original records are here paraphrased in other words, and the style of the remarkable lady in question is slightly altered; ,      ,    ,    ,  ; above all, more modest expressions are put into her mouth than those which stood in her own; ,       ,  ,    ; the manuscript which fell into our hands was written in a language more resembling the jargon of Newgate than the language of the repentant and humbled woman for whom she presents herself in the last pages. ,    ,   ,     ,       ,        .

The pen that polished the story and turned it into what you see before you had a great deal of trouble dressing it up in a decent dress and making it speak in a decent language. ,        ,     ,            . When a woman corrupted from a young age, moreover a child of debauchery and sin, tells of her vicious life, dwelling in particular detail on the circumstances of her seduction and on all the stages of crime that she went through over sixty years, it is not easy for the author to embellish it all so that there is no cause for complaint, especially from unkind readers.      ,       ,     ,            ,      ,       ,     ,     .

In any case, every effort has been made to ensure that this story in its present form does not contain any obscenity, any shamelessness, or a single rude expression on the part of the heroine.   ,      ,            ,  ,     . To this end, some details of the vicious part of her life, which cannot be conveyed in a decent form, have been omitted altogether, and much has been greatly shortened.    -     ,      ,  ,    . What has been left, it is hoped, will not offend the most chaste reader, the most modest listener; ,  ,  ,     ,   ; and since even the worst story can be useful, the moral lesson, it is hoped, will discourage the reader from frivolous thoughts, even in those cases where the story itself can arouse them.           ,  ,  ,         ,      . A story about a vicious life ending in repentance certainly requires a vivid description of the vice, otherwise the beauty of repentance will fade, but under a skillful pen it should undoubtedly come out bright and attractive.    ,  ,     ,    ,     , ,     .

It is said that repentance cannot be depicted with such vivacity, beauty and brilliance as crime. ,       ,   ,  . If there is some truth in this opinion, it is explained, it seems to me, by the fact that vice and virtue evoke different feelings when read;        ,   ,  , ,         ; undoubtedly, the difference lies not in the true qualities of the subject, but in the tastes and inclinations of the reader. ,       ,      .

But since this work is intended primarily for people who know how to read and benefit from what they read, it is to be hoped that such readers will like the moral lesson much more than the content, the conclusions more than the story itself, and the intention of the writer more than the life of the heroine.          ,       , ,  ,      ,  ,   ,   ,     ,   .

This story abounds with amusing adventures, and all of them contain a lesson.     ,       . Thanks to the appropriate illumination, they are always in one way or another instructive for the reader.          . The dissolute life of the heroine with the young gentleman in Colchester contains so many features that expose vice and warn all who enter this path about the disastrous end of such adventures, the absurdity, recklessness and vileness of the behavior of both parties are so obvious that this more than atones for the too vivid depiction of the heroine of her dissoluteness and depravity.          ,              , ,        ,             .

The repentance of her Bath lover, and his resolution to leave her under the influence of illness;       ,        ; a just warning against excessive liberties even in purely friendly relations;          ; our inability to carry out the best intentions without divine assistance - in these pages the discerning reader will discover more real beauty than in the whole chain of love affairs that lead to them.                   ,      ,    .

In a word, the whole narrative has been carefully cleared of the frivolity and immodesty that were there, and even more carefully adapted to virtuous and pious purposes. ,        ,   ,          . No one can, without obvious injustice, reproach us for our intention to publish it.              .

To prove the usefulness of theatrical performances and the necessity of allowing them under the most enlightened and pious government, the champions of the theatre have always referred to the fact that dramas and comedies pursue moral goals and, with the help of a living image, instill virtue and nobility, while at the same time exposing and ridiculing all kinds of vices and moral corruption.                      ,                ,             . If those who speak thus were really guided by this rule, defending this or that play, much could be said in their praise.   ,   ,    ,     ,        .

This fundamental requirement is most strictly observed throughout this book, in all its infinitely varied episodes;           ,      ; there is not a single bad deed in it that would not sooner or later lead to trouble or misfortune, all the scoundrels depicted in it are either punished or repent;       ,           ,        ,  ; evil is depicted only for the purpose of condemnation, and virtue and justice are always rewarded.      ,      . Is it possible to fulfill the above-mentioned rule with greater precision - and if we observe it, do not even such things that we rightly condemn become instructive, for example:                    ,    , : the depiction of bad company, the use of obscene expressions, and the like?   ,      ?

On this basis, this book is offered to the reader as a work, each episode of which contains something instructive;          ,  ,   - ; its conclusions can serve as edification to the reader if he wishes to make use of them.      ,     .

All the exploits of this interesting lady serve as an excellent warning to honest people, showing how simpletons are lured, how they are robbed and plundered, and, therefore, how to avoid all this.          , ,   ,      , ,     . The robbery of a girl, whom a vain mother dressed up, sending to a dancing school, is a good lesson for the future for such people, as is the theft of a gold watch from a young lady in St. James's Park.  ,    ,    ,        ,          - .

The theft of a bundle from a gullible girl at the St. John Street stage-house, the theft during a fire, and also at Harwich teach the importance of maintaining composure in various unexpected situations.           --,    ,     ,       .

The modest and industrious life which the heroine led in her last years in Virginia with her exiled husband is an excellent lesson for all unfortunate people who are forced to settle in foreign lands, where they have been driven by exile or other adversities;    ,           ,      ,     ,       ; we see that diligence and zeal do not remain unrewarded even in the most remote parts of the world and that there is no such miserable, despicable and joyless situation from which we would not get out with the help of tireless work, since work raises people who have fallen to the very bottom, and gives them new strength for life.  ,                  ,    ,          ,     ,    ,       .

These are the important conclusions to which this book leads us;    ,      ; they are quite sufficient to offer it to the public's attention, and even more so to justify its publication.   ,     ,      .

The manuscript contains two other excellent stories, which can be partially judged from some passages included in the present book, but both are too long to be placed in this volume;      ,        ,    ,     ,      ; they could form independent books.      . I mean:    : the life of a governess, as the heroine calls her, a woman who, in the course of a few years, was a noble lady, a kept woman and a procuress, a midwife and a maternity hospital keeper, a pawnbroker and a kidnapper of children, a harborer of thieves and stolen goods;  ,    , ,        ,   ,      ,    ,    ; but still this thief and instructor of thieves, etc.          . . finally repented.  .

The second story is the life of the heroine's exiled husband, a highwayman who apparently spent twelve years robbing and got away with it so cleverly that he was allowed to go into exile voluntarily, and not as a convict;       ,    , , -,        ,       ,     ; His life is full of extraordinary adventures.     .

But, as I have already said, these things are too large to fit in, and I do not promise that they will be published separately. ,    ,    ,   ,    ,     .

This story does not go on to the very end of the life of the famous Moll Flanders, for no one can bring their life story to death:           ,         : the dead cannot write.    . But the life of her husband, written by a third person, sets forth in detail how they lived together in that country, and how, after eight years, they returned to England, having managed to grow very rich during this time;    ,   ,  ,                 ,      ; it further says that Moll lived to a ripe old age, but no longer repented so bitterly as at first;   ,      ,      ,  ; only she, apparently, always spoke with disgust of her former life, from beginning to end.  , -,        ,     .

In Maryland and Virginia her life was full of interesting adventures, but the account of them is not as coherent as her own;         ,        ,   ; therefore our story will only gain if we omit this part.     ,     .

My real name is so well known in the records or minutes of Newgate and Old Bailey, and so many important circumstances concerning my private life are still connected with it, that it is not to be expected that I should mention it here, or give any information about my family;             ,          ,    ,   ,        -    ; Perhaps after my death all this will become known, but now it would be inconvenient to communicate it, even if a complete pardon were issued for all criminals and crimes without exception.  ,       ,        ,            .

Suffice it to say, that some of my worst companions, who were no longer able to do me any harm (they had gone out of this world by the steps of the gallows, which often threatened me) knew me by the name of Moll Flanders;    ,       ,     -  (       ,   ,     )      ; therefore let me go by that name until I can find the courage to confess who I was and who I am now.       ,      ,       .

I have heard that in a neighboring statein France or some other, I don't know exactlythere is a royal decree by virtue of which the children of a criminal condemned to death, to the galleys, or to exile, who are usually left without any means due to the confiscation of their parents' property, are immediately taken into the guardianship of the government and placed in an orphanage called an Orphanage, where they are brought up, clothed, fed, taught, and, upon leaving, are trained for a trade or given into service, so that they receive full opportunity to earn their living by useful and honest labor.  ,            -    ,    ,     ,    ,     ,         ,         ,   ,   , , , ,           ,    ,         .

If such a custom had existed in our country, I would not have been left a poor, abandoned girl, without friends, without clothes, without help or helper, as was my lot, and as a result of which I not only experienced great misfortunes before I could understand or improve my situation, but was also plunged into a vicious life, which usually leads to the rapid destruction of soul and body.         ,     ,  ,  ,  ,    ,              ,        ,       ,         .

But with us it is different.      . My mother was brought to trial for a petty theft, hardly worth mentioning:        ,   : she stole three pieces of fine linen from a draper in Cheapside.           . The details would take too long to relate, and I have heard so many versions of them that I positively cannot say which is the correct one.    ,       ,     ,    .

Be that as it may, they all agree that mother pleaded her belly, that she was found pregnant and the execution of the sentence was postponed for seven months;     ,     ,      ,           ; during this time she gave birth to me, and when she recovered, the sentence came into force, but in a softened form:        ,   ,    ,    : she was exiled to the colonies, leaving me, a six-month-old baby, and, one must assume, in bad hands.     ,  ,  , ,  ,   .

All this happened at too early a time in my life for me to be able to tell anything about myself except from hearsay;     ,    ,     -       ; it is enough to mention that I was born in that unfortunate place, and there was no parish where I could be given into care during my minority;  ,       ,    ,           ; I cannot explain how I survived, I only know that some relative of my mother, as I was told, took me in, but by whose order and at whose expense she supported me, I know nothing.   ,     ,  ,  -   ,   ,    ,          ,    .

The first thing I can remember about myself is that I was wandering with a gang of people known as gypsies or Egyptians; ,      ,  ,      ,      ; but I think I was not with them long, because they did not change the color of my skin, as they do with all the children they take away with them;  ,      ,        ,     ,    ; I cant say anything about how I got among them or how I escaped from them.    ,          .

They abandoned me at Colchester, in Essex, and I have a vague recollection of having deserted them there (that is, of having hidden myself and not wishing to go further with them), but I am unable to give any particulars;     ,  ,    ,       (         ),       - ; I only remember that when the Colchester parish authorities took me, I said that I had come into the town with the gypsies, but would not go further with them, and they abandoned me, but where they went I do not know;  , ,      ,  ,      ,           ,      ; a pursuit was sent in all directions after the gypsies, but it seems they could not be found.        , , ,    .

Now I was, one might say, settled;   ,  , ; True, the local parishes, by law, were not obliged to take care of me, however, as soon as my situation became known and that I was not fit for work, since I was only three years old, the city authorities took pity on me and took me into their care, as if I had been born in this city. ,  ,  ,      , ,             ,       ,           ,        .

I was fortunate enough to be brought up by a woman, poor indeed, but one who had seen better days, and who earned her modest living by caring for children like me and providing them with everything they needed until they reached an age when they could enter service or earn their own bread.        , , ,    ,      ,     ,  ,     ,     ,         .

This woman also ran a small school where she taught children reading and sewing;      ,       ; since she had once moved in good society, she raised children with great skill and great care.     -   ,        .

But the most valuable thing was that she also raised us in the fear of God, being herself, firstly, very modest and pious, secondly, very homely and neat, and, thirdly, with good manners and impeccable behavior.     ,        ,  , -,    , -,     , -,      . Thus, if you do not count the meager food, wretched accommodation and rough clothing, we received such a secular education, as if in a dancing school.  ,     ,     ,    ,    .

I remained there until I was eight years old, when one day, to my horror, I learned that the city authorities had ordered me to be sent into service.      ,  ,   , ,        . I could do very little wherever I was sent, except to run errands or be a scullery maid to the cook;       ,     ,          ; I was often told this, and I was very afraid of it, for I had an insurmountable aversion to menial work, despite my youth;    ,     ,        ,    ; and I told my governess that I could probably earn my living without going into service, if she would be pleased to allow me;     , , ,    ,    ,      ; for she had taught me to work with a needle and spin coarse wool, which is the main industry of that city;          ,      ; and if she would consent to keep me, I would work for her, and work very hard.      ,     ,     .

I told her almost every day about working hard, but I worked tirelessly and cried from morning until night;         ,            ; and so I moved the kind, compassionate woman to pity that she finally began to worry about me:     ,  ,       : she loved me very much.    .



One day after this, entering the room where all of us, poor children, were working, our kind teacher sat down right in front of me, not in her usual place, but as if on purpose with the purpose of observing my work. I was carrying out some lesson assigned by her - I remember, marking shirts. -   ,   ,   ,  , ,       ,     ,          ,   -     ,  . After a short silence, she turned to me:  ,    :

- You're always crying, you silly girl (I cried then too).    ,  (   ). Well, tell me, what are you crying about? ,  ,    ?

They want to take me and give me away as a servant, I said, but I dont know how to do housework.         ,   ,        .

- Come on, baby!  , ! If you dont know how to do housework, youll learn little by little.       ,   . You wont be assigned to hard work right away.       .

No, they will, I say, and if I cant do it, they will beat me and the maids will force me to work with beatings.  , ,  ,        ,          . Im small, and its hard for me to work!  ,    !  And with these words I burst into tears so much that I could no longer speak.         ,     .

My kind governess was very touched and decided not to send me into service for the time being;             ; she told me not to cry, saying that she would talk to the mayor and that they would not send me into service until I grew up.     , ,            ,    .

However, this promise did not calm me down, because the very thought that I would one day become a servant frightened me;      ,      ,    -  ,  ; even if my teacher had said that they would not touch me until I was twenty, this would not have consoled me at all;      ,       ,      ; I would have cried forever from the mere fear that this would be how things would end.       ,    .

Seeing that I didnt calm down, the teacher got angry. ,    ,  .

- Why are you crying?    ? After all, I told you that they wont give you away as a servant until you grow up.   ,      ,    .

Yes, I say, but then Ill still have to go.  ,  ,       .

- The girl has gone crazy!     ! And what do you want, to be a lady?    ,   ?

Well, yes, I said, and burst into tears again.   ,        . At this point the old woman couldnt hold back and burst out laughing, as you can easily imagine.      ,      .

- So that's it!    ! You want to be a lady!    ! - she began to mock me.       . - And you think you will become a lady if you sew and spin?       ,     ?

Yes, I answered simply.  ,    .

- How much can you earn in a day, you fool?        , ?

 Three pence in yarn and four pence in sewing        

Oh, you unfortunate lady, she continued to mock, you wont get far like this!  , -,    ,     !

That will be enough for me.     . Just let me stay with you, I said in such a pleading tone that the good woman was moved to pity, as she confessed to me later.  ,    ,      ,    ,     .

But this wont be enough for you to eat and wear.            . Who will dress the little lady?      ? she said, looking at me with a smile.    ,     .

Then Ill work even harder and give you all the money, I answered.             ,   .

Poor child, this still wont be enough for your upkeep; provisions alone will cost more.   ,        ,    .

Then I dont need provisions, I continued my simple-minded answers, just let me live with you.      ,      ,       .

- Can you live without food?       ?

I can, I continued my childish speech and again burst into bitter tears.  ,           .

I wasn't being cunning at all;    ; You can easily see that all my answers were spontaneous;    ,      ; but there was so much simplicity and so much ardent impulse in them that the kind, compassionate woman also began to cry, burst into tears, just like me, took me by the hand and led me out of the classroom.          ,  ,    , ,   ,         . Okay, she says, you wont become a servant, you will live with me, and her words calmed me down this time. ,  ,      ,     ,         .

After this she went one day to the mayor to talk about her affairs;           ; the conversation turned to me, and my kind teacher told the mayor this whole scene;     ,          ; he was so delighted that he called his wife and two daughters to listen, and you can imagine how merrily they all laughed.    ,       ,     ,     .

And then, not even a week had passed, the mayors wife suddenly came to us with her daughters to visit my old teacher, to see her school and children.      ,            ,     . After sitting for a while, the mayors wife asked:  ,   :

- Tell me Mrs.***, where is that girl who wants to be a lady?    ***,    ,    ?

Hearing these words, I was terribly scared, I dont know why;   ,   ,    ; but the mayors wife comes up to me and says:        :

- Hello, miss, show me what you are sewing.  , , - ,    .

The word "Miss" was very rarely heard in our school, and I wondered why she called me by such a bad name;          ,   ,       ; Nevertheless, I stood up, curtsied, she took the work from my hands, looked at it and said;    ,  ,       ,     ; that it was done very well, then she looked at my hands and.    ,      . said: :

- Really, she  , . can become a lady:   : look at her little white hands. ,     .

I liked it terribly, but the mayor's wife did not stop there, she put her hand in her pocket, gave me a shilling and told me to work hard and study diligently, then perhaps I would manage to become a lady.    ,      ,    ,          ,  ,  ,   .

All this time my kind old governess, the mayor's wife, and all the others did not understand me at all, because they meant one thing by the word "lady," and I meant something quite different.      -,         ,        ,     . Alas! ! It seemed to me that being a lady meant working for yourself and earning so much money that you didn't have to go into servanthood, whereas for them it meant a high position in society, wealth, a luxurious life, and I don't know what else.  ,            ,       ,          , ,       .

When the mayor's wife had gone, her daughters came in and also wanted to see the lady;    ,        ; They talked to me for a long time, and I answered them with the same simplicity;     ,        ; Every time they asked me if I had really decided to become a lady, I answered "yes."  ,   ,      ,   . Finally, they asked me what a "lady" was.    ,    . The question confused me very much.    . Still, I somehow explained that it was a woman who did not go to work from house to house;    - ,   ,      ; They were delighted with my answers, my chatter apparently pleased them very much and amused them, and they also gave me money.       ,   , ,     ,      .




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