f a certain _Noble Lord_; if this be the Case, I must confess
'tis so highly _shadow'd_ that the Outlines of your Draughts are almost
obscured, and suffer us only to guess at the Likeness. Nor can I help
joining with one of your complemental Friends, and acknowledge, that
your Picture in _resembling Life outglows it_.

First then, as _Editor_, you launch forth into all the extravagant
Praises that ever could enter the Heart of a young Author, before his
first favourite Performance was condemn'd by the Public. In this
Disguise you take a full Aim, and by presenting your Readers with a
_Prologue_ to your own _Praise_, you would _prepossess_ them with
_Applause_, and fondly _surfeit_ on the _Eccho_. The many Eulogia in
your Preface stated with Ifs, and artfully in the Conclusion bestowed on
_Pamela_ are but an Abstract of what fulsome Praises an Author wou'd
privately entertain himself with, or indeed look like what the
Booksellers are very often forced to say to make a bad Copy go off.
However they may tickle the Ears, they can never charm the Sense, and in
plain English may be render'd thus:

"_I the Editor_ tell you and command you to believe, that
this Book, called _Pamela_, will _divert_, _entertain_,
_instruct_, and _improve_ the _Youth of both Sexes_.

"It is the best System of _Religion_ and _Morality_ extant,
_delightful_ and _profitable_ to the _younger Class_ of
Readers, as well as those of _maturer Years_ and
Understanding.

"All the _social Duties_ in high and low Life, are set forth
in the most exemplary Lights. _Vice_ is made _odious_,
_Virtue_ truely _lovely_; the Characters _justly_ drawn, and
_equally_ supported; the _Man_ of _Fortune_, _Passion_, or
_Intrigue_ rightly instructed; practical _Examples_ given to
the Ladies in the most critical and affecting Cases, either
of _Virgin_, _Bride_, or _Wife_: These represented in so
_lively_ a Manner, that the Passions of every _sensible_
Reader must be affected; and his that are not, _I pronounce_
him a _Fool_. Yet though the Passions are so much touched,
there is not a _single Idea_ throughout the _Whole_ that
shall shock the _exactest Purity_, nor shall a Lady be put
to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it.

"Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Word _true_;
nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I