er blamed Lucretia?
All the shame lay on the ravisher only and I am content to take all the
blame upon me, as I have already borne too great a share for what I have
not deserved.

May I, said I, Lucretia like, justify myself with my death, if I am used
barbarously! O my good girl! said he, tauntingly, you are well read,
I see; and we shall make out between us, before we have done, a pretty
story in romance, I warrant ye.

He then put his hand in my bosom, and indignation gave me double
strength, and I got loose from him by a sudden spring, and ran out of
the room! and the next chamber being open, I made shift to get into it,
and threw to the door, and it locked after me; but he followed me so
close, he got hold of my gown, and tore a piece off, which hung without
the door; for the key was on the inside.

I just remember I got into the room; for I knew nothing further of the
matter till afterwards; for I fell into a fit with my terror, and there
I lay, till he, as I suppose, looking through the key-hole, spyed me
upon the floor, stretched out at length, on my face; and then he called
Mrs. Jervis to me, who, by his assistance, bursting open the door, he
went away, seeing me coming to myself; and bid her say nothing of the
matter, if she was wise.

Poor Mrs. Jervis thought it was worse, and cried over me like as if she
was my mother; and I was two hours before I came to myself; and just as
I got a little up on my feet, he coming in, I fainted away again with
the terror; and so he withdrew: but he staid in the next room to let
nobody come near us, that his foul proceedings might not be known.

Mrs. Jervis gave me her smelling-bottle, and had cut my laces, and set
me in a great chair, and he called her to him: How is the girl? said he:
I never saw such a fool in my life. I did nothing at all to her. Mrs.
Jervis could not speak for crying. So he said, She has told you, it
seems, that I was kind to her in the summer-house, though I'll assure
you, I was quite innocent then as well as now; and I desire you to keep
this matter to yourself, and let me not be named in it.

O, sir, said she, for your honour's sake, and for Christ's sake!--But
he would not hear her, and said--For your own sake, I tell you, Mrs.
Jervis, say not a word more. I have done her no harm. And I won't have
her stay in my house; prating, perverse fool, as she is! But since she
is so apt to fall into fits, or at least pretend to do so, prepare her
to see