The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

Thus the devil, who began, by the help of an irresistible poverty, to

push me into this wickedness, brought me on to a height beyond the

common rate, even when my necessities were not so great, or the

prospect of my misery so terrifying; for I had now got into a little

vein of work, and as I was not at a loss to handle my needle, it was

very probable, as acquaintance came in, I might have got my bread

honestly enough.

I must say, that if such a prospect of work had presented itself at

first, when I began to feel the approach of my miserable

circumstances--I say, had such a prospect of getting my bread by

working presented itself then, I had never fallen into this wicked

trade, or into such a wicked gang as I was now embarked with; but

practice had hardened me, and I grew audacious to the last degree; and

the more so because I had carried it on so long, and had never been

taken; for, in a word, my new partner in wickedness and I went on

together so long, without being ever detected, that we not only grew

bold, but we grew rich, and we had at one time one-and-twenty gold

watches in our hands.

I remember that one day being a little more serious than ordinary, and

finding I had so good a stock beforehand as I had, for I had near #200

in money for my share, it came strongly into my mind, no doubt from

some kind spirit, if such there be, that at first poverty excited me,

and my distresses drove me to these dreadful shifts; so seeing those

distresses were now relieved, and I could also get something towards a

maintenance by working, and had so good a bank to support me, why

should I now not leave off, as they say, while I was well? that I could

not expect to go always free; and if I was once surprised, and

miscarried, I was undone.

This was doubtless the happy minute, when, if I had hearkened to the

blessed hint, from whatsoever had it came, I had still a cast for an

easy life. But my fate was otherwise determined; the busy devil that

so industriously drew me in had too fast hold of me to let me go back;

but as poverty brought me into the mire, so avarice kept me in, till

there was no going back. As to the arguments which my reason dictated

for persuading me to lay down, avarice stepped in and said, 'Go on, go

on; you have had very good luck; go on till you have gotten four or

five hundred pounds, and they you shall leave off, and then you may

live easy without working at all.' Thus I, that was once in the devil's clutches, was held fast there as

with a charm, and had no power to go without the circle, till I was

engulfed in labyrinths of trouble too great to get out at all.