Forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS of injuries is the mark and privilege of a superior mind, iii. 82. [65].

Thus Pamela reasons with herself, when her master re|quired her to forgive Mrs. Jewkes;

I will forgive thee, since thy master and mine will have me do so, iii. 82. [65].

And, indeed, thou art beneath the resentment even of such a poor girl as I am, ibid.

I will pity thee, base and abject as thou art: And she, who is the object of my pity, is surely beneath my anger, ibid.

My eye that used to quiver and tremble at thy haughty Page  32 eye, shall now, through conscious dignity, look down thy scouling guilty one into self-condemnation, iii. 83. [65].

Bear the reproach of thine own wicked heart, low, vile woman! That will be punishment enough for thee, without exposing myself to the imputation of descending so near to a level with thee, as to resent thy past base|ness, when thou hast no power to hurt me.

See her reasonings on this subject pursued from p. 83, to 91. [66, & seq.].

Gentleness of nature, and placableness of disposition, are graces of the fair sex, iii. 91. [72, 73].

I have no notion, says Pamela, of that slight distin|ction that is often made between forget and forgive: I must forgive, but never will forget, iii. 91, 92. [73].

When I would rather say, adds she, that I will re|member such an action for my future guard; but I will try to forget it, as often as it occurs to my memory, if the remembrance of it will occasion a breach in my cha|rity, ibid.

Offenders, smote with true contrition, will be the less able, from a generous forgiveness, to silence the reproaches of their own hearts, iii. 98. [78].

See Religion, &c.