History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
Chapter iv.
1137 words | Chapter 156
Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish
incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise.
Before I proceed farther, I shall beg leave to obviate some
misconstructions into which the zeal of some few readers may lead
them; for I would not willingly give offence to any, especially to men
who are warm in the cause of virtue or religion.
I hope, therefore, no man will, by the grossest misunderstanding or
perversion of my meaning, misrepresent me, as endeavouring to cast any
ridicule on the greatest perfections of human nature; and which do,
indeed, alone purify and ennoble the heart of man, and raise him above
the brute creation. This, reader, I will venture to say (and by how
much the better man you are yourself, by so much the more will you be
inclined to believe me), that I would rather have buried the
sentiments of these two persons in eternal oblivion, than have done
any injury to either of these glorious causes.
On the contrary, it is with a view to their service, that I have taken
upon me to record the lives and actions of two of their false and
pretended champions. A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy;
and I will say boldly, that both religion and virtue have received
more real discredit from hypocrites than the wittiest profligates or
infidels could ever cast upon them: nay, farther, as these two, in
their purity, are rightly called the bands of civil society, and are
indeed the greatest of blessings; so when poisoned and corrupted with
fraud, pretence, and affectation, they have become the worst of civil
curses, and have enabled men to perpetrate the most cruel mischiefs to
their own species.
Indeed, I doubt not but this ridicule will in general be allowed: my
chief apprehension is, as many true and just sentiments often came
from the mouths of these persons, lest the whole should be taken
together, and I should be conceived to ridicule all alike. Now the
reader will be pleased to consider, that, as neither of these men were
fools, they could not be supposed to have holden none but wrong
principles, and to have uttered nothing but absurdities; what
injustice, therefore, must I have done to their characters, had I
selected only what was bad! And how horribly wretched and maimed must
their arguments have appeared!
Upon the whole, it is not religion or virtue, but the want of them,
which is here exposed. Had not Thwackum too much neglected virtue, and
Square, religion, in the composition of their several systems, and had
not both utterly discarded all natural goodness of heart, they had
never been represented as the objects of derision in this history; in
which we will now proceed.
This matter then, which put an end to the debate mentioned in the last
chapter, was no other than a quarrel between Master Blifil and Tom
Jones, the consequence of which had been a bloody nose to the former;
for though Master Blifil, notwithstanding he was the younger, was in
size above the other's match, yet Tom was much his superior at the
noble art of boxing.
Tom, however, cautiously avoided all engagements with that youth; for
besides that Tommy Jones was an inoffensive lad amidst all his
roguery, and really loved Blifil, Mr Thwackum being always the second
of the latter, would have been sufficient to deter him.
But well says a certain author, No man is wise at all hours; it is
therefore no wonder that a boy is not so. A difference arising at play
between the two lads, Master Blifil called Tom a beggarly bastard.
Upon which the latter, who was somewhat passionate in his disposition,
immediately caused that phenomenon in the face of the former, which we
have above remembered.
Master Blifil now, with his blood running from his nose, and the tears
galloping after from his eyes, appeared before his uncle and the
tremendous Thwackum. In which court an indictment of assault, battery,
and wounding, was instantly preferred against Tom; who in his excuse
only pleaded the provocation, which was indeed all the matter that
Master Blifil had omitted.
It is indeed possible that this circumstance might have escaped his
memory; for, in his reply, he positively insisted, that he had made
use of no such appellation; adding, “Heaven forbid such naughty words
should ever come out of his mouth!”
Tom, though against all form of law, rejoined in affirmance of the
words. Upon which Master Blifil said, “It is no wonder. Those who will
tell one fib, will hardly stick at another. If I had told my master
such a wicked fib as you have done, I should be ashamed to show my
face.”
“What fib, child?” cries Thwackum pretty eagerly.
“Why, he told you that nobody was with him a shooting when he killed
the partridge; but he knows” (here he burst into a flood of tears),
“yes, he knows, for he confessed it to me, that Black George the
gamekeeper was there. Nay, he said--yes you did--deny it if you can,
that you would not have confest the truth, though master had cut you
to pieces.”
At this the fire flashed from Thwackum's eyes, and he cried out in
triumph--“Oh! ho! this is your mistaken notion of honour! This is the
boy who was not to be whipped again!” But Mr Allworthy, with a more
gentle aspect, turned towards the lad, and said, “Is this true, child?
How came you to persist so obstinately in a falsehood?”
Tom said, “He scorned a lie as much as any one: but he thought his
honour engaged him to act as he did; for he had promised the poor
fellow to conceal him: which,” he said, “he thought himself farther
obliged to, as the gamekeeper had begged him not to go into the
gentleman's manor, and had at last gone himself, in compliance with
his persuasions.” He said, “This was the whole truth of the matter,
and he would take his oath of it;” and concluded with very
passionately begging Mr Allworthy “to have compassion on the poor
fellow's family, especially as he himself only had been guilty, and
the other had been very difficultly prevailed on to do what he did.
Indeed, sir,” said he, “it could hardly be called a lie that I told;
for the poor fellow was entirely innocent of the whole matter. I
should have gone alone after the birds; nay, I did go at first, and he
only followed me to prevent more mischief. Do, pray, sir, let me be
punished; take my little horse away again; but pray, sir, forgive poor
George.”
Mr Allworthy hesitated a few moments, and then dismissed the boys,
advising them to live more friendly and peaceably together.
Chapters
1. Chapter 1
2. BOOK I -- CONTAINING AS MUCH OF THE BIRTH OF THE FOUNDLING AS IS
3. Chapter i -- The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the
4. Chapter ii -- A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fuller
5. Chapter iii -- An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy at his return
6. Chapter iv -- The reader's neck brought into danger by a description;
7. Chapter v -- Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon
8. Chapter vi -- Mrs Deborah is introduced into the parish with a
9. Chapter vii -- Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot
10. Chapter viii -- A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah;
11. Chapter x -- The hospitality of Allworthy; with a short sketch of the
12. Chapter xi -- Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning
13. Chapter xii -- Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find
14. Chapter xiii -- Which concludes the first book; with an instance of
15. BOOK II -- CONTAINING SCENES OF MATRIMONIAL FELICITY IN DIFFERENT
16. Chapter i -- Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like,
17. Chapter ii -- Religious cautions against showing too much favour to
18. Chapter iii -- The description of a domestic government founded upon
19. Chapter iv -- Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather
20. Chapter v -- Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and
21. Chapter vi -- The trial of Partridge, the schoolmaster, for
22. Chapter vii -- A short sketch of that felicity which prudent couples
23. Chapter viii -- A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife,
24. Chapter ix -- A proof of the infallibility of the foregoing receipt,
25. BOOK III -- CONTAINING THE MOST MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS WHICH PASSED IN
26. Chapter ii -- The heroe of this great history appears with very bad
27. Chapter iii -- The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of Mr
28. Chapter iv.
29. Chapter v. -- The opinions of the divine and the philosopher
30. Chapter vi -- Containing a better reason still for the
31. Chapter vii -- In which the author himself makes his appearance on the
32. Chapter viii -- A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a
33. Chapter ix -- Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the
34. Chapter x -- In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different
35. Chapter ii -- A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a
36. Chapter iii -- Wherein the history goes back to commemorate a trifling
37. Chapter iv -- Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some
38. Chapter vi -- An apology for the insensibility of Mr Jones to all the
39. Chapter viii -- A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, and
40. Chapter x -- A story told by Mr Supple, the curate. The penetration of
41. Chapter xi -- The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some
42. Chapter xii -- Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from
43. Chapter xiii -- A dreadful accident which befel Sophia. The gallant
44. Chapter xiv -- The arrival of a surgeon.--His operations, and a long
45. BOOK V -- CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A
46. Chapter i -- Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is
47. Chapter ii -- In which Mr Jones receives many friendly visits during
48. Chapter iii -- Which all who have no heart will think to contain much
49. Chapter iv -- A little chapter, in which is contained a little
50. Chapter vi -- By comparing which with the former, the reader may
51. Chapter ix -- Which, among other things, may serve as a comment on
52. Chapter x -- Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and of
53. Chapter xi -- In which a simile in Mr Pope's period of a mile
54. Chapter xii -- In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all the
55. Chapter ii -- The character of Mrs Western. Her great learning and
56. Chapter v -- In which is related what passed between Sophia and her
57. Chapter vi -- Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs Honour,
58. Chapter vii -- A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it
59. Chapter xi -- A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to
60. Chapter xiii -- The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; which
61. Chapter xiv -- A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between
62. Chapter ii -- Containing a conversation which Mr Jones had with
63. Chapter vii -- A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange
64. Chapter viii -- Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon
65. Chapter ix -- The wise demeanour of Mr Western in the character of a
66. Chapter x -- Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but
67. Chapter xiii -- Containing the great address of the landlady, the
68. Chapter xiv -- A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers
69. Chapter i -- A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being
70. Chapter iv -- In which is introduced one of the pleasantest barbers
71. Chapter vi -- In which more of the talents of Mr Benjamin will appear,
72. Chapter vii -- Containing better reasons than any which have yet
73. Chapter viii -- Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the
74. Chapter ix -- Containing several dialogues between Jones and
75. Chapter x -- In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinary
76. Chapter xi -- In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate his
77. Chapter xv -- A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse
78. Chapter i -- Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not,
79. Chapter ii -- Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which Mr
80. Chapter iii -- The arrival of Mr Jones with his lady at the inn; with
81. Chapter iv -- In which the arrival of a man of war puts a final end to
82. Chapter v -- An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with a
83. Chapter vi -- A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a very
84. Chapter vii -- Containing a fuller account of Mrs Waters, and by what
85. Chapter i -- Containing instructions very necessary to be perused by
86. Chapter ii -- Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with very
87. Chapter iii -- A dialogue between the landlady and Susan the
88. Chapter iv -- Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universal
89. Chapter v -- Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid,
90. Chapter vi -- Containing, among other things, the ingenuity of
91. Chapter vii -- In which are concluded the adventures that happened at
92. Chapter ii -- The adventures which Sophia met with after her leaving
93. Chapter iii -- A very short chapter, in which however is a sun, a
94. Chapter vi -- In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia into
95. Chapter viii -- A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of an
96. Chapter ix -- The morning introduced in some pretty writing. A
97. Chapter x -- Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a few
98. Chapter i -- Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern
99. Chapter ii -- In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter,
100. Chapter iii -- The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passed
101. Chapter v -- Containing more adventures which Mr Jones and his
102. Chapter vi -- From which it may be inferred that the best things are
103. Chapter vii -- Containing a remark or two of our own and many more of
104. Chapter viii -- In which fortune seems to have been in a better humour
105. Chapter xi -- The disasters which befel Jones on his departure for
106. Chapter xii -- Relates that Mr Jones continued his journey, contrary
107. Chapter xiv -- What happened to Mr Jones in his journey from St
108. Chapter iii -- A project of Mrs Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady
109. Chapter v -- An adventure which happened to Mr Jones at his lodgings,
110. Chapter vi -- What arrived while the company were at breakfast, with
111. Chapter viii -- Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very
112. Chapter ix -- Which treats of matters of a very different kind from
113. Chapter x -- A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some
114. Chapter i -- An essay to prove that an author will write the better
115. Chapter ii -- Containing letters and other matters which attend
116. Chapter iv -- Which we hope will be very attentively perused by young
117. Chapter vi -- Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect all
118. Chapter viii -- What passed between Jones and old Mr Nightingale; with
119. Chapter iv -- By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady
120. Chapter v -- Containing some matters which may affect, and others
121. Chapter x -- Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations
122. Chapter ii -- A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with the
123. Chapter v -- In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to
124. Chapter vii -- In which Mr Western pays a visit to his sister, in
125. Chapter iii -- The arrival of Mr Western, with some matters concerning
126. Chapter iii -- Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange
127. Chapter xii -- Approaching still nearer to the end.
128. BOOK I.
129. Chapter i.
130. Chapter ii.
131. Chapter iii.
132. Chapter iv.
133. Chapter v.
134. Chapter vi.
135. Chapter vii.
136. Chapter viii.
137. Chapter ix.
138. Chapter x.
139. Chapter xi.
140. Chapter xii.
141. Chapter xiii.
142. BOOK II.
143. Chapter i.
144. Chapter ii.
145. Chapter iii.
146. Chapter iv.
147. Chapter v.
148. Chapter vi.
149. Chapter vii.
150. Chapter viii.
151. Chapter ix.
152. BOOK III.
153. Chapter i.
154. Chapter ii.
155. Chapter iii.
156. Chapter iv.
157. Chapter v.
158. Chapter vi.
159. Chapter vii.
160. Chapter viii.
161. Chapter ix.
162. Chapter x.
163. BOOK IV.
164. Chapter i.
165. Chapter ii.
166. Chapter iii.
167. Chapter iv.
168. Chapter v.
169. Chapter vi.
170. Chapter vii.
171. Chapter viii.
172. Chapter ix.
173. Chapter x.
174. Chapter xi.
175. Chapter xii.
176. Chapter xiii.
177. Chapter xiv.
178. BOOK V.
179. Chapter i.
180. Chapter ii.
181. Chapter iii.
182. Chapter iv.
183. Chapter v.
184. Chapter vi.
185. Chapter vii.
186. Chapter viii.
187. Chapter ix.
188. Chapter x.
189. Chapter xi.
190. Chapter xii.
191. BOOK VI.
192. Chapter i.
193. Chapter ii.
194. Chapter iii.
195. Chapter iv.
196. Chapter v.
197. Chapter vi.
198. Chapter vii.
199. Chapter viii.
200. Chapter ix.
201. Chapter x.
202. Chapter xi.
203. Chapter xii.
204. Chapter xiii.
205. Chapter xiv.
206. BOOK VII.
207. Chapter i.
208. Chapter ii.
209. Chapter iii.
210. Chapter iv.
211. Chapter v.
212. Chapter vi.
213. Chapter vii.
214. Chapter viii.
215. Chapter ix.
216. Chapter x.
217. Chapter xi.
218. Chapter xii.
219. Chapter xiii.
220. Chapter xiv.
221. Chapter xv.
222. BOOK VIII.
223. Chapter i.
224. Chapter ii.
225. Chapter iii.
226. Chapter iv.
227. Chapter v.
228. Chapter vi.
229. Chapter vii.
230. Chapter viii.
231. Chapter ix.
232. Chapter x.
233. Chapter xi.
234. 1657. My father was one of those whom they call gentlemen farmers. He
235. Chapter xii.
236. Chapter xiii.
237. Chapter xiv.
238. Chapter xv.
239. BOOK IX.
240. Chapter i.
241. Chapter ii.
242. Chapter iii.
243. Chapter iv.
244. Chapter v.
245. Chapter vi.
246. Chapter vii.
247. BOOK X.
248. Chapter i.
249. Chapter ii.
250. Chapter iii.
251. Chapter iv.
252. Chapter v.
253. Chapter vi.
254. Chapter vii.
255. Chapter viii.
256. Chapter ix.
257. BOOK XI.
258. Chapter i.
259. Chapter ii.
260. Chapter iii.
261. Chapter iv.
262. Chapter v.
263. Chapter vi.
264. Chapter vii.
265. Chapter viii.
266. Chapter ix.
267. Chapter x.
268. BOOK XII.
269. Chapter i.
270. Chapter ii.
271. Chapter iii.
272. Chapter iv.
273. Chapter v.
274. Chapter vi.
275. Chapter vii.
276. Chapter viii.
277. Chapter ix.
278. Chapter x.
279. Chapter xi.
280. Chapter xii.
281. Chapter xiii.
282. Chapter xiv.
283. BOOK XIII.
284. Chapter i.
285. Chapter ii.
286. Chapter iii.
287. Chapter iv.
288. Chapter v.
289. Chapter vi.
290. Chapter vii.
291. Chapter viii.
292. Chapter ix.
293. Chapter x.
294. Chapter xi.
295. Chapter xii.
296. BOOK XIV.
297. Chapter i.
298. Chapter ii.
299. Chapter iii.
300. introduction, began the following speech:--“I am very sorry, sir, to
301. Chapter iv.
302. Chapter v.
303. Chapter vi.
304. Chapter vii.
305. Chapter viii.
306. Chapter ix.
307. Chapter x.
308. BOOK XV.
309. Chapter i.
310. Chapter ii.
311. Chapter iii.
312. Chapter iv.
313. Chapter v.
314. Chapter vi.
315. Chapter vii.
316. Chapter viii.
317. Chapter ix.
318. Chapter x.
319. Chapter xi.
320. Chapter xii.
321. BOOK XVI.
322. Chapter i.
323. Chapter ii.
324. Chapter iii.
325. Chapter iv.
326. Chapter v.
327. Chapter vi.
328. Chapter vii.
329. Chapter viii.
330. Chapter ix.
331. Chapter x.
332. BOOK XVII.
333. Chapter i.
334. Chapter ii.
335. Chapter iii.
336. Chapter iv.
337. Chapter v.
338. Chapter vi.
339. Chapter vii.
340. Chapter viii.
341. Chapter ix.
342. BOOK XVIII.
343. Chapter i.
344. Chapter ii.
345. Chapter iii.
346. Chapter iv.
347. Chapter v.
348. Chapter vi.
349. Chapter vii.
350. Chapter viii.
351. Chapter ix.
352. Chapter x.
353. Chapter xi.
354. Chapter xii.
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