 Part 6 being Book 2 chapters 4, 5 and 6 of Tom Jones. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For further information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. Book 2 chapters 4, 5 and 6. Chapter 4 containing one of the most bloody battles or rather duels that were ever recorded in domestic history. For the reasons mentioned in the preceding chapter and from some other matrimonial concessions well known to most husbands and which, like the secrets of Freemasonry, should be divulged to none who are not members of that honourable fraternity, Mrs. Partridge was pretty well satisfied that she had condemned her husband without cause and endeavoured by acts of kindness to make him amends for her false suspicion. Her passions were indeed equally violent whichever way they inclined, for, as she could be extremely angry, so could she be altogether as fond. But though these passions ordinarily succeeded each other and scarce twenty-four hours ever passed in which the pedagogue was not in some degree the object of both, yet on extraordinary occasions when the passion of anger had raged very high, the remission was usually longer, and so was the case at present. For she continued longer in a state of affability after this fit of jealousy was ended than her husband had ever known before, and had it not been for some little exercises which all the followers of Santipi are obliged to perform daily, Mr. Partridge would have enjoyed a perfect serenity of several months. Perfect calms at sea are always suspected by the experienced mariner to be the forerunners of a storm, and I know some persons who, without being generally the devotees of superstition, are apt to apprehend that great and unusual peace or tranquility will be attended with its opposite, for which reason the ancients used on such occasions to sacrifice to the goddess Nemesis, a deity who was thought by them to look with an invidious eye on human felicity and to have a peculiar delight in overturning it. As we are very far from believing in any such heathen goddess, or from encouraging any superstition, so we wish Mr. John F., or some other such philosopher, would bestow himself a little in order to find out the real cause of this sudden transition from good to bad fortune, which hath been so often remarked, which we shall proceed to give an instant, for it is our province to relate facts, and we shall leave causes to persons of much higher genius. Mankind have always taken great delight in knowing and descanting on the actions of others. Hence there have been in all ages and nations certain places set apart for public rendezvous, where the curious might meet and satisfy their mutual curiosity. Among these the barber's shops have justly borne the preeminence. Among the Greeks barber's news was a proverbial expression, and Horace, in one of his epistles, makes honourable mention of the Roman barbers in the same light. Those of England are known to be no wise inferior to their Greek or Roman predecessors. You there see foreign affairs discussed in a manner little inferior to that with which they are handled in the coffee houses, and domestic occurrences are much more largely and freely treated in the former than in the latter. But this serves only for men. Now, whereas the females of this country, especially those of the lower order, do associate themselves much more than those of other nations, our polity would be highly deficient if they had not some place set apart likewise for the indulgence of their curiosity, seeing they are in this no way inferior to the other half of the species. In enjoying, therefore, such place of rendezvous, the British fair ought to esteem themselves more happy than any of their foreign sisters, as I do not remember either to have read in history or to have seen in my travels anything of the like kind. This place, then, is no other than the Chandler's shop, the known seat of all the news, or as it is vulgarly called, gossiping in every parish in England. Mrs. Partridge, being one day at this assembly of females, was asked by one of her neighbours if she had heard no news lately of Jenny Jones, to which she answered in the negative. Upon this the other replied with a smile, that the parish was very much obliged to her for having turned Jenny away as she did. Mrs. Partridge, whose jealousy, as the reader well knows, was long since cured, and who had no other quarrel to her made, answered boldly she did not know any obligation the parish had to her on that account, for she believed Jenny had scarce left her equal behind her. No truly said the gossip, I hope not, though I fancy we have sluts in our two. Then you have not heard, it seems, but she has been brought to bed of two bastards, but as they are not born here my husband and the other overseer says we shall not be obliged to keep them. Two bastards, answered Mrs. Partridge hastily, you surprise me. I don't know whether we must keep them, but I am sure they must have been begotten here, for the wench hath not been nine months gone away. Nothing can be so quick and sudden as the operations of the mind, especially when hope or fear or jealousy to which the two others are but journeymen set it to work. It occurred instantly to her that Jenny had scarce ever been out of her own house while she lived with her, the leaning over the chair, the sudden starting up, the Latin, the smile, and many other things rushed upon her all at once. The satisfaction her husband expressed in the departure of Jenny appeared now to be only dissembled, again in the same instant to be real to confirm her jealousy as proceeding from satiety and a hundred other bad causes. In a word she was convinced of her husband's guilt and immediately left the assembly in confusion. As Fair Grimalkin, who though the youngest of the feline family, degenerates not in ferocity from the elder branches of her house and though inferior in strength is equal in fierceness to the noble tiger himself when a little mouse whom it hath long tormented in sport escapes from her clutches for a while. Fritz, scolds, growls, swears, but if the trunk or box behind which the mouse lay hid be again removed she flies like lightning on her prey and within venom'd wrath bites, scratches, mumbles, and tears the little animal. Not with less fury did Mrs. Partridge fly on the poor pedagogue. Her tongue, teeth, and hands fell all upon him at once. His wig was in an instant torn from his head, his shirt from his back, and from his face descended five streams of blood denoting the number of claws with which nature had unhappily armed the enemy. Mr. Partridge acted for some time on the defensive only. Indeed he attempted only to guard his face with his hands, but as he found that his antagonist abated nothing of her rage he thought he might at least endeavour to disarm her or rather to confine her arms in doing which her cap fell off in the struggle and her hair being too short to reach her shoulders erected itself on her head. Her stays likewise which were laced through one single hole at the bottom burst open and her breasts which were much more redundant than her hair hung down below her middle. Her face was likewise marked with the blood of her husband. Her teeth gnashed with rage and fire such as sparkles from a smith's forge darted from her eyes, so that altogether this Amazonian heroine might have been an object of terror to a much bolder man than Mr. Partridge. He had at length the good fortune by getting possession of her arms to render those weapons which she wore at the ends of her fingers useless which she no sooner perceived than the softness of her sex prevailed over her age and she presently dissolved in tears which soon after concluded in a fit. That small share of sense which Mr. Partridge had hitherto preserved through this scene of fury of the cause of which he was hitherto ignorant now utterly abandoned him. He ran instantly into the street hallowing out that his wife was in the agonies of death and beseeching the neighbours to fly with the utmost haste to her assistance. Several good women evade his summons, who entering his house and applying the usual remedies on such occasions, Mrs. Partridge was at length to the great joy of her husband brought to herself. As soon as she had a little recollected her spirits and somewhat composed herself with a cordial, she began to inform the company of the manifold injuries she had received from her husband, who, she said, was not contented to injure her in her bed, but upon her upbraiding him with it had treated her in the cruelest manner imaginable, had tore her cap and hair from her head and her stays from her body, giving her at the same time several blows, the marks of which she should carry to the grave. The poor man who bore on his face many more visible marks of the indignation of his wife stood in silent astonishment at this accusation, which the reader will, I believe, bear witness for him, had greatly exceeded the truth, for indeed he had not struck her once, and this silence being interpreted to be a confession of the charge by the whole court, they all began at once, un avoci, to rebuke and revile him, repeating often that none but a coward ever struck a woman. Mr. Partridge bore all this patiently, but when his wife appealed to the blood on her face as an evidence of his barbarity, he could not help laying claim to his own blood, for so it really was, as he thought it very unnatural that this should rise up, as we are taught that of a murdered person often doth, in vengeance against him. To this the women made no other answer, than that it was pity it had not come from his heart instead of his face, all declaring that if their husbands should lift their hands against them, they would have their hearts blood out of their bodies. After much admonition for what was passed and much good advice to Mr. Partridge for his future behaviour, the company at length departed, and left the husband and wife to a personal conference together, in which Mr. Partridge soon learnt the cause of all his sufferings. Chapter 5 Containing Much Matter to Exercise the Judgment and Reflection of the Reader I believe it is a true observation that few secrets are divulged to one person only, but certainly it would be next to a miracle that a fact of this kind should be known to a whole parish and not transpire any farther. And indeed a very few days had passed before the country, to use a common phrase, rung of the schoolmaster of Little Badington, who was said to have beaten his wife in the most cruel manner. Today in some places it was reported he had murdered her, in others that he had broke her arms, in others her legs. In short there was scarce an injury which can be done to a human creature, but what Mrs. Partridge was somewhere or other affirmed to have received from her husband. The cause of this quarrel was likewise variously reported, for as some people said that Mrs. Partridge had caught her husband in bed with his maid, though many other reasons of a very different kind went abroad. Nay, some transferred the guilt to the wife and the jealousy to the husband. Mrs. Wilkins had long ago heard of this quarrel, but as a different cause from the true one had reached her ears, she thought proper to conceal it. And the rather perhaps, as the blame was universally laid on Mr. Partridge, and his wife, when she was servant to Mr. Allworthy, had in something offended Mrs. Wilkins, who was not of a very forgiving temper. But Mrs. Wilkins, whose eyes could see objects at a distance, and who could very well look forward a few years into futurity, had perceived a strong likelihood of Captain Blythil's being here after her master, and as she plainly discerned that the captain bore no great goodwill to the little foundling, she fancied it would be rendering him an agreeable service if she could make any discoveries that might lessen the affection which Mr. Allworthy seemed to have contracted for this child, and which gave visible uneasiness to the captain, who could not entirely conceal it even before Allworthy himself. Though his wife, who acted her part much better in public, frequently recommended to him her own example of conniving at the folly of her brother, which she said she at least as well perceived and as much resented as any other possibly could. Mrs. Wilkins, having therefore by accident gotten a true scent of the above story, though long after it had happened, failed not to satisfy herself thoroughly of all the particulars, and then acquainted the captain that she had at last discovered the true father of the little bastard, which she was sorry, she said, to see her master lose his reputation in the country by taking so much notice of. The captain chid her for the conclusion of her speech as an improper assurance in judging of her master's actions, for if his honour or his understanding would have suffered the captain to make an alliance with Mrs. Wilkins, his pride would by no means have admitted it. And, to say the truth, there is no conduct less politic than to enter into any confederacy with your friend's servants against their master. For by these means you afterwards become the slave of these very servants by whom you are constantly liable to be betrayed. And this consideration perhaps it was which prevented Captain Bliffville from being more explicit with Mrs. Wilkins or from encouraging the abuse which she had bestowed on all worthy. But though he declared no satisfaction to Mrs. Wilkins at this discovery, he enjoyed not a little from it in his own mind and resolved to make the best use of it he was able. He kept this matter a long time concealed within his own breast in hopes that Mr. Allworthy might hear it from some other person. But Mrs. Wilkins, whether she resented the captain's behaviour or whether his cunning was beyond her and she feared the discovery might displease him, never afterwards opened her lips about the matter. I have thought it somewhat strange upon reflection that the housekeeper never acquainted Mrs. Bliffville with this news as women are more inclined to communicate all pieces of intelligence to their own sex than to ours. The only way as it appears to me of solving this difficulty is by imputing it to that distance which was now grown between the lady and the housekeeper. Whether this arose from a jealousy in Mrs. Bliffville that Wilkins showed too great a respect to the foundling. For while she was endeavouring to ruin the little infant in order to ingratiate herself with the captain she was every day more and more commending it before Allworthy as his fondness for it every day increased. This notwithstanding all the care she took at other times to express the direct contrary to Mrs. Bliffville perhaps offended that delicate lady who certainly now hated Mrs. Wilkins. And though she did not or possibly could not absolutely remove her from her place she found, however, the means of making her life very uneasy. This Mrs. Wilkins at length so resented that she very openly showed all manner of respect and fondness to little Tommy in opposition to Mrs. Bliffville. The captain therefore finding the story in danger of perishing he at last took an opportunity to reveal it himself. He was one day engaged with Mr. Allworthy in a discourse on charity in which the captain with great learning proved to Mr. Allworthy that the word charity in scripture nowhere means beneficence or generosity. The Christian religion, he said, was instituted for much nobler purposes than to enforce a lesson which many heathen philosophers had taught us long before and which, though it might perhaps be called a moral virtue savoured but little of that sublime Christian-like disposition that vast elevation of thought in purity approaching to angelic perfection to be attained, expressed and felt only by grace. Those, he said, came nearer to the scripture meaning who understood by it candor or the forming of a benevolent opinion of our brethren and passing a favourable judgment on their actions, a virtue much higher and more extensive in its nature than a pitiful distribution of arms which, though we would never so much prejudice or even ruin our families, could never reach many, whereas charity in the other and truer sense might be extended to all mankind. He said, considering who the disciples were it would be absurd to conceive the doctrine of generosity or giving arms to have been preached to them. I will imagine this doctrine should be preached by its divine author to men who could not practice it, much less shall we think it understood so by those who can practice it and do not. But, though, continued he, there is, I am afraid, little merit in these benefactions, there would, I must confess, be much pleasure in them to a good mind if it was not abated by one consideration. I am afraid that you may not be able to accept this doctrine and to confer our choicest favours often on the undeserving as you must own was your case in your bounty to that worthless fellow-partridge. For two or three such examples must greatly lessen the inward satisfaction which a good man would otherwise find in generosity. Nay, may even make him timorous in bestowing, lest he should be guilty of supporting vice and for which it will by no means be a sufficient excuse that we have not actually intended such an encouragement unless we have used the utmost caution in choosing the objects of our beneficence. A consideration which I make no doubt hath greatly checked the liberality of many a worthy and pious man. Mr. Allworthy answered he could not dispute with the captain in the Greek language, and therefore could say nothing as to the true sense of the word which is translated charity, but that he had always thought it was interpreted to consist in action, and that giving arms constituted at least one branch of that virtue. As to the meritorious part, he said, he readily agreed with the captain, for where could be the merit of barely discharging a duty which, he said, let the word charity have what construction it would, it sufficiently appeared to be from the whole tenor of the New Testament. And as he thought it an indispensable duty, enjoined both by the Christian law and by the law of nature itself, so it was with also pleasant that if any duty could be said to be its own reward or to pay us while we were discharging it, it was this. To confess the truth, said he, there is one degree of charity, I would have called it, which seems to have some show of merit, and that is where, from a principle of benevolence and Christian love, we bestow on another what we really want ourselves. Where, in order to lessen the distresses of another, we condescend to share some part of them by giving what even our own necessities cannot well spare. This is, I think, meritorious. But to relieve our brethren only with our fluidities. To be charitable, I must use the word, rather at the expense of our coffers than ourselves, to save several families from misery, rather than hang up an extraordinary picture in our houses or to gratify any other idle, ridiculous vanity. This seems to be only being human creatures. Nay, I will venture to go farther. It is being, in some degrees, epicures. For what could the greatest epicure wish, rather than to eat with many mouths instead of one, which I think may be predicated of anyone who knows that the bread of many is owing to his own largesse? As to the apprehension of bestowing bounty on such as may hereafter prove unworthy objects, because many have proved such, surely it can never deter a good man from generosity. I do not think a few or many examples of ingratitude can justify a man's hardening his heart against the distresses of his fellow creatures, nor do I believe it can ever have such effect on a truly benevolent mind. Nothing less than a persuasion of universal depravity can lock up the charity of a good man, and this persuasion must lead him, I think, either into atheism or enthusiasm. But surely it is unfair to argue such universal depravity from a few vicious individuals, nor was this, I believe, ever done by a man who, upon searching his own mind, found one certain exception to the general rule. He then concluded by asking who that partridge was whom he had called a worthless fellow. I'm in, said the captain, partridge the barber, the schoolmaster what you call him. Partridge, the father of the little child which you found in your bed. Mr. Allworthy expressed great surprise at this account, and the captain as great at his ignorance of it, for, he said, he had known it above a month, and at length recollected with much difficulty that he was told it by Mrs. Wilkins. Upon this Wilkins was immediately summoned, who, having confirmed what the captain had said, was, by Mr. Allworthy, by and with the captain's advice, dispatched to Little Baddington to inform herself of the truth of the fact, for the captain expressed great dislike at all hasty proceedings in criminal matters, and said he would by no means have Mr. Allworthy take any resolution, either to the prejudice of the child or its father, before he was satisfied that the latter was guilty, for though he had privately satisfied himself of this from one of Partridge's neighbours, yet he was too generous to give any such evidence to Mr. Allworthy. Chapter 6 The Trial of Partridge, the Schoolmaster, for incontinency, the evidence of his wife, a short reflection on the wisdom of our law, with other grave matters which those were like best, who understand them most. It may be wondered that a story so well known, and which had furnished so much matter of conversation, should never have been mentioned to Mr. Allworthy himself, who was perhaps the only person in that country who had never heard of it. To account in some measure for this to the reader, I think proper to inform him that there was no one in the kingdom less interested in opposing that doctrine concerning the meaning of the word charity, which hath been seen in the preceding chapter, than our good man. Indeed, he was equally entitled to this virtue in either sense, for as no man was ever more sensible of the wants, or more ready to relieve the stresses of others, so none could be more tender of their characters or slower to believe anything to their disadvantage. Scandal therefore never found any access to his table, for as it hath been long since observed that you may know a man by his companions, so I will venture to say that by attending to the conversation at a great man's table, you may satisfy yourself of his religion, his politics, his taste, and indeed of his entire disposition, for though a few odd fellows will utter their own sentiments in all places, yet much the greater part of mankind have enough of the courtier to accommodate their conversation to the taste and inclination of their superiors. But to return to Mrs Wilkins, who, having executed her commission with great dispatch, though at fifteen miles distance, brought back such a confirmation of the schoolmaster's guilt Mr Allworthy determined to send for the criminal, and examine him viva voce. Mr Partridge, therefore, was summoned to attend in order to his defence, if he could make any, against this accusation. At the time appointed, before Mr Allworthy himself, at Paradise Hall, came as well the said Partridge, with Anne his wife, as Mrs Wilkins, his accuser. Even now Mr Allworthy being seated in the chair of justice, Mr Partridge was brought before him. Having heard his accusation from the mouth of Mrs Wilkins, he pleaded not guilty, making many vehement protestations of his innocence. Mrs Partridge was then examined, who, after a modest apology for being obliged to speak the truth against her husband, related all the circumstances with which the path already been acquainted, and at last concluded with her husband's confession of his guilt. Whether she had forgiven him or no, I will not venture to determine. But it is certain she was an unwilling witness in this cause, and it is probable, from certain other reasons, would never have been brought to depose as she did, had not Mrs Wilkins with great art fished all out of her at her own house, and had she not indeed made promises in Mr Allworthy's name, that the punishment of her husband should not be such as might any wise affect his family. Partridge still persisted in asserting his innocence, though he admitted he had made the above mentioned confession, which he, however, endeavored to account for by protesting that he was forced into it by the continued impotunity she used, who vowed that as she was sure of his guilt she would never leave tormenting him till he had admitted it, and faithfully promised that in such case she would never mention it to him more. Hence he said he had been induced falsely to confess himself guilty, though he was innocent, and that he believed he should have confessed a murder from the same motive. Mrs Partridge could not bear this imputation with patience, and having no other remedy in the present place, but tears, she called forth a plentiful assistance from them, addressing herself to Mr Allworthy, she said, or rather cried, May it please your worship, there never was any poor woman so injured as I am by that baseman, for this is not the only instance of his falsehood to me. No, may it please your worship, he hath injured my bed, men is the good time, and often I could have put up with his drunkenness and neglect of his business, if he had not broke one of the sacred commandments. If it had been out of doors, I had not matted it so much, but with my own servant in my own house under my own roof, to defile my own chaste bed, which to be sure he hath with his beastly stinking whores. Yes, you villain, you have defiled my own bed you have, and then you have charged me with bullocking you into owning the truth. It is very likely and please your worship that I should bullock him. I have marks him now about my body to show of his cruelty to me, and if you had been a man, you villain, you would have scorned to injure a woman in that manner. But you ain't half a man, you know it, nor have you been half a husband to me. You need run after whores, you need, when I'm sure, and since he provokes me, I am ready, and please your worship, to take my bodily oath that I found them a bed together. What you have forgot, I suppose, when you beat me into a fit and made God run down my forehead, because I only civilly taxed you with your adultery. But I can prove it by all my neighbours, you have almost broke my heart, you have, you have. Here Mr Allworthy interrupted, and begged her to be pacified, promising her that she should have justice. Then, turning to Partridge, who stood aghast, one half of his wits being hurried away by surprise, and the other half by fear, he said he was sorry to see there was so wicked a man in the world. He assured him that his prevaricating and lying backward and forward was a great aggravation of his guilt, for which the only atonement he could make was by confession and repentance. He exhorted him, therefore, to begin by immediately confessing the fact, and not to persist in denying what was so plainly proved against him, even by his own wife. Dear reader, I beg your patience a moment while I must compliment to the great wisdom and sagacity of our law, which refuses to admit the evidence of a wife, for or against her husband. This, says a certain learned author, who I believe was never quoted before in any but her law book, would be the means of creating an eternal dissension between them. It would indeed be the means of much perjury, and of much whipping, finding, imprisoning, transporting, and hanging. Partridge stood a while silent, till, being bid to speak, he said he had already spoken the truth, and appealed to heaven for his innocence, and lastly to the girl herself, whom he desired his worship immediately to send for, for he was ignorant, or at least pretended to be so, that she had left that part of the country. Mr. Allworthy, whose natural love of justice joined to his coolness of temper, made him always a most patient magistrate in hearing all the witnesses which an accused person could produce in his defence, agreed to defer his final determination of this matter, till the arrival of Jenny, for whom he immediately dispatched a messenger, and then having recommended peace between Partridge and his wife, though he addressed himself chiefly to the wrong person, to attend again the third day, for he had sent Jenny a whole day's journey from his own house. At the appointed time the parties all assembled, when the messenger returning brought word that Jenny was not to be found, for that she had left her habitation a few days before, in company with a recruiting officer. Mr. Allworthy then declared that the evidence of such a slut as she appeared to be would have no credit, but he said he could not help thinking that had she been present and would have declared the truth, she must have confirmed what so many circumstances, together with his own confession, and the declaration of his wife, that she had caught her husband in the fact, did sufficiently prove. He therefore once more exhorted Partridge to confess, but he, still avowing his innocence, Mr. Allworthy declared himself satisfied of his guilt, and that he was too bad a man to receive any encouragement from him. He therefore deprived him of his annuity and recommended repentance to him on account of another world, an industry to maintain himself and his wife in this. There were not perhaps many more unhappy persons than poor Partridge. He had lost the best part of his income by the evidence of his wife, and yet was daily upbraided by her for having, among other things, been the occasion of depriving her of that benefit, but such was his fortune and he was obliged to submit to it. Though I called him poor Partridge in the last paragraph, I would have the reader rather impute that epithet to the compassion of my temper than conceive it to be any declaration of his innocence. Whether he was innocent or not will perhaps appear hereafter, but if the historic muse hath entrusted me with any secrets I will by no means be guilty of discovering them till she shall give me leave. Here therefore the reader must suspend his curiosity. Certain it is that whatever was the truth of the case there was evidence more than sufficient to convict him before Allworthy. Indeed, much less would have satisfied a bench on an order of bastardy, and yet not withstanding the positiveness of Mrs. Partridge who would have taken the sacrament upon the matter. There is a possibility that the schoolmaster was entirely innocent, for though it appeared clear on comparing the time when Jenny departed from Little Baddington with that of her delivery that she had there conceived this infant, yet it by no means followed of necessity that Partridge had been its father, for to admit other particulars there was in the same house a lad near eighteen between whom and Jenny there had subsisted sufficient intimacy to found a reasonable suspicion, and yet so blind his jealousy this circumstance never once entered into the head of the enraged wife. Whether Partridge repented or not, according to Mr. Allworthy's advice, is not so apparent. Certain it is that his wife repented heartily of the evidence she had given against him, especially when she found Mrs. Debra had deceived her and refused to make any application to Mr. Allworthy on her behalf. She had, however, somewhat better success with Mrs. Bliffill, who was, as the reader must have perceived, a much better tempered woman and very kindly undertook to solicit her brother to restore the annuity, in which, though the picture might have some share, yet a stronger and more natural motive will appear in the next chapter. These solicitations were nevertheless unsuccessful, for though Mr. Allworthy did not think, with some late writers, that mercy consists only in punishing offenders, yet he was as far from thinking that it is proper to this excellent quality to pardon great criminals wantonly without any reason whatever. Any doubtfulness of the fact or any circumstance of mitigation was never disregarded, but the petitions of an offender or the intercessions of others did not in the least affect him. In a word he never pardoned, because the offender himself or his friends were unwilling that he should be punished. Partridge and his wife were therefore both obliged to submit to their fate, which was indeed severe enough, for so far was he from doubling his industry on account of his lessened income, that he did in a manner abandon himself to despair, and as he was by nature indolent, that vice now increased upon him, by which means he lost the little school he had, so that neither his wife nor himself would have had any bread to eat, had not the charity of some good Christian interposed, and provided them with what was just sufficient for their sustenance. As this support was conveyed to them by an unknown hand, they imagined, and so I doubt not will the reader, that Mr. Allworthy himself was their secret benefactor, who, though he would not openly encourage vice, could yet privately relieve the distresses of the vicious themselves, when these became too exquisite and disproportionate to their merit. In which light their wretchedness appeared to fortune herself, for she at length took pity on this miserable couple, and considerably lessened the wretched state of Partridge by putting a final end to that of his wife, who soon after caught the smallpox and died. The justice which Mr. Allworthy had executed on Partridge at first met with universal approbation, but no sooner had he felt its consequences than his neighbours relent and to compassionate his case, and presently after to blame that as rigor and severity which they before called justice. They now exclaimed against punishing in cold blood, and sang forth the praises of mercy and forgiveness. These cries were considerably increased by the death of Mrs. Partridge, which, though owing to the distemper above mentioned, which is no consequence of poverty or distress, seemed to impute to Mr. Allworthy's severity or, as they now termed it, cruelty. Partridge, having now lost his wife, his school and his annuity, and the unknown person having now discontinued the last mentioned charity, resolved to change the scene, and left the country where he was in danger of starving with the universal compassion of all his neighbours. End of Chapter 6. Part 7 of Tom Jones being Book 2, Chapters 7, 8 and 9. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For further information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding Book 2, Chapters 7, 8 and 9. Chapter 7. A short sketch of that felicity which prudent couples may extract from hatred, with a short apology for those people who overlook imperfections in their friends. Though the captain had effectually demolished poor Partridge, yet had he not reaped the harvest he hoped for, which was to turn the foundling out of Mr. Allworthy's house. On the contrary, that gentleman grew every day fonder of little Tommy, as if he intended to counterbalance his severity to the father with extraordinary fondness and affection towards the son. This a good deal soured the captain's temper, as did all the other daily instances of Mr. Allworthy's generosity. For he looked on all such largesse to be diminutions of his own wealth. In this we have said he did not agree with his wife, nor indeed in anything else. For though an affection placed on the understanding is by many wise persons thought more durable than that which is founded on beauty, yet it happened otherwise in the present case. Nay, the understandings of this couple were their principal bone of contention, and one great cause of many quarrels which from time to time arose between them, and which at last ended on the side of the lady in a sovereign contempt for her husband, and on the husbands in an utter abhorrence of his wife. As these had both exercised their talents chiefly in the study of divinity, this was from their first acquaintance the most common topic of conversation between them. The captain, like a well-bred man, had before marriage always given up his opinion to that of the lady, and this not in the clumsy awkward manner of a conceited blockhead who, while he civilly yields to a superior in an argument, is desirous of being still known to think himself in the right. The captain, on the contrary, though one of the proudest fellows in the world, so absolutely yielded the victory to his antagonist that she, who had not the least doubt and sincerity, retired always from the dispute with an admiration of her own understanding and a love for his. But though this complacence to one whom the captain thoroughly despised was not so uneasy to him as it would have been had any hopes of preferment made it necessary to show the same submission to a hoadley or to some other of great reputation in the science, yet even this cost him too much to be endured without some motive. Matrimony, therefore, having removed all such motives, he grew weary of this condescension and began to treat the opinions of his wife with that haughtiness and insolence which none but those who deserve some contempt themselves can bestow and those only who deserve no contempt can bear. When the first torrent of tenderness was over and when in the calm and long interval between the fits reason began to open the eyes of the lady and she saw this alteration of behaviour in the captain who at length answered all her arguments only with pitch and pure, she was far from enduring the indignity with a tamed submission. Indeed it at first so highly provoked her that it might have produced some tragical event had it not taken a more harmless turn by filling her with the utmost contempt for her husband's understanding which somewhat qualified her hatred towards him though of this likewise she had a pretty moderate share. The captain's hatred to her was of a pure kind for as to any imperfections in her knowledge or understanding he no more despised her for them than for her not being six feet high. In his opinion of the female sex he exceeded the morose-ness of Aristotle himself. He looked on a woman as on an animal of domestic use of somewhat higher consideration than a cat since her offices were of rather more importance but the difference between these two was in his estimation so small that in his marriage contracted with Mr. Allworthy's lands and tenements it would have been pretty equal which of them he had taken into the bargain. And yet so tender was his pride that it felt the contempt which his wife now began to express towards him and this added to the surfeit he had before taken of her love created in him a degree of disgust and abhorrence perhaps hardly to be exceeded. One situation only of the married state is excluded from pleasure and that is a state of indifference but as many of my readers I hope know what an exquisite delight there is in conveying pleasure to a beloved object so some few I am afraid may have experienced the satisfaction of tormenting one we hate. It is I apprehend to come at this latter pleasure that we see both sexes often give up that ease in marriage which they might otherwise possess though their mate was never so disagreeable to them. Hence the wife often puts on fits of love and jealousy nay even denies herself any pleasure to disturb and prevent those of her husband. And he again in return puts frequent restraints on himself and stays at home in company which he dislikes in order to confine his wife to what she equally detests. Hence too must flow those tears which a widow sometimes so plentifully sheds over the ashes of her husband with whom she led a life of constant disquiet and turbulency and whom now she can never hope to torment any more. But if any couple enjoyed this pleasure it was at present experienced by the captain and his lady it was always a sufficient reason to either of them to be obstinate in any opinion that the other had previously asserted the contrary. If the one proposed any amusement the other constantly objected to it. They never loved or hated, commended or abused the same person. And for this reason as the captain looked with an evil eye on the little foundling his wife began now to caress it almost equally with her own child. The reader will be apt to conceive that this behaviour between the husband and wife did not greatly contribute to Mr Allworthy's repose as it tended so little to that serene happiness which he had proposed to all three from this alliance. But the truth is though he might be a little disappointed in his sanguine expectations yet he was far from being acquainted with the whole matter. For as the captain was from certain obvious reasons much on his guard before him the lady was obliged for fear of her brother's displeasure to pursue the same conduct. In fact it is possible for a third person to be very intimate nay even to live long in the same house with a married couple who have any tolerable discretion and not even guess at the sour sentiments which they bear to each other. For though the whole day may be sometimes too short for hatred as well as for love yet the many hours which they naturally spend together apart from all observers supply people of tolerable moderation with such ample opportunity for the enjoyment of either passion that if they love they can support being a few hours in company without toying or if they hate without spitting in each other's faces. It is possible however that Mr Allworthy saw enough to render him a little uneasy for we are not always to conclude that a wise man is not hurt because he doth not cry out and lament himself like those of a childish or effeminate temper. But indeed it is possible he might see some faults in the captain without any uneasiness at all. For men of true wisdom and goodness are contented to take persons and things as they are without complaining of their imperfections or attempting to amend them. They can see a fault in a friend a relation or an acquaintance without ever mentioning it to the parties themselves or to any others and this often without the least lessening of their affection. Indeed, unless great discernment be tempered with this overlooking disposition we ought never to contract friendship but with a degree of folly which we can deceive. For I hope my friends will pardon me when I declare I know none of them without a fault and I should be sorry if I could imagine I had any friend who could not see mine. Forgiveness of this kind we give and demand in turn. It is an exercise of friendship and perhaps none of the least pleasant and this forgiveness we must bestow without desire of amendment. There is perhaps no sureer mark of folly than an attempt to correct the natural infirmities of those we love. The finest composition of human nature as well as the finest china may have a flaw in it and this I am afraid in either case is equally incurable though nevertheless the pattern may remain of the highest value. Upon the whole then Mr. Allworthy certainly saw some imperfections in the captain but as this was a very artful man and eternally upon his guard before him these appeared to him no more than blemishes in a good character which his goodness made him overlook and his wisdom prevented him from discovering to the captain himself. Very different would have been his sentiments had he discovered the whole which perhaps would in time have been the case had the husband and wife long continued this kind of behaviour to each other but this kind fortune took effectual means to prevent by forcing the captain to do that which rendered him again dear to his wife and restored all her tenderness and affection towards him. Chapter 8 The recipe to regain the lost affections of a wife which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases. The captain was made large amends for the unpleasant minutes which he passed in the conversation of his wife and which were as few as he could contrive to make them by the pleasant meditations he enjoyed when alone. These meditations were entirely employed on Mr. Allworthy's fortune for first he exercised much thought in calculating as well as he could the exact value of the whole which calculations he often saw occasion to alter in his own favour and secondly and chiefly he pleased himself with intended alterations in the house and gardens and in projecting many other schemes as well for the improvement of the estate as of the grandeur of the place. For this purpose he applied himself to the studies of architecture and gardening and read over many books on both these subjects. For these sciences indeed employed his whole time and formed his only amusement. He at last completed a most excellent plan and very sorry we are that it is not in our power to present it to our reader since even the luxury of the present age I believe would hardly match it. It had indeed in a superlative degree the two principal ingredients which served to recommend the great and noble designs of this nature for it required an immoderate expense to execute and a vast length of time to bring it to any sort of perfection. The former of these, the immense wealth of which the captain supposed Mr. Allworthy possessed and which he thought himself sure of inheriting promised very effectually to supply and the latter, the soundness of his own constitution and his time of life which was only what is called middle age removed all apprehension of his not living to accomplish. Nothing was wanting to enable him to enter upon the immediate execution of this plan but the death of Mr. Allworthy in calculating which he had employed much of his own algebra besides purchasing every book extent that treats of the value of lives reversions etc. From all which he satisfied himself that as he had every day a chance of this happening so had he more than an even chance of its happening within a few years. But while the captain was one day busy in deep contemplations of this kind one of the most unlucky as well as unseasonable accidents happened to him the utmost malice of fortune could indeed have contrived nothing so cruel so malapropole so absolutely destructive to all his schemes in short not to keep the reader in long suspense just at the very instant when his heart was exulting in meditations on the happiness which would accrue to him by Mr. Allworthy's death he himself died of an apoplexy this unfortunately befell the captain as he was taking his evening walk by himself so that nobody was present to lend him any assistance if indeed any assistance could have preserved him he took therefore measure of that proportion of soil which was now become adequate to all his future purposes and he lay dead on the ground a great though not a living example of the truth of that observation of Horace to Secunda Mamora loka sub ipsum faunus et sepulcri im memor struis domus which sentiment I shall thus give to the English reader you provide the noblest materials for building when a pickaxe and a spade are only necessary and build houses of five by a hundred feet forgetting that of six by two end of chapter eight chapter nine a proof of the infallibility of the foregoing recipe in the lamentations of the widow with other suitable decorations of death such as physicians et cetera and an epitaph in the true style Mr. Allworthy, his sister and another lady were assembled at the accustomed hour in the supper room where having waited a considerable time longer than usual Mr. Allworthy first declared he began to grow uneasy at the captain's stay for he was always most punctual at his meals and gave orders that the bell should be rung without the doors and especially towards those walks which the captain was want to use all these summons proving ineffectual for the captain had by perverse accident betaken himself to a new walk that evening Mrs. Blifield declared she was seriously frightened upon which the other lady who was one of her most intimate acquaintance and who well knew the true state of her affections endeavoured all she could to pacify her telling her to be sure she could not help being uneasy but that she should hope the best that perhaps the sweetness of the evening had enticed the captain to go farther than his usual walk or he might be detained at some neighbours Mrs. Blifield answered no she was sure some accident had befallen him for that he would never stay out without sending her word as he must know how uneasy it would make her the other lady having no other argument to use betook herself to the entreaties usual on such occasions and begged her not to frighten herself for it might be a very ill consequence to her own health and filling out a very large glass of wine advised and at last prevailed with her to drink it Mr. Allworthy now returned into the parlour for he had been himself in search of the captain his countenance sufficiently showed the consternation he was under which indeed had a good deal deprived him of speech but as grief operates variously on different minds so the same apprehension which depressed his voice elevated that of Mrs. Blifield she now began to bewail herself in very bitter terms and floods of tears accompanied her lamentations which the lady her companion declared she could not blame but at the same time dissuaded her from indulging attempting to moderate the grief of her friend by philosophical observations on the many disappointments to which human life is daily subject which she said was a sufficient consideration to fortify our minds against any accidents how sudden or terrible so ever she said her brother's example ought to teach her patience who though indeed he could not be supposed as much concerned as herself yet was doubtless very uneasy though his resignation to the divine will had restrained his grief within due bounds mention not my brother said Mrs. Blifield I alone am the object of your pity what are the errors of friendship to what a wife feels on these occasions oh he is lost somebody hath murdered him I shall never see him more here a torrent of tears had the same consequence with what the suppression had occasioned to Mr. Allworthy and she remained silent at this interval a servant came running in out of breath and cried out the captain was found and before he could proceed farther he was followed by two more bearing the dead body between them here the curious reader may observe another diversity in the operations of grief for as Mr. Allworthy had been before silent from the same cause which had made his sister vociferous so did the present sight which drew tears from the gentleman put an entire stop to those of the lady who first gave a violent scream and presently after fell into a fit the room was soon full of servants some of whom with the lady visitant were employed in the care of the wife and others with Mr. Allworthy assisted in carrying off the captain to a warm bed where every method was tried in order to restore him to life and glad should we be we inform the reader that both these bodies had been attended with equal success for those who undertook the care of the lady succeeded so well that after the fit had continued a decent time she again revived to their great satisfaction but as to the captain all experiments of bleeding, chafing, dropping etc proved ineffectual death that inexorable judge had passed sentence on him and refused to grant him a reprieve though two doctors who arrived and were feed at one and the same instant were his counsel these two doctors whom to avoid any malicious applications we shall distinguish by the names of Dr. Y and Dr. Z having felt his pulse to wit Dr. Y, his right arm and Dr. Z, his left both agreed that he was absolutely dead but as to the distemper or cause of his death they differed to Dr. Y holding that he died of an apoplexy and Dr. Z of an epilepsy hence arose a dispute between the learned men in which each delivered the reasons of their several opinions these were of such equal force that they served both to confirm either doctor in his own sentiments and made not the least impression on his adversary to say the truth every physician almost had his favourite disease to which he ascribes all the victories obtained over human nature the gout, the rheumatism, the stone, the gravel and the consumption have all their several patrons in the faculty and none more than the nervous fever or the fever on the spirits and here we may account for those disagreements in opinion concerning the cause of a patient's death which sometimes occur between the most learned of the college and which have greatly surprised that part of the world who have been ignorant of the fact we have above asserted the reader may perhaps be surprised that instead of endeavouring to revive the patient the learned gentlemen should fall immediately into a dispute on the occasion of his death but in reality all such experiments had been made before their arrival for the captain was put into a warm bed had his veins scarified his forehead chafed and all sorts of strong drops applied to his lips and nostrils the physicians therefore finding themselves anticipated in everything they ordered were at a loss how to apply that portion of time which it is usual and decent to remain for their fee and were therefore necessitated to find some subject or other for discourse and what could more naturally present itself than that before mentioned our doctors were about to take their leave when Mr. Allworthy having given over the captain and acquiesced in the divine will began to inquire after his sister whom he desired them to visit before their departure this lady was now recovered of her fit and to use the common phrase as well as could be expected for one in her condition the doctors therefore all previous ceremonies being complied with as this was a new patient attended according to desire and laid hold on each of her hands as they had before done on those of the corpse the case of the lady was in the other extreme from that of her husband for as he was passed all the assistance of physics so in reality she required none there is nothing more unjust than the vulgar opinion by which physicians are misrepresented as friends to death on the contrary I believe if the number of those who recover by physics could be opposed to that of the martyrs to it the former would rather exceed the latter nay some are so cautious on this head that to avoid a possibility of killing the patient they abstain from all methods of curing and prescribe nothing but what can neither do good nor harm I have heard some of these with great gravity deliver it as a maxim that nature should be left to do her own work while the physician stands by as it were to clap her on the back and encourage her when she doth well so little then did our doctors delight in death that they discharged the corpse after a single fee but they were not so disgusted with their living patient concerning whose case they immediately agreed and fell to prescribing with great diligence whether as the lady had at first persuaded her physicians to believe her ill they had now in return persuaded her to believe herself so I will not determine but she continued a whole month with all the decorations of sickness during this time she was visited by physicians attended by nurses and received constant messages from her acquaintance to inquire after her health at length the decent time for sickness and immoderate grief being expired the doctors were discharged and the lady began to see company being altered only from what she was before by that colour of sadness in which she had dressed her person and countenance the captain was now interred and might perhaps have already made a large progress towards oblivion had not the friendship of Mr Allworthy taken care to preserve his memory by the following epitaph which was written by a man of as great genius as integrity and one who perfectly well knew the captain here lies in expectation of a joyful rising the body of Captain John Bliffill London had the honour of his birth Oxford of his education his parts were an honour to his profession and to his country his life to his religion and human nature he was a dutiful son a tender husband an affectionate father a sincere friend a devout Christian and a good man his inconsolable widow hath erected this stone the monument of his virtues and of her affection end of chapter 9 end of book 2 part 8 of Tom Jones being book 3 chapters 1 to 3 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for further information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Tom Jones by Henry Fielding book 3 chapters 1 to 3 book 3 containing the most memorable transactions which passed in the family of Mr Allworthy from the time when Tommy Jones arrived at the age of 14 till he attained the age of 19 in this book the reader may pick up some hints concerning the education of children chapter 1 containing little or nothing the reader will be pleased to remember that at the beginning of the second book of this history we gave him a hint of our intention to pass over several large periods of time in which nothing happened worthy of being recorded in a chronicle of this kind in so doing we do not only consult her own dignity and ease but the good and advantage of the reader for besides that by these means we prevent him from throwing away his time in reading without either pleasure or emolument we give him at all such seasons an opportunity of employing that wonderful sagacity of which he is master by filling up these vacant spaces of time with his own conjectures for which purpose we have taken care to qualify him in the preceding pages for instance what reader but knows that Mr. Allworthy felt at first for the loss of his friend those emotions of grief which on such occasions enter enter all men whose hearts are not composed of flint or their heads of as solid materials again what reader doth not know that philosophy and religion in time moderated and at last extinguished this grief the former of these teaching the folly and vanity of it and the latter correcting it as unlawful and at the same time assuaging it by raising future hopes and assurances which enable a strong and religious mind to take leave of a friend on his deathbed with little less indifference than if he was preparing for a long journey and indeed with little less hope of seeing him again nor can the judicious reader be at a greater loss on account of Mrs. Bridget Bliffill who he may be assured conducted herself through the whole season in which grief is to make its appearance on the outside of the body with the strictest regard to all the rules of custom and decency suiting the alterations of her countenance to the several alterations of her habit for as this changed from weeds to black from black to gray from gray to white the countenance changed from dismal to sorrowful from sorrowful to sad and from sad to serious till the day came in which she was allowed to return to her former serenity we have mentioned these two as examples only of the task which may be imposed on readers of the lowest class much higher and harder exercises of judgment and penetration may reasonably be expected from the upper graduates in criticism many notable discoveries will I doubt not be made by such of the transactions which happened in the family of our worthy man during all the years which we have thought proper to pass over for though nothing worthy of a place in this history occurred within that period yet did several incidents happen of equal importance with those reported by the daily and weekly historians of the age in reading which great numbers of persons consume a considerable part of their time and little I am afraid to their emolument now in the conjectures here proposed some of the most excellent faculties of the mind may be employed to much advantage since it is a more useful capacity to be able to foretell the actions of men in any circumstances from their characters than to judge of their characters from their actions the former I own requires the greater penetration but may be accomplished by true sagacity no less certainty than the latter as we are sensible that much the greater part of our readers are very eminently possessed of this quality we have left them a space of twelve years to exert it in and shall now bring forth our hero at about fourteen years of age not questioning that many have been long impatient to be introduced to his acquaintance End of chapter one Chapter two the hero of this great history appears with very bad omens a little tale of so low a kind that some may think it not worth their notice a word or two concerning a squire and more relating to a gamekeeper and a school master as we determined when we first sat down to write this history to flatter no man but to guide our pen throughout by the directions of truth we are obliged to bring our hero on the stage in a much more disadvantageous manner than we could wish and to declare honestly even at his first appearance that it was the universal opinion of all Mr. Allworthy's family that he was certainly born to be hanged indeed I'm sorry to say there was too much reason for this conjecture the lad having from his earliest years discovered a propensity to many vices and especially to one path as direct a tendency as any other to that fate which we have just now observed to have been prophetically denounced against him he had been already convicted of three robberies vices of robbing an orchard of stealing a duck out of a farmer's yard and of picking master Blythiel's pocket of a ball the vices of this young man were moreover heightened by the disadvantageous light in which they appeared when opposed to the virtues of master Blythiel, his companion a youth of so different a cast from little Jones that not only the family but all the neighbourhood resounded his praises he was indeed a lad of a remarkable disposition sober, discreet and pious beyond his age qualities which gained him the love of everyone who knew him whilst Tom Jones was universally disliked and many expressed their wonder that Mr. Allworthy would suffer such a lad to be educated with his nephew lest the morals of the latter should be corrupted by his example an incident which happened about this time will set the character of these two lads more fairly before the discerning reader than is in the power of the longest dissertation Tom Jones, who bad as he is must serve for the hero of this history had only one friend among the servants of the family for as to Mrs. Wilkins she had long since given him up and was perfectly reconciled to her mistress this friend was the gamekeeper a fellow of a loose kind of disposition and who was thought not to entertain much stricter notions concerning the difference of maum and tomb than the young gentleman himself and hence this friendship gave occasion to many hierarchical remarks among the domestics most of which were either proverbs before or at least I'll become so now and indeed the wit of them all may be comprised in that short Latin proverb Nosquitur associo which I think is thus expressed in English you may know him by the company he keeps to say the truth some of that atrocious wickedness in Jones of which we have just mentioned three examples might perhaps be derived from the encouragement he had received from this fellow who in two or three instances had been what the laws call an accessory after the fact for the whole duck and a great part of the apples were converted to the use of the gamekeeper and his family though as Jones alone was discovered the poor lad bore not only the whole smart but the whole blame both of which fell again to his lot on the following occasion contiguous to Mr. Allworthy's estate was the manner of one of those gentlemen who are called preservers of the game this species of men from the great severity with which they revenge the death of a hare or a partridge might be thought to cultivate the same superstition with the Banyans in India many of whom we are told dedicate their whole lives to the preservation and protection of certain animals was it not that our English Banyans while they preserve them from other enemies will most unmercifully slaughter whole horse loads themselves so that they stand clearly acquitted of any such heathenish superstition I have indeed a much better opinion of this kind of men than is entertained by some as I take them to answer the order of nature and the good purposes for which they were ordained in a more ample manner than many others now as Horace tells us that there are a set of human beings frugues consume renati born to consume the fruits of the earth so I make no manner of doubt but that there are others ferras consume renati born to consume the beasts of the field or as it is commonly called the game and none I believe will deny but that those squires fulfill this end of their creation little Jones went one day shooting with the gamekeeper when happening to spring a covey of partridges near the border of that manner over which fortune to fulfill the wise purposes of nature had planted one of the game consumers the birds flew into it and were marked as it is called by the two sportsmen in some fursbushes about two or three hundred paces beyond Mr. Allworthy's dominions Mr. Allworthy had given the fellow strict orders on pain of forfeiting his place never to trespass on any of his neighbours no more on those who were less rigid in this matter than on the Lord of this manner with regard to others indeed these orders had not been always very scrupulously kept but as the disposition of the gentlemen with whom the partridges had taken sanctuary was well known the gamekeeper had never yet attempted to invade his territories nor had he done it now had not the younger sportsman who was excessively eager to pursue the flying game over persuaded him but Jones being very important the other who was himself keen enough after the sport yielded to his persuasions entered the manner and shot one of the partridges the gentleman himself was at that time on horseback at a little distance from them and hearing the gun go off he immediately made towards the place and discovered poor Tom for the gamekeeper had leapt into the thickest part of the first break where he had happily concealed himself the gentleman having searched the lad and found the partridge upon him denounced great vengeance swearing he would acquaint Mr Allworthy he was as good as his word for he rode immediately to his house and complained of the trespass on his manner in as high terms and as bitter language as if his house had been broken open and the most valuable furniture stolen out of it he added that some other person was in his company though he could not discover him for that two guns had been discharged almost in the same instant and says he we have found only this partridge but the Lord knows what mischief they have done at his return home Tom was presently convened before Mr Allworthy he owned the fact and alleged no other excuse but what was really true was that the Covey was originally sprung in Mr Allworthy's own manner Tom was then interrogated who was with him which Mr Allworthy declared he was resolved to know equating the culprit with the circumstances of the two guns which had been deposed by the squire and both his servants but Tom stoutly persisted in asserting that he was alone yet to say the truth he hesitated a little at first which would have confirmed Mr Allworthy's belief had what the squire and his servants said wanted any further confirmation the gamekeeper being a suspected person was now sent for and the question put to him but he relying on the promise which Tom had made him to take all upon himself very resolutely denied being in company with the young gentleman or indeed having seen him the whole afternoon Mr Allworthy then turned towards Tom with more than usual anger in his countenance and advised him to confess who was with him repeating that he was resolved to know the lad however still maintained his resolution and was dismissed with much wrath by Mr Allworthy who told him he should have to the next morning to consider of it when he should be questioned by another person and in another manner poor Jones spent a very melancholy night and the more so as he was without his usual companion for Master Bliffill was gone abroad on a visit with his mother fear of the punishment he was to suffer was on this occasion his least evil his chief anxiety being less his constancy should fail him and he should be brought to betray the gamekeeper whose ruin he knew must now be the consequence nor did the gamekeeper pass his time much better he had the same apprehensions with the youth for whose honour he had likewise a much tenderer regard than for his skin in the morning when Tom attended the reverent Mr Thwackam the person to whom Mr Allworthy had committed the instruction of the two boys he had the same questions put to him by that gentleman which he had been asked the evening before to which he returned the same answers the consequence of this was so severe a whipping that it possibly fell little short of the torture with which confessions are in some countries extorted from criminals Tom bore his punishment with great resolution and though his master asked him between every stroke whether he would not confess he was contented to be flayed rather than betray his friend or break the promise he had made the gamekeeper was now relieved from his anxiety and Mr Allworthy himself began to be concerned at Tom's sufferings for besides that Mr Thwackam being highly enraged that he was not able to make the boy say what he himself pleased had carried his severity much beyond the good man's intentions this latter began now to suspect that the squire had been mistaken which his extreme eagerness and anger seemed to make probable and as for what the servants had said in confirmation of their master's account he laid no greater stress upon that now as cruelty and injustice were two ideas of which Mr Allworthy could by no means support the consciousness a single moment he sent for Tom and after many kind and friendly exhortations said I'm convinced my dear child that my suspicions have wronged you I'm sorry that you have been so severely punished on this account and at last gave him a little horse to make amends again repeating his sorrow for what had passed Tom's guilt now flew in his face more than any severity could make it he could more easily bear the lashes of Thwackam than the generosity of Allworthy the tears burst from his eyes and he fell upon his knees crying oh sir you are too good to me indeed you are indeed I don't deserve it and at that very instant from the fullness of his heart had almost betrayed the secret but the good genius of the gamekeeper suggested to him what might be the consequence to the poor fellow and this consideration sealed his lips Thwackam did all he could to dissuade Allworthy from showing any compassion or kindness to the boy saying he had persisted in an untruth and gave some hints that a second whipping might probably bring the matter to light but Mr Allworthy absolutely refused to consent to the experiment he said the boy had suffered enough already for conceding the truth even if he was guilty seeing that he could have no motive but a mistaken point of honour for so doing honour cried Thwackam with some warmth mere stubbornness and obstinacy can honour teach anyone to tell a lie or can any honour exist independent of religion this discourse happened at table when dinner was just ended and there were present Mr Allworthy Mr Thwackam and a third gentleman who now entered into the debate and whom, before we proceed any further we shall briefly introduce to our readers acquaintance End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 the character of Mr Square the philosopher and of Mr Thwackam the Divine with a dispute concerning the name of this gentleman who had then resided some time at Mr Allworthy's house was Mr Square and his initial parts were not of the first rate but he had greatly improved them by a learned education he was deeply read in the ancients and a professed master of all the works of Plato and Aristotle upon which great models he had principally formed himself sometimes according with the opinion of the one and sometimes with that of the other in morals he was a professed Platonist and in religion he inclined to be an Aristotelian but though he had as we have said formed his morals on the Platonic model yet he perfectly agreed with the opinion of Aristotle in considering that great man rather in the quality of a philosopher or a speculatist than as a legislator this sentiment he carried a great way indeed so far as to regard all virtue as matter of theory only this it is true he never affirmed as I have heard to anyone and yet upon the least attention to his conduct I cannot help thinking it was his real opinion as it will perfectly reconcile some contradictions which might otherwise appear in his character this gentleman and Mr. Thwackam scarce ever met without a disputation for their tenets were indeed diametrically opposite to each other square held human nature to be the perfection of all virtue and that vice was a deviation from our nature in the same manner as deformity of body is Thwackam on the contrary maintained that the human mind since the fall was nothing but a sink of iniquity till purified and redeemed by grace in one point only they agreed which was in all their discourses on morality never to mention the word goodness the favorite phrase of the former was the natural beauty of virtue that of the latter was the divine power of grace the former measured all actions by the unalterable rule of right and the eternal fitness of things the latter decided all matters by authority but in doing this he always used the scriptures and their commentators as the lawyer doth his Koch upon Littleton where the comment is of equal authority with the text after this short introduction the reader will be pleased to remember that the parson had concluded his speech with a triumphant question to which he had apprehended no answer biz can any honor exist independent of religion to this square answered that it was impossible to discourse philosophically concerning words till their meaning was first established that there was scarce any two words of a more vague and uncertain signification than the two he had mentioned for that there were almost many different opinions concerning honor as concerning religion but says he if by honor you mean the true natural beauty of virtue I will maintain it may exist independent of any religion whatever nay added he you yourself will allow it may exist independent of all but one so will a Mohammedan a Jew and all the maintainers of all the different sects in the world Thwackam replied that this was arguing with the usual malice of all the enemies to the true church he said he doubted not but that all infidels and heretics in the world would if they could confine honor to their own absurd errors and damnable deceptions but honor says he is not therefore manifold because there are many absurd opinions about it nor is religion manifold because there are various sects and heresies in the world when I mention religion I mean the Christian religion and not only the Christian religion but the Protestant religion and not only the Protestant religion but the church of England and when I mention honor I mean that mode of divine grace which is not only consistent with but dependent upon this religion and is consistent with and dependent upon no other but to say that the honor I here mean and which was I thought all the honor I could be supposed to will uphold much less dictate and untruth is to assert an absurdity too shocking to be conceived I purposely avoided say square drawing a conclusion which I thought evident from what I have said but if you have perceived it I am sure you have not attempted to answer it however to drop the article of religion I think it is plain from what you have said that we have different ideas of honor or why do we not agree in the same terms of its explanation I have asserted that true honor and true virtue are almost synonymous terms and they are both founded on the unalterable rule of right and the eternal fitness of things to which an untruth being absolutely repugnant and contrary it is certain that true honor cannot support an untruth in this therefore I think we are agreed but that this honor can be said to be founded on religion to which it is antecedent if by religion be meant any positive law I agree answered Thracom with great warmth with a man who asserts honor to be antecedent to religion Mr. Allworthy did I agree he was proceeding when Mr. Allworthy interposed telling them very coldly they had both mistaken his meaning for that he had said nothing of true honor it is possible however he would not have easily inquired the disputants who were growing equally warm had not another matter now fallen out which put a final end to the conversation at present End of Chapter 3 Section 9 of Tom Jones being Book 3 chapters 4, 5 and 6 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for further information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Tom Jones by Henry Fielding Book 3 chapters 4, 5 and 6 Chapter 4 containing a necessary apology for the author and a childish incident which perhaps requires an apology likewise Before I proceed further I shall beg leave to obviate some instructions 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 father 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 these 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 thwackened 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 in this matter then which put an end to the debate mentioned in the last chapter that he was a father than a quarrel between master Blyphil and Tom Jones the consequence of which had been a bloody nose to the former for though master Blyphil not withstanding 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 Mr. Thwacken 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 Blyphil 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 Blyphil now with his blood running from his nose and the tears galloping after from his eyes appeared before his uncle and the tremendous Thwacken in which caught 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 Blyphil had admitted 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 Blyphil 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 Thwacken 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 may he said yes you did deny it if you can that you would not have confessed the truth though master had cut you to pieces at this the fire flashed from Thwacken's eyes and he cried out in triumph oh whole 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 to lie as much as anyone 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 father obliged to as the gamekeeper had begged him not to go into the gentleman's manner 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 had been only 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 I finished 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 End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 the opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys with some reasons for their opinions and other matters it is probable that by disclosing this secret which had been communicated in the utmost confidence to him young Bliffill preserved his companion from a good lashing for the offence of the bloody nose would have been of itself sufficient cause for Thwackam to have proceeded to correction but now this was totally absorbed in the consideration of the other matter and with regard to this Mr. Allworthy declared privately he thought the boy deserved reward so that Thwackam's hand was withheld by a general pardon Thwackam whose meditations were full of birch exclaimed against this weak and as he said he would venture to call it wicked lenity to remit the punishment of such crimes whilst he said to encourage them he enlarged much on the correction of children and quoted many texts from Solomon and others which being found in so many other books shall not be found here he then applied himself to the vice of lying on which head he was altogether as learned as he had been on the other Square said he had been endeavouring to reconcile the behaviour of Tom with his idea of perfect virtue but could not he owned there was something in which at first sight appeared like fortitude in the action but as fortitude was a virtue and falsehood of vice they could by no means agree to unite together he added that as this was in some measure to confound virtue and vice it might be worth Mr. Thwackam's consideration whether a larger castigation might be laid on upon that account as both these learned men concurred in censoring Jones so were they no less unanimous in applauding master Blyphil to bring truth to light was by the parson asserted to be the duty of every religious man and by the philosopher this was declared to be highly conformable with the rule of right and the eternal and unalterable fitness of things all this however weighed very little with Mr. Allworthy he could not be prevailed on to sign the warrant for the execution of Jones there was something within his own breast with which the invincible fidelity which that youth had preserved corresponded much better than it had done with the execution of Thwackam or with the virtue of Square he therefore strictly ordered the former of these gentlemen to abstain from laying violent hands on Tom for what had passed the pedagogue was obliged to obey those orders but not without great reluctance and frequent mutterings that the boy would be certainly spoiled towards the gamekeeper the good man behaved with more severity he presently summoned that poor fellow and after many bitter remonstrances paid him his wages and dismissed him from his service for Mr. Allworthy rightly observed that there was great difference between being guilty of a falsehood to excuse yourself and to excuse another he likewise urged as the principal motive to his inflexible severity against this man that he had basically suffered Tom Jones to undergo so heavy a punishment for his sake whereas he ought to have prevented it by making the discovery himself when this story became public many people differed from Square and Thwackam in judging the conduct of the two lads on the occasion Master Bliffill was generally called a sneaking rascal a poor spirited wretch with other epithets of the like kind whilst Tom was honoured with the appellations of a brave lad a jolly dog and an honest fellow indeed his behaviour to black George much ingratiated him with all the servants for though that fellow was before universally disliked yet he was no sooner turned away than he was as universally pitted and the friendship and gallantry of Tom Jones was celebrated by them all with the highest applause and they condemned Master Bliffill as openly as they durst without incurring the danger of offending his mother for all this however poor Tom smarted in the flesh for though Thwackam had been inhibited to exercise his arm on the foregoing account yet as the proverb says it is easy to find a stick etc so was it easy to find a rod and indeed the not being able to find one was the only thing which could have kept Thwackam any long time from chastising or Jones had the bear delight in the sport been the only inducement to the pedagogue it is probable Master Bliffill would likewise have had his share but though Mr Allworthy had given him frequent orders to make no difference between the lads yet was Thwackam altogether as kind and gentle to this youth as he was harsh, naive and barbarous to the other to say the truth Bliffill had greatly gained his master's affections partly by the profound respect he always showed his person but much more by the decent reverence with which he received his doctrine for he had got by heart and frequently repeated his phrases and maintained all his master's religious principles with a zeal which was surprising in one so young and which greatly endeared him to the worthy preceptor Tom Jones on the other hand was not only deficient in outward tokens of respect often forgetting to pull off his hat or to bow at his master's approach but was altogether as unmindful both of his master's precepts and example he was indeed a thoughtless giddy youth with little sobriety in his manners and less in his countenance and would often very impudently and indecently laugh at his companion for his serious behaviour Mr Square had the same reason for his preference of the formal ad for Tom Jones showed no more respect to the learned discourses which this gentleman would sometimes throw away upon him than to those of Thwackam he once ventured to make a jest of the rule of right and at another time said he believed there was no rule in the world capable of making such a man as his father for so Mr Allworthy suffered himself to be called Master Bliffill on the contrary had a dress enough at sixteen to recommend himself at one and the same time to both these opposites with one he was all religion with the other he was all virtue and when both were present he was profoundly silent which both interpreted in his favour and their own nor was Bliffill contented with flattering both these gentlemen to their faces he took frequent occasions of praising them behind their backs to Allworthy before whom, when they were alone together and when his uncle commanded any religious or virtuous sentiment for many such came constantly from him he seldom failed to ascribe it to the good instructions he had received from either Thwackam or Square for he knew his uncle repeated all such compliments to the persons for whose use they were meant and he found by experience the great impressions which they made on the philosopher as well as on the divine for to say the truth there is no kind of flattery so irresistible as this at second hand the young gentleman moreover soon perceived how extremely grateful all those panagirics on his instructors were to Mr Allworthy himself as they so loudly resounded the praise of that singular plan of education which he had laid down for this worthy man having observed the imperfect institution of our public schools and the many vices which boys were there liable to learn had resolved to educate his nephew as well as the other lad whom he had in a manner adopted in his own house their morals would escape all that danger of being corrupted to which they would be unavoidably exposed in any public school or university having therefore determined to commit these boys to the tuition of a private tutor Mr Thwackam was recommended to him for that office by a very particular friend of whose understanding Mr Allworthy had a great opinion and in whose integrity he placed much confidence this Thwackam was fellow of a college where he almost entirely resided and had a great reputation for learning, religion and sobriety of manners and these were doubtless the qualifications by which Mr Allworthy's friend had been induced to recommend him though indeed this friend had some obligations to Thwackam's family who were the most considerable persons in a borough which that gentleman represented in Parliament Thwackam at his first arrival was extremely agreeable to Allworthy and indeed he perfectly answered the character which had been given of him upon longer acquaintance however and more intimate conversation this worthy man saw infirmities in the tutor which he could have wished him to have been without though as those seemed greatly overbalanced by his good qualities they did not incline Mr Allworthy to part with him nor would they indeed have justified such a proceeding for the reader is greatly mistaken if he conceives that Thwackam appeared to Mr Allworthy in the same light as he doth to him in this history and he is as much deceived if he imagines that the most intimate acquaintance which he himself could have had with that divine would have informed him of those things which we, from our inspiration are enabled to open and discover of readers who from such conceits of these condemn the wisdom or penetration of Mr Allworthy I shall not scruple to say that they make a very bad and ungrateful use of that knowledge which we have communicated to them these apparent errors in the doctrine of Thwackam served greatly to palliate the contrary errors in that of Square which our good man no less saw and condemned he thought indeed that the different exuberances of these gentlemen would correct the different imperfections and that from both especially with his assistants the two lads would derive sufficient precepts of true religion and virtue if the event happened contrary to his expectations this possibly proceeded from some fault in the plan itself which the reader hath my leave to discover if he can for we do not pretend to introduce any infallible characters into this history we hope nothing will be found which hath never yet been seen in human nature to return therefore the reader will not I think wonder that the different behaviour of the two lads above commemorated produced the different effects of which he hath already seen some instance and besides this there was another reason for the conduct of the philosopher and the pedagogue but this being matter of great importance we shall reveal it in the next chapter and of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 containing a better reason still for the before mentioned opinions it is to be known then that those two learned personages who have lately made a considerable figure on the theatre of this history had from their first arrival at Mr Orworthy's house taken so great an affection the one to his virtue the other to his religion the closest alliance with him for this purpose they had cast their eyes on that fair widow whom, though we have not for some time made any mention of her the reader, we trust, hath not forgot Mrs Bliffville was indeed the object to which they both aspired it may seem remarkable that of four persons whom we have commemorated at Mr Orworthy's house three of them should fix their inclinations on a lady who was never greatly celebrated for her beauty and who was, moreover now a little descended into the veil of years but in reality bosom friends and intimate acquaintance have a kind of natural propensity to particular females at the house of a friend biz to his grandmother mother, sister, daughter aunt, niece and cousin when they are rich and to his wife, sister, daughter niece, cousin, mistress and servant made, if they should be handsome we would not, however have our reader imagine that persons of such characters as were supported by Thwackam and Square would undertake a matter of this kind which hath been a little censured by some rigid moralists before they had thoroughly examined it and considered whether it was as Shakespeare phrases it stuff or the conscience or no it was encouraged to the undertaking by reflecting that to court your neighbour's sister is nowhere forbidden and he knew it was a rule in the construction of all laws that expressum facet kesale takitum the sense of which is when a law giver sets down plainly his whole meaning we are prevented from making him mean what we please ourselves as some instances of women therefore are mentioned in the divine law which forbids us to covet our neighbour's goods and that of a sister omitted he concluded it to be lawful and as to Square who was in his person what is called a jolly fellow or a widow's man he easily reconciled his choice to the eternal fitness of things now as both these gentlemen were industrious in taking every opportunity of recommending themselves to the widow they apprehended one certain method by giving her son the constant preference to the other lad and as they conceived the kindness and affection which Mr. Allworthy showed the latter must be highly disagreeable to her they doubted not but the laying hold on all occasions to degrade and vilify him would be highly pleasing to her who, as she hated the boy must love all those who did him any hurt in this Thwackam had the advantage where he could only scarify the poor lad's reputation he could flay his skin and indeed he considered every lash he gave him as a compliment paid to his mistress so that he could with the utmost propriety repeat this old flogging line Castigote non-cord odio habiam said quad amim my chest dies the not out of hatred but out of love and this indeed he often had in his mouth or rather according to the old phrase never more properly applied at his fingers ends for this reason principally the two gentlemen concurred as we have seen above in their opinion concerning the two lads this being indeed almost the only instance of their concurring on any point for beside the difference of their principles they had both long ago strongly suspected each other's design one another with no little degree of inveteracy this mutual animosity was a good deal increased by their alternate successes for mrs. Blythyl knew what they would be at long before they imagined it or indeed intended she should for they proceeded with great caution less she should be offended and equate Mr. Allworthy but they had no reason for any such fear she was well enough pleased with a passion of which she intended none would have any fruits but herself and the only fruits she designed for herself were flattery and courtship for which purpose she soothed them by turns and a long time equally she was indeed rather inclined to favor the Parsons principles but Squares person was more agreeable to her eye for he was a comely man whereas the pedagogue did in countenance very nearly resemble that gentleman who in the harlot's progress is seen correcting the ladies in Bridewell whether mrs. Blythyl had been surfited with the sweets of marriage or disgusted by its bitters or from what other cause it proceeded I will not determine but she could never be brought to listen to any second proposals however she at last conversed with Squares with such a degree of intimacy that malicious tongues began to whisper things of her to which as well as for the sake of the lady as that they were highly disagreeable to the rule of right and the fitness of things we will give no credit and therefore shall not blot our paper with them the pedagogue to certain whipped on without getting a step nearer to his journey's end indeed he had committed a great error and that Squares discovered much sooner than himself mrs. Blythyl as perhaps the reader may have formally guessed over and above pleased with the behaviour of her husband nay to be honest she absolutely hated him till his death at last a little reconciled him to her affections it will not be there for greatly wondered at if she had not the most violent regard to the offspring she had by him and in fact she had so little of this regard that in his infancy she seldom saw her son or took any notice of him and hence she acquiesced after a little reluctance in all the favours which mr. Allworthy showered on the Foundling whom the good man called his own boy and in all things put on an entire equality with master Blythyl this acquiescence in mrs. Blythyl was considered by the neighbours and by the family as a mark of her condescension to her brother's humour and she was imagined by all others as well as Thwackamon Square to hate the Foundling in her heart nay the more civility she showed him the more they conceived she detested him and the sureer scheme she was laying for his ruin for as they thought it her interest to hate him it was very difficult for her to persuade them she did not Thwackamon was the more confirmed in his opinion as she had more than once slyly caused him to whip Tom Jones when mr. Allworthy who was an animator this exercise was abroad any such orders concerning young Blythyl and this had likewise imposed upon Square in reality though she certainly hated her own son of which however monstrous it appears I am assured she is not a singular instance she appeared notwithstanding all her outward compliance to be in her heart sufficiently displeased with all the favour shown by mr. Allworthy to the Foundling she frequently complained of this behind her brother's back and very sharply censured him for it both to Thwackamon and Square nay she would throw it in the teeth of Allworthy himself when a little quarrel or myth as it is vulgarly called arose between them however when Tom grew up and gave tokens of that gallantry of temper which greatly recommends men to women this disinclination which she had discovered to him when a child by degrees abated and at last she so evidently demonstrated her affection to him to be much stronger than what she bore her own son that it was impossible to mistake her any longer she was so desirous of often seeing him and discovered such satisfaction and delight in his company that before he was 18 years old he was become a rival to both Square and Thwackamon and what is worse the whole country began to talk as loudly her inclination to Tom as they had before done of that which she had shown to Square on which account the philosopher conceived the most implacable hatred for our poor hero End of Chapter 6