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ever shake or remove, from a good mind, | deed, the only grave person; for, as to that sensation or passion which hath gra-Jones, though love had now gotten entire titude and esteem for its basis.

To deny the existence of a passion of which we often see manifest instances, seems to be very strange and absurd; and can, indeed, proceed only from that selfadmonition which we have mentioned above: but how unfair is this? Doth the man who recognises in his own heart no traces of avarice or ambition conclude, therefore, that there are no such passions in human nature? Why will we not modestly observe the same rule in judging of the good, as well as the evil, of others? Or why, in any case, will we, as Shakspeare phrases it, 'put the world in our own person?'

Predominant vanity is, I am afraid, too much concerned here. This is one instance of that adulation which we bestow on our minds, and this almost universally. For there is scarce any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to flatter himself.

To those, therefore, I apply for the truth of the above observations, whose own minds can bear testimony to what I have advanced.

possession of his heart, yet the pleasing reflection on Mr. Allworthy's recovery, and the presence of his mistress, joined to some tender looks which she now and then could not refrain from giving him, so elevated our hero, that he joined the mirth of the other three, who were, perhaps, as good-humoured people as any in the world.

Sophia retained the same gravity of countenance the next morning at breakfast; whence she retired likewise earlier than usual, leaving her father and aunt together. The squire took no notice at this change in his daughter's disposition. To say the truth, though he was somewhat of a politician, and had been twice a candidate in the country interest at an election, he was a man of no great observation. His sister was a lady of a different turn. She had lived about the court, and had seen the world. Hence she had acquired all that knowledge which the said world usually communicates; and was a perfect mistress of manners, customs, ceremonies, and fashions. Nor did her erudition stop here. She had considerably improved her mind by study: Examine your heart, my good reader, she had not only read all the modern plays, and resolve whether you do believe these operas, oratorios, poems, and romances, matters with me. If you do, you may in all which she was a critic; but had now proceed to their exemplification in gone through Rapin's History of Engthe following pages; if you do not, you land, Echard's Roman History, and many have, I assure you, already read more French Mémoires pour server à l'Histoire : than you have understood; and it would to these she had added most of the political be wiser to pursue your business, or your pamphlets and journals published within pleasures, (such as they are,) than to the last twenty years. From which she throw away any more of your time in had attained a very competent skill in reading what you can neither taste or politics, and could discourse very learnedly comprehend. To treat of the effects of on the affairs of Europe. She was, morelove to you, must be as absurd as to dis-over, excellently well skilled in the doccourse on colours to a man born blind; since possibly, your idea of love may be as absurd as that which we are told such blind man once entertained of the colour scarlet; that colour seemed to him to be very much like the sound of a trumpet: and love probably may, in your opinion, very greatly resemble a dish of soup, or a sirloin of roast-ble; for her masculine person, which was beef.

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trine of amour, and knew better than any body who and who were together; a knowledge which she more easily attained, as her pursuit of it was never diverted by any affairs of her own: for either she had no inclinations, or they had never been solicited; which last is, indeed, very proba

near six feet high, added to her manner and learning, possibly prevented the other sex from regarding her, notwithstanding her petticoats, in the light of a woman. However, as she had considered the matter scientifically, she perfectly well knew, though she had never practised them, all the arts which fine ladies use when they desire to give encouragement, or to conceal liking, with all the long appendage of smiles, ogles, glances, &c. as they are at present practised in the beau-monde. To sum the whole, no species of disguise or affectation had escaped her notice; but,

as to the plain simple workings of honest | marries the man I would ha' her, she may nature, as she had never seen any such, she could know but little of them.

By means of this wonderful sagacity, Mrs. Western had now, as she thought, made a discovery of something in the mind of Sophia. The first hint of this she took from the behaviour of the young lady in the field of battle; and the suspicion, which she then conceived, was greatly corroborated by some observations which she had made that evening and the next morning. However, being greatly cautious to avoid being found in a mistake, she carried the secret a whole fortnight in her bosom, giving only some oblique hints, by simpering, winks, nods, and now and then dropping an obscure word, which indeed sufficiently alarmed Sophia, but did not at all affect her brother.

love whom she pleases, I shan't trouble my head about that.'-That is spoken,' answered the sister, like a sensible man; but I believe the very person she hath chosen would be the very person you would choose for her. I will disclaim all knowledge of the world, if it is not so; and I believe brother, you will allow ĺ have some.'-'Why lookee, sister,' said Western, 'I do believe you have as much as any woman; and to be sure those are women's matters. You know I don't love to hear you talk about politics; they belong to us, and petticoats should not meddle: but come, who is the man?— Marry!' said she, you may find him out yourself, if you please. You, who are so great a politician, can be at no great loss. The judgment which can penetrate into the cabinets of princes, and discover the secret springs which move the great state wheels in all the political machines of Europe, must surely, with very little difficulty, find

Being at length, however, thoroughly satisfied of the truth of her observation, she took an opportunity, one morning, when she was alone with her brother, to interrupt one of his whistles in the follow-out what passes in the rude uninformed ing manner:

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mind of a girl.'-'Sister,' cries the squire, Pray, brother, have you not observed I have often warned you not to talk the something very extraordinary in my niece court gibberish to me. I tell you, I don't lately? No, not I,' answered Western; understand the lingo; but I can read a is any thing the matter with the girl?'- journal, or the London Evening Post. "I think there is,' replies she; and some- Perhaps, indeed, there may be now and thing of much consequence too.'- Why tan a verse which I can't make much of, she doth not complain of any thing,' cries because half the letters are left out; yet İ Western; and she hath had the small- know very well what is meant by that, pox.'-Brother,' returned she, girls are and that our affairs don't go so well as liable to other distempers besides the small- they should do, because of bribery and pox, and sometimes possibly to much corruption.'-'I pity your country ignoworse.' Here Western interrupted her rance from my heart,' cries the lady. Do with much earnestness, and begged her, you?' answered Western; and I pity if any thing ailed his daughter, to acquaint your town learning: I had rather be any him immediately, adding, she knew he thing than a courtier, and a presbyterian, loved her more than his own soul, and and a Hanoverian too, as some people, I that he would send to the world's end for believe, are.'-'If you mean me,' answered the best physician to her.'- Nay, nay,' she, you know I am a woman, brother; answered she, smiling, 'the distemper is and it signifies nothing what I am. Benot so terrible; but I believe, brother, you sides- 'I do know you are a woman,' are convinced I know the world, and I cries the squire, and it's well for thee promise you I was never more deceived that art one; if hadst been a man, I proin my life, if my niece be not most despe- mise thee I had lent thee a flick long ago.' rately in love. How! in love,' cries-Ay, there,' said she, in that flick lies Western, in a passion; in love, without all your fancied superiority. Your bodies, acquainting me! I'll disinherit her; I'll turn her out of doors stark naked, without a farthing. Is all my kindness vor 'ur, and vondness o' ur come to this, to fall in love without asking me leave !'-' But you will not,' answered Mrs. Western, turn this daughter, whom you love better than your own soul, out of doors, before you know whether you shall approve her choice. Suppose she should have fixed on the very person whom you yourself would wish, I hope you would not be angry then? No, no,' cries Western, 'that would make a difference. If she

and not your brains, are stronger than ours. Believe me, it is well for you that you are able to beat us; or, such is the superiority of our understanding, we should make all of you what the brave, and wise, and witty, and polite, are alrea dy, our slaves.' I am glad I know your mind,' answered the squire. But we'll talk more of this matter another time. At present, do tell me what man is it you mean about my daughter.'-Hold a moment,' said she, while I digest that sovereign contempt I have for your sex; or else I ought to be angry too with you

6

taken; as you are a woman, I shall lay no blame upon you; for I suppose they are wiser than to trust women with secrets.' He accompanied this with so sarcastical a laugh, that Mrs. Western could bear no longer. She had been all this time fretted in a tender part, (for she was indeed very deeply skilled in these matters, and very violent in them,) and therefore burst forth in a rage, declared her brother to be both a clown and a blockhead, and that she would stay no longer in his house.

The squire, though perhaps he had never read Machiavel, was, however, in many points, a perfect politician. He strongly held all those wise tenets, which are so well inculcated in that PoliticoPeripatetic school of Exchange-alley. He knew the just value and only use of money, viz. to lay it up. He was likewise well skilled in the exact value of reversions, expectations, &c. and had often considered the amount of his sister's fortune, and the chance which he or his posterity had of inheriting it. This he was infinitely too wise to sacrifice to a trifling resentment. When he found, therefore, he had carried

There I have made a shift to gulp it | swered the squire, with much scorn, 'let down. And now, good politic sir, what your friends at court answer for the towns think you of Mr. Blifil? Did she not faint away on seeing him lie breathless on the ground? Did she not, after he was recovered, turn pale again the moment we came up to that part of the field where he stood? And pray what else should be the occasion of all her melancholy that night at supper, the next morning, and, indeed, ever since?"Fore George!' cries the squire, now you mind me on't, I remember it all. It is certainly so, and I am glad on't with all my heart. I knew Sophy was a good girl, and would not fall in love to make me angry. I was never more rejoiced in my life: for nothing can lie so handy together as our two estates. I had this matter in my head some time ago; for certainly the two estates are in a manner joined together in matrimony already, and it would be a thousand pities to part them. It is true, indeed, there be larger estates in the kingdom, but not in this county; and I had rather bate something, than marry my daughter among strangers and foreigners. Besides, most o' zuch great estates be in the hands of lords, and I hate the very name of themmun. Well but, sister, what would you advise me to do; for I tell you women know these mat-matters too far, he began to think of reters better than we do?'-' Oh, your humole servant, sir,' answered the lady: we are obliged to you for allowing us a capacity in any thing. Since you are pleased then, most politic sir, to ask my advice, I think you may propose the match to Mr. Allworthy yourself. There is no indecorum in the proposals coming from the parent of either side. King Alcinous, in Mr. Pope's Odyssey, offers his daughter to Ulysses. I need not caution so politic a person not to say that your daughter is in love; that would indeed be against all rules. Well,' said the squire, I will propose it; but I shall certainly lend un a flick, if he should refuse me.'- Fear not,' cries Mrs. Western: the match is too advantageous to be refused.'-'I don't know that,' answered the squire: 'Allworthy is a queer b-ch, and money hath no effect o' un.'-'Brother,' said the lady, 'your politics astonish me. Are you really The result of the whole was a kind smile to be imposed on by professions? Do you from Mrs. Western, who said, 'Brother, think Mr. Allworthy hath more contempt you are absolutely a perfect Croat; but as for money than other men, because he those have their use in the army of the professes more? Such credulity would empress queen, so you likewise have some better become one of us weak women, good in you. I will, therefore, once more than that wise sex which Heaven hath sign a treaty of peace with you, and see formed for politicians. Indeed, brother, that you do not infringe it on your side; you would make a fine plenipo to nego- at least, as you are so excellent a polititiate with the French. They would soon cian, I may expect you will keep your persuade you, that they take towns out of leagues, like the French, till your interest mere defensive principles.'-'Sister,' an- calls upon you to break them.'

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conciling them; which was no very difficult task, as the lady had great affection for her brother, and still greater for her niece; and though too susceptible of an affront offered to her skill in politics, on which she much valued herself, was a woman of a very extraordinary good and sweet disposition.

Having first, therefore, laid violent hands on the horses, for whose escape from the stable no place but the window was left open, he next applied himself to his sister, softened and soothed her, by unsaying all he had said, and by assertions directly contrary to those which had incensed her. Lastly, he summoned the eloquence of Sophia to his assistance, who, besides a most graceful and winning address, had the advantage of being heard with great favour and partiality by her aunt.

CHAPTER III.

art be wound up, if I may use the expression, in the same key with theirs; for very artful men sometimes miscarry by fancying others wiser, or, in other words, greater knaves than they really are. As this ob

Containing two defiances to the critics. THE Squire having settled matters with his sister, as we have seen in the last chapter, was so greatly impatient to com-servation is pretty deep, I will illustrate it municate the proposal to Allworthy, that Mrs. Western had the utmost difficulty to prevent him from visiting that gentleman in his sickness for this purpose.

Mr. Allworthy had been engaged to dine with Mr. Western at the time when he was taken ill. He was therefore no sooner discharged out of the custody of physic, but he thought, (as was usual with him on all occasions, both the highest and the lowest,) of fulfilling his engagement.

In the interval between the time of the dialogue in the last chapter, and this day of public entertainment, Sophia had, from certain obscure hints thrown out by her aunt, collected some apprehension that the sagacious lady suspected her passion for Jones. She now resolved to take this opportunity of wiping out all such suspicion, and for that purpose to put an entire constraint on her behaviour.

First, she endeavoured to conceal a throbbing melancholy heart with the utmost sprightliness in her countenance, and the highest gayety in her manner. Secondly, she addressed her whole discourse to Mr. Blifil, and took not the least notice of poor Jones the whole day.

The squire was so delighted with this conduct of his daughter, that he scarce ate any dinner, and spent almost his whole time in watching opportunities of conveying signs of his approbation by winks and nods to his sister, who was not at first altogether so pleased with what she saw as was her brother.

by the following short story. Three countrymen were pursuing a Wiltshire thief through Brentford. The simplest of them, seeing the Wiltshire house,' written under a sign, advised his companion to enter it, for there most probably they would find their countryman. The second, who was wiser, laughed at this simplicity; but the third, who was wiser still, answered, Let us go in, however, for he may think we should not suspect him of going amongst his own countrymen.' They accordingly went in, and searched the house, and by that means missed overtaking the thief, who was at that time but a little way before them; and who, as they all knew, but had never once reflected, could not read.

The reader will pardon a digression in which so invaluable a secret is communicated, since every gamester will agree how necessary it is to know exactly the play of another, in order to countermine him. This will, moreover, afford a reason, why the wiser man, as is often seen, is the bubble of the weaker, and why many simple and innocent characters are so generally misunderstood and misrepresented; but what is most material, this will account for the deceit which Sophia put on her politic aunt.

Dinner being ended, and the company retired into the garden, Mr. Western, who was thoroughly convinced of the certainty of what his sister had told him, took Mr. Allworthy aside, and very bluntly proposed a match between Sophia and young Mr. Blifil.

In short, Sophia so greatly overacted her Mr. Allworthy was not one of those men part, that her aunt was at first staggered, whose hearts flutter at any unexpected and and began to suspect some affectation in sudden tidings of worldly profit. His mind her niece; but as she was herself a woman was, indeed, tempered with that philosophy of great art, so she soon attributed this to which becomes a man and a Christian. He extreme art in Sophia. She remembered affected no absolute superiority to all pleathe many hints she had given her niece sure and pain, to all joy and grief; but was concerning her being in love, and imagined not at the same time to be discomposed and the young lady had taken this way to rally ruffled by every accidental blast, by every her out of her opinion, by an overacted smile or frown of fortune. He received, civility; a notion that was greatly corrobo- therefore, Mr. Western's proposal without rated by the excessive gayety with which any visible emotion, or without any alterathe whole was accompanied. We cannot tion of countenance. He said, the alliance here avoid remarking, that this conjecture was such as he sincerely wished; then would have been better founded had Sophia | launched forth into a very just encomium lived ten years in the air of Grosvenor on the young lady's merit; acknowledged Square, where young ladies do learn a the offer to be advantageous in point of forwonderful knack of rallying and playing with that passion, which is a mighty serious thing in woods and groves an hundred miles distant from London. To say the truth, in discovering the de-rous to complete the affair. ceit of others, it matters much that our own

tune; and after thanking Mr. Western for the good opinion he had professed of his nephew, concluded, that if the young people liked each other, he should be very desi

Western was a little disappointed at Mr.

141

Allworthy's answer, which was not so warm | have been notoriously avaricious. I an-
as he expected. He treated the doubt swer, not wise in that instance. It may
whether the young people might like one likewise be said, that the wisest men have
another with great contempt; saying, been in their youth immoderately fond of
"That parents were the best judges of pro- pleasure. I answer, they were not wise
per matches for their children; that, for his then.
part, he should insist on the most resigned
obedience from his daughter; and if any
young fellow could refuse such a bedfellow,
he was his humble servant, and hoped there
was no harm done.'

Allworthy endeavoured to soften this resentment by many eulogiums on Sophia, declaring he had no doubt but that Mr. Blifil would very gladly receive the offer; but all was ineffectual: he could obtain no other answer from the squire but I'll say no more-I humbly hope there's no harm done-that's all.' Which words he repeated at least a hundred times before they parted.

been represented as so hard to learn by
Wisdom, in short, whose lessons have
those who never were at her school, only
teaches to extend a simple maxim, uni-
lowest life, a little farther than life carries
versally known and followed even in the
it. And this is, not to buy at too dear a

price.

with him into the grand market of the Now, whoever takes this maxim abroad world, and constantly applies it to honours, to riches, to pleasures, and to every other commodity which that market affords, is, I will venture to affirm, a wise man, and Allworthy was too well acquainted with sense of the word: for he makes the best must be so acknowledged in the worldly his neighbour to be offended at this be- of bargains; since in reality he purchases haviour; and though he was so averse to every thing at the price only of a little the rigour which some parents exercise on trouble, and carries home all the good their children in the article of marriage, things I have mentioned, while he keeps that he had resolved never to force his his health, his innocence, and his reputanephew's inclinations, he was nevertheless tion, the common prices which are paid much pleased with the prospect of this for them by others, entire and to himself. union; for the whole country resounded the praises of Sophia, and he had himself learns two other lessons, which complete From this moderation, likewise, he greatly admired the uncommon endow- his character. First, never to be intoximents of both her mind and person. which, I believe we may add, the conside-gain, nor dejected when the market is To cated when he hath made the best barration of her vast fortune, which, though empty, or when its commodities are too he was too sober to be intoxicated with it, dear for his purchase. he was too sensible to despise.

And here, in defiance of all the barking critics in the world, I must and will introduce a digression concerning true wisdom, of which Mr. Allworthy was in reality as great a pattern as he was of goodness.

True wisdom, then, notwithstanding all which Mr. Hogarth's poor poet may have writ against riches, and in spite of all which any rich well-fed divine may have preached against pleasure, consists not in the contempt of either of these. A man may have as much wisdom in the possession of an affluent fortune, as any beggar in the streets; or may enjoy a handsome wife, or a hearty friend, and still remain as wise as any popish recluse, who buries all his social faculties, and starves his belly, while he well lashes his back.

To say the truth, the wisest man is the likeliest to possess all worldly blessings in an eminent degree: for as that moderation which wisdom prescribes is the surest way to useful wealth, so can it alone qualify us to taste many pleasures. The wise man gratifies every appetite and every passion, while the fool sacrifices all the rest to pall and satiate one.

It may be objected, that very wise men

am writing, and not to trespass too far
But I must remember on what subject I
on the patience of a good-natured critic.
Here, therefore, I put an end to the
chapter

CHAPTER IV.

Containing sundry curious matters.

home, he took Mr. Blifil apart, and, after
As soon as Mr. Allworthy returned
some preface, communicated to him the
proposal which had been made by Mr.
Western, and at the same time informed
him how agreeable this match would be
to himself.

The charms of Sophia had not made
heart was preengaged; neither was he
the least impression on Blifil: not that his
totally insensible of beauty, or had any
aversion to women; but his appetites
were by nature so moderate, that he was
able, by philosophy, or by study, or by
some other method, easily to subdue them;
and as to that passion which we have
treated of in the first chapter of this book,
whole composition.
he had not the least tincture of it in his

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