CHAPTER V. for what had passed. The pedagogue was obliged to obey those orders; but not with The opinions of the divine and the philosopher con-out great reluctance, and frequent muttercerning the two boys; with some reasons for ings, that the boy would be certainly their opinions, and other matters. spoiled. Towards the gamekeeper the good man IT is probable that, by disclosing this behaved with more severity. He presently secret, which had been communicated in the summoned that poor fellow before him, and, utmost confidence to him, young Blifil pre-after many bitter remonstrances, paid him served his companion from a good lash- his wages, and dismissed him from his sering; for the offence of the bloody nose vice; for Mr. Allworthy rightly observed, would have been of itself sufficient cause that there was a great difference between for Thwackum to have proceeded to cor- being guilty of a falsehood to excuse yourrection; but now this was totally absorbed self, and to excuse another. He likewise in the consideration of the other matter; urged, as the principal motive to his inflexiand with regard to this, Mr. Allworthy de- ble severity against this man, that he had clared privately, he thought the boy deserv-basely suffered Tom Jones to undergo so ed reward rather than punishment; so that heavy a punishment for his sake, whereas Thwackum's hand was withheld by a gene- he ought to have prevented it by making ral pardon. the discovery himself. Thwackum, whose meditations were full When this story became public, many of birch, exclaimed against this weak, and, people differed from Square and Thwackas he said, he would venture to call it, um, in judging the conduct of the two lads wicked lenity. To remit the punishment on the occasion. Master Blifil was geneof such crimes was, he said, to encourage rally called a sneaking rascal, a poor-spirited them. He enlarged much on the correc-wretch, with other epithets of the like kind; tion of children, and quoted many texts from while Tom was honoured with the appellaSolomon, and others; which being to be tion of a brave lad, a jolly dog, and an found in so many other books, shall not honest fellow. Indeed, his behaviour to be found here. He then applied himself to Black George much ingratiated him with the vice of lying, on which head he was all the servants; for though that fellow was altogether as learned as he had been on the before universally disliked, yet he was no other. sooner turned away than he was as universally pitied; and the friendship and gallantry of Tom Jones were celebrated by them all with the highest applause; and they condemned Master Blifil, 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 Thwackum had been inhibited to exercise his arm on the foregoing account, yet, as the proverb says, 'It is easy to find a stick,' &c. 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 Thwackum any longer time from chastising poor Jones. 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 which at first sight appeared like fortitude in the action; but, as fortitude was a virtue, and falsehood a vice, they could by no means agree or unite together. He added, that as this was in some measure to confound virtue and vice, it might be worth Mr. Thwackum's consideration, whether a larger castigation might not be laid on upon that account. As both these learned men concurred in censuring Jones, so were they no less unanimous in applauding Master Blifil. To bring truth to light was by the parson as- Had the bare delight in the sport been serted to be the duty of every religious the only inducement to the pedagogue, it man; and by the philosopher this was de- is probable Master Blifil would likewise clared to be highly conformable with the have had his share; but though Mr. Allrule of right, and the eternal and unalter-worthy had given him frequent orders to able 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 religion of Thwackum, or with the virtue of Square. He therefore strictly ordered the former of these gentlemen to abstain from laying violent hands on Tom make no difference between the lads, yet was Thwackum altogether as kind and gentle to this youth, as he was harsh, nay, even barbarous, to the other. To say the truth, Blifil 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 endear- | ed him to the worthy preceptor. Having therefore determined to commit these boys to the tuition of a private tutor, Tom Jones, on the other hand, was not Mr. Thwackum was recommended to him only deficient in outward tokens of respect, for that office, by a very particular friend, of often forgetting to pull off his hat, or to bow whose understanding Mr. Allworthy had a at his master's approach; but was altoge- great opinion, and in whose integrity he ther as unmindful both of his master's pre-placed much confidence. This Thwackum cepts and example. He was indeed a was fellow of a college, where he almost enthoughtless, giddy youth, with little sobri-tirely resided; and had a great reputation ety in his manners, and less in his counte- for learning, religion, and sobriety of mannance; and would often very impudently ners. And these were doubtless the qualiand indecently laugh at his companion for fications by which Mr. Allworthy's friend his serious behaviour. had been induced to recommend him; Mr. Square had the same reason for his though indeed this friend had some obligapreference of the former lad; for Tom Jones tions to Thwackum's family, who were the showed no more regard to the learned dis-most considerable persons in a borough courses which this gentleman would some-which that gentleman represented in parliatimes throw away upon him, than to those ment. of Thwackum. He once ventured to make Thwackum, at his first arrival, was exa jest of the rule of right; and at another tremely agreeable to Allworthy; and indeed time said, he believed there was no rule in he perfectly answered the character which the world capable of making such a man as had been given of him. Upon longer achis father, (for so Mr. Allworthy suffered quaintance, however, and more intimate himself to be called.) conversation, this worthy man saw infirmiMaster Blifil, on the contrary, had ad- ties in the tutor, which he could have wishdress enough at sixteen to recommend him-ed him to have been without; though, as self 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 in their own. 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 Thwackum 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 as 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 communi Nor was Blifil 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 two were alone, and his uncle commended 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 Thwackum 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 im-cated to them. pressions 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 panegyrics 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; where he thought their morals would escape all that danger of being corrupted, to which they would be unavoidably exposed in any public school or university. These apparent errors in the doctrine of Thwackum 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 their different imperfections; and that from both, especially with his assistance, 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; where 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, pro-man, he easily reconciled his choice to the duced the different effects of which he hath eternal fitness of things. already seen some instance; and besides this, there was another reason for the conduct of the philosopher and the pedagogue; but this being a matter of great importance, we shall reveal it in the next chapter. CHAPTER VI. Containing a better reason still for the before mentioned opinions. Ir 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. Allworthy's house, taken so great an affection, the one to his virtue, the other to his religion, that they had meditated 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. Blifil was indeed the object to which they both aspired. It may seem remarkable, that, of four persons whom we have commemorated at Mr. Allworthy'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 vale 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, viz. to his grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, or cousin, when they are rich; and to his wife, sister, daughter, niece, cousin, mistress, or servant-maid, if they should be handsome. We would not, however, have our reader imagine, that persons of such characters as were supported by Thwackum 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 Shakspeare phrases it,)' Stuff o' the conscience,' or no. Thwackum was encouraged to the undertaking by reflecting that to covet your neighbour's sister is no where forbidden; and he knew it was a rule, in the construction of all laws, that Expressum facit cessare tacitum.' The sense of which is, 'When a lawgiver 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 Now, as both these gentlemen were industrious in taking every opportunity of recommending themselves to the widow, they apprehended one certain method was, 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 Thwackum had the advantage; for while Square 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, Castigo te non quod odio habeam, sed quod AMEM. I chastise thee 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, and hated one another with no little degree of inveteracy. This mutual animosity was a good deal increased by their alternate successes: for Mrs. Blifil knew what they would be at long before they imagined it; or, indeed, intended she should for they proceeded with great caution, lest she should be offended, and acquaint Mr. Allworthy. But they had no reason for any such fear; she was well enough pleased with a passion, of which she intended none should 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 favour the parson's principles; but Square's 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. Blifil had been surfeited 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 Square with such a degree of intimacy, that malicious tongues began to whisper things of her, to which, as well 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, 'tis certain, whipped on, without getting a step nearer to his journey's end. Indeed, he had committed a great error, and that Square discovered much sooner than himself. Mrs. Blifil, (as, perhaps, the reader may have formerly guessed,) was not 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 therefore 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 Blifil. This acquiescence in Mrs. Blifil was considered by the neighhours, 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 Thwackum and Square, to hate the foundling in her heart; nay, the more civility she showed him, the more they conceived she detested him, and the surer schemes 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. 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 eighteen years old he was become a rival to both Square and Thwackum; and, what is worse, the whole country began to talk as loudly of her inclination to Tom, as they had before done of that which she had shown to Square; on which account the philosopher had conceived the most implacable hatred for our poor hero. CHAPTER VII. In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage. THOUGH Mr. Allworthy was not of himself hasty to see things in a disadvantageous light, and was a stranger to the public voice, which seldom reaches to a brother or husband, though it rings in the ears of all the neighborhood; yet was this affection of Mrs. Blifil to Tom, and the preference which she too visibly gave him to her own son, of the utmost advantage to that youth. For such was the compassion which inhabited Mr. Allworthy's mind, that nothing but the steel of justice could ever subdue it. To be unfortunate in any respect was sufficient, if there was no demerit to counterpoise it, to turn the scale of that good man's pity, and to engage his friendship and his benefaction. When, therefore, he plainly saw Master Blifil was absolutely deserted (for that he was) by his own mother, he began, on that account only, to look with an eye of compassion upon him; and what the effects of compassion are, in good and benevolent minds, I need not here explain to most of my readers. Thwackum was the more confirmed in his opinion, as she had more than once slily caused him to whip Tom Jones, when Mr. Allworthy, who was an enemy to this exercise, was abroad; whereas she had never given any such orders concerning young Blifil. And this had likewise imposed upon Square. In reality, though she certainly hated her own son, of which, how- Henceforward he saw every appearance ever monstrous it appears, I am assured she of virtue in the youth through the magnifyis not a singular instance, she appeared, not-ing end, and viewed all his faults with the withstanding all her outward compliance, glass inverted, so that they became scarce to be in her heart sufficiently displeased perceptible. And this perhaps the amiable 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 Thwackum and Square; nay, she would throw it in the teeth of Allworthy himself, when a little quarrel, or miff, 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 temper of pity may make commendable; but the next step the weakness of human nature alone must excuse; for he no sooner perceived that preference which Mrs. Blifil gave to Tom, than that poor youth (however innocent) began to sink in his affections as he rose in hers. This, it is true, would of itself alone never have been able to eradicate Jones from his bosom; but it was greatly injurious to him, and prepared Mr. Allworthy's mind for those impressions which afterwards produced the mighty events that will be contained hereafter in this history; and to which it must be con- money for which the horse was sold, he fessed the unfortunate lad, by his own wan-frankly declared he would not tell him. tonness, wildness, and want of caution, too much contributed. 'O, ho" says Thwackum, 'you will not, then I will have it out of your br-h;' that being the place to which he always applied for information on every doubtful occasion. Tom was now mounted on the back of a footman, and every thing prepared for execution, when Mr. Allworthy, entering the room, gave the criminal a reprieve, and took him with him into another apartment; where, being alone with Tom, he put the same question to him which Thwackum Tom answered, he could in duty refuse him nothing, but as for that tyrannical rascal, he would never make him any other answer than with a cudgel, with which he hoped soon to be able to pay him for all his barbarities. In recording some instances of these, we shall, if rightly understood, afford a very useful lesson to those well-disposed youths who shall hereafter be our readers; for they may here find, that goodness of heart, and openness of temper, though these may give them great comfort within, and administer to an honest pride in their own minds, will by no means, alas! do their business in the world Prudence and cir-had before asked him. cumspection are necessary even to the best of men. They are indeed, as it were, a guard to virtue, without which she can never be safe. It is not enough that your designs, nay that your actions, are intrinsically good; you must take care they shall if appear so. your inside be never so Mr. Allworthy very severely reprimandbeautiful, you must preserve a fair outside ed the lad for his indecent and disrespectful also. This must be constantly looked to, expressions concerning his master; but or malice and envy will take care to black-much more for his avowing an intention of en it so, that the sagacity and goodness of revenge. He threatened him with the enan Allworthy will not be able to see through tire loss of his favour, if he ever heard such it, and to discern the beauties within. Let this, my young readers, be your constant maxim, that no man can be good enough to enable him to neglect the rules of prudence; nor will Virtue herself look beautiful, unless she be bedecked with the outward ornaments of decency and decorum. And this precept, my worthy disciples, if you read with due attention, you will, I hope, find sufficiently enforced by examples in the following pages. I ask pardon for this short appearance, by way of chorus, on the stage. It is in reality for my own sake, that, while I am discovering the rocks on which innocence and goodness often split, I may not be misunderstood to recommend the very means to my worthy readers by which I intend to show them they will be undone. And this, as I could not prevail on any of my actors to speak, I myself was obliged to declare. CHAPTER VIII. another word from his mouth; for he said he would never support or befriend a reprobate. By these and the like declarations, he extorted some compunction from Tom, in which that youth was not over-sincere ; for he really meditated some return for all the smarting favours he had received at the hands of the pedagogue. He was, however, brought by Mr. Allworthy to express a concern for his resentment against Thwackum; and then the good man, after some wholesome admonition, permitted him to proceed, which he did as follows: 'Indeed, my dear sir, I love and honour you more than all the world: I know the great obligations I have to you, and should detest myself if I thought my heart was capable of ingratitude. Could the little horse you gave me speak, I am sure he could tell you how fond I was of your present; for I had more pleasure in feeding him than in riding him. Indeed, sir, it went to my heart to part with him; nor would I have sold him upon any other account in the world than what I did. yourself, sir, I am convinced, in my case, would have done the same; for none ever so sensibly felt the misfortunes of others. What would you feel, dear sir, if you thought yourself the occasion of them? Indeed, sir, there never was any misery You A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones. THE reader may remember, that Mr. Allworthy gave Tom Jones a little horse, as a kind of smart-money for the punish-like theirs.'- Like whose, child?' says ment which he imagined he had suffered innocently. This horse Tom kept above half a year, and then rode him to a neighbouring fair, and sold him. At his return, being questioned by Thwackum what he had done with the Allworthy: What do you mean?'—Oh, sir!' answered Tom, 'your poor gamekeeper, with all his large family, ever since your discarding him, have been perishing with all the miseries of cold and hunger. I could not bear to see these poor wretches naked and starving, and at the same time |