History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING By Henry Fielding CONTENTS DEDICATION BOOK I -- CONTAINING AS MUCH OF THE BIRTH OF THE FOUNDLING AS IS NECESSARY OR PROPER TO ACQUAINT THE READER WITH IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS HISTORY. Chapter i -- The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast. Chapter ii -- A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister. Chapter iii -- An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards. Chapter iv -- The reader's neck brought into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy. Chapter v -- Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them. Chapter vi -- Mrs Deborah is introduced into the parish with a simile. A short account of Jenny Jones, with the difficulties and discouragements which may attend young women in the pursuit of learning. Chapter vii -- Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author. Chapter viii -- A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than the former. Chapter ix -- Containing matters which will surprize the reader. Chapter x -- The hospitality of Allworthy; with a short sketch of the characters of two brothers, a doctor and a captain, who were entertained by that gentleman. Chapter xi -- Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to matrimony. Chapter xii -- Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it. Chapter xiii -- Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural. BOOK II -- CONTAINING SCENES OF MATRIMONIAL FELICITY IN DIFFERENT DEGREES OF LIFE; AND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSACTIONS DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS AFTER THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN CAPTAIN BLIFIL AND MISS BRIDGET ALLWORTHY. Chapter i -- Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like, and what it is not like. Chapter ii -- Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs Deborah Wilkins. Chapter iii -- The description of a domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of Aristotle. Chapter iv -- Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic history. Chapter v -- Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader. Chapter vi -- 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 will like best who understand them most. Chapter vii -- 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. Chapter viii -- A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases. Chapter ix -- A proof of the infallibility of the foregoing receipt, in the lamentations of the widow; with other suitable decorations of death, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph in the true stile. BOOK III -- CONTAINING THE MOST MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS WHICH PASSED IN THE FAMILY OF MR ALLWORTHY, FROM THE TIME WHEN TOMMY JONES ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN, TILL HE ATTAINED THE AGE OF NINETEEN. IN THIS BOOK THE READER MAY PICK UP SOME HINTS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. Chapter i -- Containing little or nothing. Chapter ii -- The heroe 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 schoolmaster. Chapter iii -- The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning---- Chapter iv. Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise -- Chapter v. -- The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters. Chapter vi -- Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions. Chapter vii -- In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage. Chapter viii -- A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones. Chapter ix -- Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square. Chapter x -- In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights. BOOK IV -- CONTAINING THE TIME OF A YEAR. Chapter i -- Containing five pages of paper. Chapter ii -- A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western. Chapter iii -- Wherein the history goes back to commemorate a trifling incident that happened some years since; but which, trifling as it was, had some future consequences. Chapter iv -- Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it. Chapter v -- Containing matter accommodated to every taste. Chapter vi -- An apology for the insensibility of Mr Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia; in which possibly we may, in a considerable degree, lower his character in the estimation of those men of wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in most of our modern comedies. Chapter vii -- Being the shortest chapter in this book. Chapter viii -- A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste. Chapter ix -- Containing matter of no very peaceable colour. Chapter x -- A story told by Mr Supple, the curate. The penetration of Squire Western. His great love for his daughter, and the return to it made by her. Chapter xi -- The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature. Chapter xii -- Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter. Chapter xiii -- A dreadful accident which befel Sophia. The gallant behaviour of Jones, and the more dreadful consequence of that behaviour to the young lady; with a short digression in favour of the female sex. Chapter xiv -- The arrival of a surgeon.--His operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid. BOOK V -- CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A YEAR. Chapter i -- Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced. Chapter ii -- In which Mr Jones receives many friendly visits during his confinement; with some fine touches of the passion of love, scarce visible to the naked eye. Chapter iii -- Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing. Chapter iv -- A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident. Chapter v -- A very long chapter, containing a very great incident. Chapter vi -- By comparing which with the former, the reader may possibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly been guilty of in the application of the word love. Chapter vii -- In which Mr Allworthy appears on a sick-bed. Chapter viii -- Containing matter rather natural than pleasing. Chapter ix -- Which, among other things, may serve as a comment on that saying of Aeschines, that “drunkenness shows the mind of a man, as a mirrour reflects his person.” Chapter x -- Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have proved beyond contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of incontinency. Chapter xi -- In which a simile in Mr Pope's period of a mile introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought without the assistance of steel or cold iron. Chapter xii -- In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all the blood in the bodies of Thwackum and Blifil, and of twenty other such, is capable of producing. BOOK VI -- CONTAINING ABOUT THREE WEEKS. Chapter i -- Of love. Chapter ii -- The character of Mrs Western. Her great learning and knowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep penetration which she derived from those advantages. Chapter iii -- Containing two defiances to the critics. Chapter iv -- Containing sundry curious matters. Chapter v -- In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt. Chapter vi -- Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs Honour, which may a little relieve those tender affections which the foregoing scene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured reader. Chapter vii -- A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it always ought to be drawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted at full length. Chapter viii -- The meeting between Jones and Sophia. Chapter ix -- Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former. Chapter x -- In which Mr Western visits Mr Allworthy. Chapter xi -- A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader. Chapter xii -- Containing love-letters, &c. Chapter xiii -- The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; which none of her sex will blame, who are capable of behaving in the same manner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the court of conscience. Chapter xiv -- A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister. BOOK VII -- CONTAINING THREE DAYS. Chapter i -- A comparison between the world and the stage. Chapter ii -- Containing a conversation which Mr Jones had with himself. Chapter iii -- Containing several dialogues. Chapter iv -- A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life. Chapter v -- The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt. Chapter vi -- Containing great variety of matter. Chapter vii -- A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs Honour. Chapter viii -- Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind. Chapter ix -- The wise demeanour of Mr Western in the character of a magistrate. A hint to justices of peace, concerning the necessary qualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary instances of paternal madness and filial affection. Chapter x -- Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low. Chapter xi -- The adventure of a company of soldiers. Chapter xii -- The adventure of a company of officers. Chapter xiii -- Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant. Chapter xiv -- A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone. Chapter xv -- The conclusion of the foregoing adventure. BOOK VIII -- CONTAINING ABOUT TWO DAYS. Chapter i -- A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory chapters. Chapter ii -- In which the landlady pays a visit to Mr Jones. Chapter iii -- In which the surgeon makes his second appearance. Chapter iv -- In which is introduced one of the pleasantest barbers that was ever recorded in history, the barber of Bagdad, or he in Don Quixote, not excepted. Chapter v -- A dialogue between Mr Jones and the barber. Chapter vi -- In which more of the talents of Mr Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was. Chapter vii -- Containing better reasons than any which have yet