Thwackum replied, This was arguing with the usual Malice of all the Enemies to the true Church. He said, he doubted not but that all the Infidels and Hereticks in the World would, if they could, confine Honour to their own absurd Errors, and damnable Deceptions; ‘But Honour, 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 Honour, 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. Now to say that the Honour I here mean, and which was, I thought, all the Honour I could be supposed to mean, will uphold, much less dictate, an Untruth, is to assert an Absurdity too shocking to be conceived.’
‘I purposely avoided,’ says Square, ‘drawing a Conclusion which I thought evident from what I have said; but if you 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 Honour; or why do we not agree in the same Terms of its Explanation? I have asserted, that true Honour 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 Honour cannot support an Untruth. In this, therefore, I think we are agreed; but that this Honour can be said to be founded on Religion, to which it is antecedent, if by Religion be meant any positive Law——’
‘I agree,’ answered Thwackum, with great Warmth, ‘with a Man who asserts Honour 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 Honour.—It is possible, however, he would not have easily quieted the Disputants, who were growing equally warm, had not another Matter now fallen out, which put a final End to the Conversation at present.
CHAPTER IV.
Containing a necessary Apology for the Author; and a childish Incident, which perhaps requires an Apology likewise.
Before I proceed farther, I shall beg Leave to obviate some Misconstructions, into which the Zeal of some few Readers may lead them; for I would not willingly give Offence to any, especially to Men who are warm in the Cause of Virtue or Religion.
I hope, therefore, no Man will, by the grossest Misunderstanding, or Perversion, of my Meaning, misrepresent me, as endeavouring to cast any Ridicule on the greatest Perfections of Human Nature; and which do, indeed, alone purify and enoble the Heart of Man, and raise him above the Brute Creation. This, Reader, I will venture to say, (and by how much the better Man you are yourself, by so much the more will you be inclined to believe me) that I would rather have buried the Sentiments of these two Persons in eternal Oblivion, than have done any Injury to either of these glorious Causes.
On the contrary, it is with a View to their Service that I have taken upon me to record the Lives and Actions of two of their false and pretended Champions. A treacherous Friend is the most dangerous Enemy; and I will say boldly, that both Religion and Virtue have received more real Discredit from Hypocrites, than the wittiest Profligates or Infidels could ever cast upon them: Nay farther, as these two, in their Purity, are rightly called the Bands of civil Society, and are indeed the greatest of Blessings; so when poisoned and corrupted with Fraud, Pretence and Affectation, they have become the worst of civil Curses, and have enabled Men to perpetrate the most cruel Mischiefs to their own Species.
Indeed, I doubt not but this Ridicule will in general be allowed; my chief Apprehension is, as many true and just Sentiments often came from the Mouths of these Persons, lest the whole should be taken together, and I should be conceived to ridicule all alike. Now the Reader will be pleased to consider, that as neither of these Men were Fools, they could not be supposed to have holden none but wrong Principles, and to have uttered nothing but Absurdities; what Injustice, therefore, must I have done to their Characters, had I selected only what was bad, and how horribly wretched and maimed must their Arguments have appeared!
Upon the whole, it is not Religion or Virtue, but the Want of them which is here exposed. Had not Thwackum too much neglected Virtue, and Square Religion, in the Composition of their several Systems; and had not both utterly discarded all natural Goodness of Heart, they had never been represented as the Objects of Derision in this History; in which we will now proceed.
This Matter, then, which put an End to the Debate mentioned in the last Chapter, was no other than a Quarrel between Master Blifil and Tom Jones, the Consequence of which had been a bloody Nose to the former; for though Master Blifil, notwithstanding he was the younger, was in Size above the other’s Match, yet Tom was much his Superior at the noble Art of Boxing.
Tom, however, cautiously avoided all Engagements with that Youth: For besides that Tommy Jones was an inoffensive Lad amidst all his Roguery, and really loved Blifil, Mr. Thwackum being always the Second of the latter, would have been sufficient to deter him.
But well says a certain Author, No Man is wise at all Hours;1 it is therefore no Wonder that a Boy is not so. A Difference arising at Play between the two Lads, Master Blifil called Tom a Beggarly Bastard. Upon which the latter, who was somewhat passionate in his Disposition, immediately caused that Phænomenon in the Face of the former, which we have above remembred.
Master Blifil now, with his Blood running from his Nose, and the Tears galloping after from his Eyes, appeared before his Uncle, and the tremendous Thwackum. In which Court an indictment of Assault, Battery, and Wounding, was instantly preferred against Tom; who in his Excuse only pleaded the Provocation, which was indeed all the Matter that Master Blifil had omitted.
It is indeed possible, that this Circumstance might have escaped his Memory; for, in his Reply, he positively insisted, that he had made Use of no such Appellation; adding, ‘Heaven forbid such naughty Words should ever come out of his Mouth.’
Tom, though against all Form of Law, rejoined in Affirmance of the Words.2 Upon which Master Blifil said, ‘It is no Wonder. Those who will tell one Fib, will hardly stick at another. If I had told my Master such a wicked Fib as you have done, I should be ashamed to shew my Face.’
‘What Fib, Child?’ cries Thwackum pretty eagerly.
‘Why, he told you that Nobody was with him a shooting when he killed the Partridge; but he knows, (here he burst into a Flood of Tears) yes, he knows; for he confessed it to me, that Black George the Game-keeper was there. Nay, he said,—Yes you did,— deny it if you can, That you would not have confest the Truth, though Master had cut you to Pieces.’
At this the Fire flashed from Thwackum’s Eyes; and he cried out in Triumph: ‘Oh ho! This is your mistaken Notion of Honour! This is the Boy who was not to be whipped again!’ But Mr. Allworthy, with a more gentle Aspect, turned towards the Lad, and said, ‘Is this true, Child? How came you to persist so obstinately in a Falshood?’
Tom said, ‘He scorned a Lie as much as any one; but he thought his Honour engaged him to act as he did; for he had promised the poor Fellow to conceal him; which,’ he said, ‘he thought himself farther obliged to, as the Game-keeper had begged him not to go into the Gentleman’s Manor, and had at last gone himself in Compliance with his Persuasions.’ He said, ‘this was the whole Truth of the Matter, and he would take his Oath of it;’ and concluded with very passionately begging Mr. Allworthy, ‘to have Compassion on the poor Fellow’s Family, especially as he himself only had been guilty, and the other had been very difficultly prevailed on to do what he did. Indeed, Sir,’ said he, ‘it could hardly be called a Lie that I told; for the poor Fellow was entirely innocent of the whole Matter. I should have gone alone after the Birds; nay, I did go a
t first, and he only followed me to prevent more Mischief. Do, pray Sir, let me be punished; take my little Horse away again; but pray Sir, forgive poor George.’
Mr. Allworthy hesitated a few Moments, and then dismissed the Boys, advising them to live more friendly and peaceably together.
CHAPTER V.
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 Blifil preserved his Companion from a good Lashing: For the Offence of the bloody Nose would have been of itself sufficient Cause for Thwackum 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 rather than Punishment; so that Thwackum’s Hand was withheld by a general Pardon.
Thwackum, 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 was, he said, to encourage them. He enlarged much on the Correction of Children, and quoted many Texts from Solomon, and others; which being to be 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 which at first Sight appeared like Fortitude in the Action; but as Fortitude was a Virtue, and Falshood 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 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 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 for what had past. 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 Game-keeper the good Man behaved with more Severity. He presently summoned that poor Fellow before him, and after many bitter Remonstrances, paid him his Wages, and dismist him from his Service; for Mr. Allworthy rightly observed, that there was a great Difference between being guilty of a Falshood to excuse yourself, and to excuse another. He likewise urged, as the principal Motive to his inflexible Severity against this Man, that he had basely 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 Thwackum, in judging the Conduct of the two Lads on the Occasion. Master Blifil 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 pitied; and the Friendship and Gallantry of Tom Jones was 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.1 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 long Time from chastising poor Jones.
Had the bare Delight in the Sport been the only Inducement to the Pedagogue, it is probable, Master Blifil would likewise have had his Share; but though Mr. Allworthy had given him frequent Orders to 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 shewed 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 former Lad; for Tom Jones shewed no more Regard to the learned Discourses which this Gentleman would sometimes throw away upon him, than to those of Thwackum. 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 Blifil, on the contrary, had Address 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 in their own.
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 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 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.
Having therefore determined to commit these Boys to the Tuition of a private Tutor, Mr. Thwackum 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 Thwackum 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; tho’ indeed this Friend had some Obligations to Thwackum’s Family, who were the most considerable Persons in a Borough which that Gentleman represented
in Parliament.
Thwackum, 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; tho’ as those seemed greatly over-balanced 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 communicated to them.
The History of Tom Jones (Penguin Classics) Page 18