History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter iv.

  By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when sheapplies her eloquence to an ill purpose.

  When Lady Bellaston heard the young lord's scruples, she treated themwith the same disdain with which one of those sages of the law, calledNewgate solicitors, treats the qualms of conscience in a youngwitness. "My dear lord," said she, "you certainly want a cordial. Imust send to Lady Edgely for one of her best drams. Fie upon it! havemore resolution. Are you frightened by the word rape? Or are youapprehensive----? Well! if the story of Helen was modern, I shouldthink it unnatural. I mean the behaviour of Paris, not the fondness ofthe lady; for all women love a man of spirit. There is another storyof the Sabine ladies--and that too, I thank heaven, is very antient.Your lordship, perhaps, will admire my reading; but I think Mr Hooktells us, they made tolerable good wives afterwards. I fancy few of mymarried acquaintance were ravished by their husbands." "Nay, dear LadyBellaston," cried he, "don't ridicule me in this manner." "Why, mygood lord," answered she, "do you think any woman in England would notlaugh at you in her heart, whatever prudery she might wear in hercountenance?----You force me to use a strange kind of language, and tobetray my sex most abominably; but I am contented with knowing myintentions are good, and that I am endeavouring to serve my cousin;for I think you will make her a husband notwithstanding this; or, uponmy soul, I would not even persuade her to fling herself away upon anempty title. She should not upbraid me hereafter with having lost aman of spirit; for that his enemies allow this poor young fellow tobe."

  Let those who have had the satisfaction of hearing reflections of thiskind from a wife or a mistress, declare whether they are at allsweetened by coming from a female tongue. Certain it is, they sunkdeeper into his lordship than anything which Demosthenes or Cicerocould have said on the occasion.

  Lady Bellaston, perceiving she had fired the young lord's pride, begannow, like a true orator, to rouse other passions to its assistance."My lord," says she, in a graver voice, "you will be pleased toremember, you mentioned this matter to me first; for I would notappear to you in the light of one who is endeavouring to put off mycousin upon you. Fourscore thousand pounds do not stand in need of anadvocate to recommend them." "Nor doth Miss Western," said he,"require any recommendation from her fortune; for, in my opinion, nowoman ever had half her charms." "Yes, yes, my lord," replied thelady, looking in the glass, "there have been women with more than halfher charms, I assure you; not that I need lessen her on that account:she is a most delicious girl, that's certain; and within these fewhours she will be in the arms of one, who surely doth not deserve her,though I will give him his due, I believe he is truly a man ofspirit."

  "I hope so, madam," said my lord; "though I must own he doth notdeserve her; for, unless heaven or your ladyship disappoint me, sheshall within that time be in mine."

  "Well spoken, my lord," answered the lady; "I promise you nodisappointment shall happen from my side; and within this week I amconvinced I shall call your lordship my cousin in public."

  The remainder of this scene consisted entirely of raptures, excuses,and compliments, very pleasant to have heard from the parties; butrather dull when related at second hand. Here, therefore, we shall putan end to this dialogue, and hasten to the fatal hour when everythingwas prepared for the destruction of poor Sophia.

  But this being the most tragical matter in our whole history, we shalltreat it in a chapter by itself.