The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

is in my power as a magistrate, to punish you very rigorously for what you have done; and you will, perhaps

ceeded from a natural affection to your child, since you might have some hopes to see it thus better provided for than was in the power of yourself, or its wicked father, to provide for it. I should indeed have been highly offended with you had you exposed the little wretch in the manner of some inhuman mothers, who seem no le

ry Christian, inasmuch as it is committed in defiance of the laws of our

so, than to incur the divine displeasure, by the breach of the divine commands; and

y want to be reminded, can never need information on this head. A hint, therefore, to awaken your sense

ror as this; and yet such, as, if attentively considered, must, one would

old, out of society; at least, from the society of all but wick

ny, nay almost of procuring your sustenance; for no persons of character will receive you into their houses. Thus you are ofte

ade you to so simple a bargain? Or can any carnal appetite so overpower your reason, or so totally lay it aslee

s a laudable, is a rational passion, and can never be violent but when reciprocal; for though the Scripture bids us love our enemies, it means not with that fervent love which we naturally bear towards our friends; much less that we should sacrifice to them our lives, and what ought to be dearer to us, our innocence. Now in what light, but that of an enemy, can a reasonable woman regard the man who solicits her to entail on herself all the misery I have described to you, and who would purchase to himself a short, trivial, contemptible pleasure, so greatly at he

lip you have made; and from some hopes of your hearty repentance, which are founded on the openness and sincerity of your confession. If these do not deceive me, I will take care to convey you from this scene of your shame, where you shall, by being unknown, avoid the punishment which, as I have said, is allotted to your crime in

than you can ever hope. And now nothing remains but that you inform me who was the wicked man that s

the ground, and with a modest l

e much kinder than your generous offer with which you concluded it; for, as you are pleased to say, sir, it is an instance of your opinion of my understanding."-Here her tears flowing apace, she stopped a few moments, and then proceeded thus:-"Indeed, sir, your kindness overcomes me; but I will endeavour to deserve this good opinion: for if I have the understanding you are so kindly pleased to allow me, such advice cannot be thrown away upon me. I thank you, sir, heartily, for your intended kindness to my poor h

ad done wrong to enter into such engagements to a villain; but since she had, he could not insist on her breaking them. He said, it was not from a m

that the man was entirely out of his reach; and was neither subject to

he had disdained to excuse herself by a lie, and had hazarded his further displeasure in her present situation, rather than she would for

e had incurred; concluding with some additional documents, in which he recommended repentance, saying, "Consider,