History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Henry Fielding
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THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING
By Henry Fielding
CONTENTS
DEDICATION
BOOK I -- CONTAINING AS MUCH OF THE BIRTH OF THE FOUNDLING AS ISNECESSARY OR PROPER TO ACQUAINT THE READER WITH IN THE BEGINNING OFTHIS HISTORY.
Chapter i -- The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to thefeast.
Chapter ii -- A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fulleraccount of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister.
Chapter iii -- An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy at his returnhome. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah Wilkins, with some properanimadversions 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 uncommonobservation upon them.
Chapter vi -- Mrs Deborah is introduced into the parish with asimile. A short account of Jenny Jones, with the difficulties anddiscouragements which may attend young women in the pursuit oflearning.
Chapter vii -- Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannotlaugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he shouldlaugh 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 thecharacters of two brothers, a doctor and a captain, who wereentertained by that gentleman.
Chapter xi -- Containing many rules, and some examples, concerningfalling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudentialinducements to matrimony.
Chapter xii -- Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to findin it.
Chapter xiii -- Which concludes the first book; with an instance ofingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural.
BOOK II -- CONTAINING SCENES OF MATRIMONIAL FELICITY IN DIFFERENTDEGREES OF LIFE; AND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSACTIONS DURING THE FIRST TWOYEARS AFTER THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN CAPTAIN BLIFIL AND MISS BRIDGETALLWORTHY.
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 tobastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs Deborah Wilkins.
Chapter iii -- The description of a domestic government founded uponrules directly contrary to those of Aristotle.
Chapter iv -- Containing one of the most bloody battles, or ratherduels, that were ever recorded in domestic history.
Chapter v -- Containing much matter to exercise the judgment andreflection of the reader.
Chapter vi -- The trial of Partridge, the schoolmaster, forincontinency; the evidence of his wife; a short reflection on thewisdom of our law; with other grave matters, which those will likebest who understand them most.
Chapter vii -- A short sketch of that felicity which prudent couplesmay extract from hatred: with a short apology for those people whooverlook 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 ofdeath, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph in the true stile.
BOOK III -- CONTAINING THE MOST MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS WHICH PASSED INTHE FAMILY OF MR ALLWORTHY, FROM THE TIME WHEN TOMMY JONES ARRIVED ATTHE AGE OF FOURTEEN, TILL HE ATTAINED THE AGE OF NINETEEN. IN THISBOOK THE READER MAY PICK UP SOME HINTS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OFCHILDREN.
Chapter i -- Containing little or nothing.
Chapter ii -- The heroe of this great history appears with very badomens. A little tale of so LOW a kind that some may think it not worththeir notice. A word or two concerning a squire, and more relating toa gamekeeper and a schoolmaster.
Chapter iii -- The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of MrThwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning----
Chapter iv.
Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childishincident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise --
Chapter v. -- The opinions of the divine and the philosopherconcerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, andother matters.
Chapter vi -- Containing a better reason still for thebefore-mentioned opinions.
Chapter vii -- In which the author himself makes his appearance on thestage.
Chapter viii -- A childish incident, in which, however, is seen agood-natured disposition in Tom Jones.
Chapter ix -- Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with thecomments of Thwackum and Square.
Chapter x -- In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in differentlights.
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 adescription of Miss Sophia Western.
Chapter iii -- Wherein the history goes back to commemorate a triflingincident that happened some years since; but which, trifling as itwas, had some future consequences.
Chapter iv -- Containing such very deep and grave matters, that somereaders, 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 thecharms of the lovely Sophia; in which possibly we may, in aconsiderable degree, lower his character in the estimation of thosemen of wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in most of our moderncomedies.
Chapter vii -- Being the shortest chapter in this book.
Chapter viii -- A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, andwhich 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 ofSquire Western. His great love for his daughter, and the return to itmade by her.
Chapter xi -- The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with someobservations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep intonature.
Chapter xii -- Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed fromthe same fountain with those in the preceding chapter.
Chapter xiii -- A dreadful accident which befel Sophia. The gallantbehaviour of Jones, and the more dreadful consequence of thatbehaviour to the young lady; with a short digression in favour of thefemale sex.
Chapter xiv -- The arrival of a surgeon.--His operations, and a longdialogue between Sophia and her maid.
BOOK V -- CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF AYEAR.
Chapter i -- Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it isintroduced.
Chapter ii -- In which Mr Jones receives many friendly visits duringhis confinement; with some fine touches of the passion of love, scarcevisible to the naked eye.
Chapter iii -- Which all who have no heart will think to contain muchado about nothing.
Chapter iv -- A little chapter, in which is contained a littleincident.
Chapter v -- A very long chapter, containing a very great incident.
Chapter vi -- By comparing which with the former, the reader maypossibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly been guilty of inthe 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 onthat 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 ofother more grave writers, who have proved beyond contradiction, thatwine is often the forerunner of incontinency.
Chapter xi -- In which a simile in Mr Pope's period of a mileintroduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought without theassistance of steel or cold iron.
Chapter xii -- In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all theblood 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 andknowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep penetration whichshe 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 heraunt.
Chapter vi -- Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs Honour,which may a little relieve those tender affections which the foregoingscene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured reader.
Chapter vii -- A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as italways ought to be drawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted atfull 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 toaffect the good-natured reader.
Chapter xii -- Containing love-letters, &c.
Chapter xiii -- The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; whichnone of her sex will blame, who are capable of behaving in the samemanner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the court ofconscience.
Chapter xiv -- A short chapter, containing a short dialogue betweenSquire 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 withhimself.
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 strangestratagem of Mrs Honour.
Chapter viii -- Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommonkind.
Chapter ix -- The wise demeanour of Mr Western in the character of amagistrate. A hint to justices of peace, concerning the necessaryqualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary instances of paternalmadness and filial affection.
Chapter x -- Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, butlow.
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, thegreat learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of theworthy lieutenant.
Chapter xiv -- A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readersought 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; beingmuch 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 barbersthat was ever recorded in history, the barber of Bagdad, or he in DonQuixote, 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 yetappeared for the conduct of Partridge; an apology for the weakness ofJones; and some further anecdotes concerning my landlady.
Chapter viii -- Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; thecharacter of that house, and of a petty-fogger which he there meetswith.
Chapter ix -- Containing several dialogues between Jones andPartridge, concerning love, cold, hunger, and other matters; with thelucky and narrow escape of Partridge, as he was on the very brink ofmaking a fatal discovery to his friend.
Chapter x -- In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinaryadventure.
Chapter xi -- In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate hishistory.
Chapter xii -- In which the Man of the Hill continues his history.
Chapter xiii -- In which the foregoing story is farther continued.
Chapter xiv -- In which the Man of the Hill concludes his history.
Chapter xv -- A brief history of Europe; and a curious discoursebetween Mr Jones and the Man of the Hill.
BOOK IX -- CONTAINING TWELVE HOURS.
Chapter i -- Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not,write such histories as this.
Chapter ii -- Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which MrJones met with in his walk with the Man of the Hill.
Chapter iii -- The arrival of Mr Jones with his lady at the inn; witha very full description of the battle of Upton.
Chapter iv -- In which the arrival of a man of war puts a final end tohostilities, and causes the conclusion of a firm and lasting peacebetween all parties.
Chapter v -- An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with adescription of a battle of the amorous kind.
Chapter vi -- A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a verycommon, though not very friendly, conclusion.
Chapter vii -- Containing a fuller account of Mrs Waters, and by whatmeans she came into that distressful situation from which she wasrescued by Jones.
BOOK X -- IN WHICH THE HISTORY GOES FORWARD ABOUT TWELVE HOURS.
Chapter i -- Containing instructions very necessary to be perused bymodern critics.
Chapter ii -- Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with veryextraordinary adventures which ensued at the inn.
Chapter iii -- A dialogue between the landlady and Susan thechamber-maid, proper to be read by all inn-keepers and their servants;with the arrival, and affable behaviour of a beautiful young lady;which may teach persons of condition how they may acquire the love ofthe whole world.
Chapter iv -- Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universaldisesteem and hatred.
Chapter v -- Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid,were.
Chapter vi -- Containing, among other things, the ingenuity ofPartridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of Fitzpatrick.
Chapter vii -- In which are concluded the adventures that happened atthe inn at Upton.
Chapter viii -- In which the history goes backward.
Chapter ix -- The escape of Sophia.
BOOK XI -- CONTAINING ABOUT THREE DAYS.
Chapter i -- A crust for the critics.
Chapter ii -- The adventures which Sophia met with after her leavingUpton.
Chapter iii -- A very short chapter, in which however is a sun, amoon, a star, and an angel.
Chapter iv -- The history of Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Chapter v -- In which the history of Mrs Fitzpatrick is continued.
Chapter vi -- In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia intoa dreadful consternation.
Chapter vii -- In which Mrs Fitzpatrick concludes her history.
Chapter viii
-- A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of anunexpected friend of Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Chapter ix -- The morning introduced in some pretty writing. Astagecoach. The civility of chambermaids. The heroic temper ofSophia. Her generosity. The return to it. The departure of thecompany, and their arrival at London; with some remarks for the use oftravellers.
Chapter x -- Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a fewmore concerning suspicion.
BOOK XII -- CONTAINING THE SAME INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH THE FORMER.
Chapter i -- Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modernauthor, and what is to be considered as lawful prize.
Chapter ii -- In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter,something is found which puts an end to his pursuit.
Chapter iii -- The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passedbetween him and Partridge on the road.
Chapter iv -- The adventure of a beggar-man.
Chapter v -- Containing more adventures which Mr Jones and hiscompanion met on the road.
Chapter vi -- From which it may be inferred that the best things areliable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted.
Chapter vii -- Containing a remark or two of our own and many more ofthe good company assembled in the kitchen.
Chapter viii -- In which fortune seems to have been in a better humourwith Jones than we have hitherto seen her.
Chapter ix -- Containing little more than a few odd observations.
Chapter x -- In which Mr Jones and Mr Dowling drink a bottle together.
Chapter xi -- The disasters which befel Jones on his departure forCoventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge.
Chapter xii -- Relates that Mr Jones continued his journey, contraryto the advice of Partridge, with what happened on that occasion.
Chapter xiii -- A dialogue between Jones and Partridge.
Chapter xiv -- What happened to Mr Jones in his journey from StAlbans.
BOOK XIII -- CONTAINING THE SPACE OF TWELVE DAYS.
Chapter i -- An Invocation.
Chapter ii -- What befel Mr Jones on his arrival in London.
Chapter iii -- A project of Mrs Fitzpatrick, and her visit to LadyBellaston.
Chapter iv -- Which consists of visiting.
Chapter v -- An adventure which happened to Mr Jones at his lodgings,with some account of a young gentleman who lodged there, and of themistress of the house, and her two daughters.
Chapter vi -- What arrived while the company were at breakfast, withsome hints concerning the government of daughters.
Chapter vii -- Containing the whole humours of a masquerade.
Chapter viii -- Containing a scene of distress, which will appear veryextraordinary to most of our readers.
Chapter ix -- Which treats of matters of a very different kind fromthose in the preceding chapter.
Chapter x -- A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from someeyes.
Chapter xi -- In which the reader will be surprized.
Chapter xii -- In which the thirteenth book is concluded.
BOOK XIV -- CONTAINING TWO DAYS.
Chapter i -- An essay to prove that an author will write the betterfor having some knowledge of the subject on which he writes.
Chapter ii -- Containing letters and other matters which attendamours.
Chapter iii -- Containing various matters.
Chapter iv -- Which we hope will be very attentively perused by youngpeople of both sexes.
Chapter v -- A short account of the history of Mrs Miller.
Chapter vi -- Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect allour readers.
Chapter vii -- The interview between Mr Jones and Mr Nightingale.
Chapter viii -- What passed between Jones and old Mr Nightingale; withthe arrival of a person not yet mentioned in this history.
Chapter ix -- Containing strange matters.
Chapter x -- A short chapter, which concludes the book.
BOOK XV -- IN WHICH THE HISTORY ADVANCES ABOUT TWO DAYS.
Chapter i -- Too short to need a preface.
Chapter ii -- In which is opened a very black design against Sophia.
Chapter iii -- A further explanation of the foregoing design.
Chapter iv -- By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a ladyis when she applies her eloquence to an ill purpose.
Chapter v -- Containing some matters which may affect, and otherswhich may surprize, the reader.
Chapter vi -- By what means the squire came to discover his daughter.
Chapter vii -- In which various misfortunes befel poor Jones.
Chapter viii -- Short and sweet.
Chapter ix -- Containing love-letters of several sorts.
Chapter x -- Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observationsupon them.
Chapter xi -- Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter.
Chapter xii -- A discovery made by Partridge.
BOOK XVI -- CONTAINING THE SPACE OF FIVE DAYS.
Chapter i -- Of prologues.
Chapter ii -- A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with thedistressed situation of Sophia.
Chapter iii -- What happened to Sophia during her confinement.
Chapter iv -- In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement.
Chapter v -- In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes toa play with Mrs Miller and Partridge.
Chapter vi -- In which the history is obliged to look back.
Chapter vii -- In which Mr Western pays a visit to his sister, incompany with Mr Blifil.
Chapter viii -- Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones.
Chapter ix -- In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs Fitzpatrick.
Chapter x -- The consequence of the preceding visit.
BOOK XVII -- CONTAINING THREE DAYS.
Chapter i -- Containing a portion of introductory writing.
Chapter ii -- The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs Miller.
Chapter iii -- The arrival of Mr Western, with some matters concerningthe paternal authority.
Chapter iv -- An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt.
Chapter v -- Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale visit Jones in the prison.
Chapter vi -- In which Mrs Miller pays a visit to Sophia.
Chapter vii -- A pathetic scene between Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller.
Chapter viii -- Containing various matters.
Chapter ix -- What happened to Mr Jones in the prison.
BOOK XVIII -- CONTAINING ABOUT SIX DAYS.
Chapter i -- A farewel to the reader.
Chapter ii -- Containing a very tragical incident.
Chapter iii -- Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strangediscovery that he made on that occasion.
Chapter iv -- Containing two letters in very different stiles.
Chapter v -- In which the history is continued.
Chapter vi -- In which the history is farther continued.
Chapter vii -- Continuation of the history.
Chapter viii -- Further continuation.
Chapter ix -- A further continuation.
Chapter x -- Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion.
Chapter xi -- The history draws nearer to a conclusion.
Chapter xii -- Approaching still nearer to the end.
Chapter the last -- In which the history is concluded.
