But Fortune, who seldom greatly relishes such sparks
as my friend Tom, perhaps because they do not pay
more ardent addresses to her, gave now a very different
turn to all his actions, and showed them to Mr Allworthy
in a light far less agreeable than that gentleman’s
goodness had hitherto seen them in.
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.
There are two sorts of people, who, I am afraid, have
already conceived some contempt for my heroe, on account
of his behaviour to Sophia. The former of these
will blame his prudence in neglecting an opportunity
to possess himself of Mr Western’s fortune; and
the latter will no less despise him for his backwardness
to so fine a girl, who seemed ready to fly into his
arms, if he would open them to receive her.
Now, though I shall not perhaps be able absolutely
to acquit him of either of these charges (for want
of prudence admits of no excuse; and what I shall
produce against the latter charge will, I apprehend,
be scarce satisfactory); yet, as evidence may sometimes
be offered in mitigation, I shall set forth the plain
matter of fact, and leave the whole to the reader’s
determination.
Mr Jones had somewhat about him, which, though I think
writers are not thoroughly agreed in its name, doth
certainly inhabit some human breasts; whose use is
not so properly to distinguish right from wrong, as
to prompt and incite them to the former, and to restrain
and withhold them from the latter.
This somewhat may be indeed resembled to the famous
trunk-maker in the playhouse; for, whenever the person
who is possessed of it doth what is right, no ravished
or friendly spectator is so eager or so loud in his
applause: on the contrary, when he doth wrong,
no critic is so apt to hiss and explode him.
To give a higher idea of the principle I mean, as
well as one more familiar to the present age; it may
be considered as sitting on its throne in the mind,
like the Lord High Chancellor of this kingdom in his
court; where it presides, governs, directs, judges,
acquits, and condemns according to merit and justice,
with a knowledge which nothing escapes, a penetration
which nothing can deceive, and an integrity which
nothing can corrupt.
This active principle may perhaps be said to constitute
the most essential barrier between us and our neighbours
the brutes; for if there be some in the human shape
who are not under any such dominion, I choose rather
to consider them as deserters from us to our neighbours;
among whom they will have the fate of deserters, and
not be placed in the first rank.
