The combatants being now prevented from executing
present vengeance on each other, betook themselves
to the common resources of disappointed rage, and
vented their wrath in threats and defiance. In
this kind of conflict, Fortune, which, in the personal
attack, seemed to incline to Jones, was now altogether
as favourable to his enemy.
A truce, nevertheless, was at length agreed on, by
the mediation of the neutral parties, and the whole
company again sat down at the table; where Jones being
prevailed on to ask pardon, and Blifil to give it,
peace was restored, and everything seemed in statu
quo.
But though the quarrel was, in all appearance, perfectly
reconciled, the good humour which had been interrupted
by it, was by no means restored. All merriment
was now at an end, and the subsequent discourse consisted
only of grave relations of matters of fact, and of
as grave observations upon them; a species of conversation,
in which, though there is much of dignity and instruction,
there is but little entertainment. As we presume
therefore to convey only this last to the reader,
we shall pass by whatever was said, till the rest of
the company having by degrees dropped off, left only
Square and the physician together; at which time the
conversation was a little heightened by some comments
on what had happened between the two young gentlemen;
both of whom the doctor declared to be no better than
scoundrels; to which appellation the philosopher, very
sagaciously shaking his head, agreed.
Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and
of other more grave writers, who have proved beyond
contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of
incontinency.
Jones retired from the company, in which we have seen
him engaged, into the fields, where he intended to
cool himself by a walk in the open air before he attended
Mr Allworthy. There, whilst he renewed those
meditations on his dear Sophia, which the dangerous
illness of his friend and benefactor had for some
time interrupted, an accident happened, which with
sorrow we relate, and with sorrow doubtless will it
be read; however, that historic truth to which we profess
so inviolable an attachment, obliges us to communicate
it to posterity.
It was now a pleasant evening in the latter end of
June, when our heroe was walking in a most delicious
grove, where the gentle breezes fanning the leaves,
together with the sweet trilling of a murmuring stream,
and the melodious notes of nightingales, formed altogether
the most enchanting harmony. In this scene, so
sweetly accommodated to love, he meditated on his
dear Sophia. While his wanton fancy roamed unbounded
over all her beauties, and his lively imagination painted
the charming maid in various ravishing forms, his warm
heart melted with tenderness; and at length, throwing
himself on the ground, by the side of a gently murmuring
brook, he broke forth into the following ejaculation:
