“And I have instilled principles into him too,”
cries Square. “What but the sublime idea
of virtue could inspire a human mind with the generous
thought of giving liberty? And I repeat to you
again, if it was a fit thing to be proud, I might
claim the honour of having infused that idea.”—
“And if pride was not forbidden,” said
Thwackum, “I might boast of having taught him
that duty which he himself assigned as his motive.”
“So between you both,” says the squire,
“the young gentleman hath been taught to rob
my daughter of her bird. I find I must take care
of my partridge-mew. I shall have some virtuous
religious man or other set all my partridges at liberty.”
Then slapping a gentleman of the law, who was present,
on the back, he cried out, “What say you to this,
Mr Counsellor? Is not this against law?”
The lawyer with great gravity delivered himself as
follows:—
“If the case be put of a partridge, there can
be no doubt but an action would lie; for though this
be ferae naturae, yet being reclaimed, property
vests: but being the case of a singing bird,
though reclaimed, as it is a thing of base nature,
it must be considered as nullius in bonis.
In this case, therefore, I conceive the plaintiff
must be non-suited; and I should disadvise the bringing
any such action.”
“Well,” says the squire, “if it
be nullus bonus, let us drink about, and talk
a little of the state of the nation, or some such discourse
that we all understand; for I am sure I don’t
understand a word of this. It may be learning
and sense for aught I know: but you shall never
persuade me into it. Pox! you have neither of
you mentioned a word of that poor lad who deserves
to be commended: to venture breaking his neck
to oblige my girl was a generous-spirited action:
I have learning enough to see that. D—n
me, here’s Tom’s health! I shall
love the boy for it the longest day I have to live.”
Thus was the debate interrupted; but it would probably
have been soon resumed, had not Mr Allworthy presently
called for his coach, and carried off the two combatants.
Such was the conclusion of this adventure of the bird,
and of the dialogue occasioned by it; which we could
not help recounting to our reader, though it happened
some years before that stage or period of time at
which our history is now arrived.
Containing matter accommodated to every taste.
“Parva leves capiunt animos—Small
things affect light minds,” was the sentiment
of a great master of the passion of love. And
certain it is, that from this day Sophia began to
have some little kindness for Tom Jones, and no little
aversion for his companion.
