History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter ii.

  Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which Mr Jones met within his walk with the Man of the Hill.

  Aurora now first opened her casement, _Anglice_ the day began tobreak, when Jones walked forth in company with the stranger, andmounted Mazard Hill; of which they had no sooner gained the summitthan one of the most noble prospects in the world presented itself totheir view, and which we would likewise present to the reader, but fortwo reasons: first, we despair of making those who have seen thisprospect admire our description; secondly, we very much doubt whetherthose who have not seen it would understand it.

  Jones stood for some minutes fixed in one posture, and directing hiseyes towards the south; upon which the old gentleman asked, What hewas looking at with so much attention? "Alas! sir," answered he with asigh, "I was endeavouring to trace out my own journey hither. Goodheavens! what a distance is Gloucester from us! What a vast track ofland must be between me and my own home!"--"Ay, ay, young gentleman,"cries the other, "and by your sighing, from what you love better thanyour own home, or I am mistaken. I perceive now the object of yourcontemplation is not within your sight, and yet I fancy you have apleasure in looking that way." Jones answered with a smile, "I find,old friend, you have not yet forgot the sensations of your youth. Iown my thoughts were employed as you have guessed."

  They now walked to that part of the hill which looks to thenorth-west, and which hangs over a vast and extensive wood. Here theywere no sooner arrived than they heard at a distance the most violentscreams of a woman, proceeding from the wood below them. Joneslistened a moment, and then, without saying a word to his companion(for indeed the occasion seemed sufficiently pressing), ran, or ratherslid, down the hill, and, without the least apprehension or concernfor his own safety, made directly to the thicket, whence the sound hadissued.

  He had not entered far into the wood before he beheld a most shockingsight indeed, a woman stript half naked, under the hands of a ruffian,who had put his garter round her neck, and was endeavouring to drawher up to a tree. Jones asked no questions at this interval, but fellinstantly upon the villain, and made such good use of his trusty oakenstick that he laid him sprawling on the ground before he could defendhimself, indeed almost before he knew he was attacked; nor did hecease the prosecution of his blows till the woman herself begged himto forbear, saying, she believed he had sufficiently done hisbusiness.

  The poor wretch then fell upon her knees to Jones, and gave him athousand thanks for her deliverance. He presently lifted her up, andtold her he was highly pleased with the extraordinary accident whichhad sent him thither for her relief, where it was so improbable sheshould find any; adding, that Heaven seemed to have designed him asthe happy instrument of her protection. "Nay," answered she, "I couldalmost conceive you to be some good angel; and, to say the truth, youlook more like an angel than a man in my eye." Indeed he was acharming figure; and if a very fine person, and a most comely set offeatures, adorned with youth, health, strength, freshness, spirit, andgood-nature, can make a man resemble an angel, he certainly had thatresemblance.

  The redeemed captive had not altogether so much of the human-angelicspecies: she seemed to be at least of the middle age, nor had her facemuch appearance of beauty; but her cloaths being torn from all theupper part of her body, her breasts, which were well formed andextremely white, attracted the eyes of her deliverer, and for a fewmoments they stood silent, and gazing at each other; till the ruffianon the ground beginning to move, Jones took the garter which had beenintended for another purpose, and bound both his hands behind him. Andnow, on contemplating his face, he discovered, greatly to hissurprize, and perhaps not a little to his satisfaction, this veryperson to be no other than ensign Northerton. Nor had the ensignforgotten his former antagonist, whom he knew the moment he came tohimself. His surprize was equal to that of Jones; but I conceive hispleasure was rather less on this occasion.

  Jones helped Northerton upon his legs, and then looking him stedfastlyin the face, "I fancy, sir," said he, "you did not expect to meet meany more in this world, and I confess I had as little expectation tofind you here. However, fortune, I see, hath brought us once moretogether, and hath given me satisfaction for the injury I havereceived, even without my own knowledge."

  "It is very much like a man of honour, indeed," answered Northerton,"to take satisfaction by knocking a man down behind his back. Neitheram I capable of giving you satisfaction here, as I have no sword; butif you dare behave like a gentleman, let us go where I can furnishmyself with one, and I will do by you as a man of honour ought."

  "Doth it become such a villain as you are," cries Jones, "tocontaminate the name of honour by assuming it? But I shall waste notime in discourse with you. Justice requires satisfaction of you now,and shall have it." Then turning to the woman, he asked her, if shewas near her home; or if not, whether she was acquainted with anyhouse in the neighbourhood, where she might procure herself somedecent cloaths, in order to proceed to a justice of the peace.

  She answered she was an entire stranger in that part of the world.Jones then recollecting himself, said, he had a friend near who woulddirect them; indeed, he wondered at his not following; but, in fact,the good Man of the Hill, when our heroe departed, sat himself down onthe brow, where, though he had a gun in his hand, he with greatpatience and unconcern had attended the issue.

  Jones then stepping without the wood, perceived the old man sitting aswe have just described him; he presently exerted his utmost agility,and with surprizing expedition ascended the hill.

  The old man advised him to carry the woman to Upton, which, he said,was the nearest town, and there he would be sure of furnishing herwith all manner of conveniencies. Jones having received his directionto the place, took his leave of the Man of the Hill, and, desiring himto direct Partridge the same way, returned hastily to the wood.

  Our heroe, at his departure to make this enquiry of his friend, hadconsidered, that as the ruffian's hands were tied behind him, he wasincapable of executing any wicked purposes on the poor woman. Besides,he knew he should not be beyond the reach of her voice, and couldreturn soon enough to prevent any mischief. He had moreover declaredto the villain, that if he attempted the least insult, he would behimself immediately the executioner of vengeance on him. But Jonesunluckily forgot, that though the hands of Northerton were tied, hislegs were at liberty; nor did he lay the least injunction on theprisoner that he should not make what use of these he pleased.Northerton therefore having given no parole of that kind, thought hemight without any breach of honour depart; not being obliged, as heimagined, by any rules, to wait for a formal discharge. He thereforetook up his legs, which were at liberty, and walked off through thewood, which favoured his retreat; nor did the woman, whose eyes wereperhaps rather turned toward her deliverer, once think of his escape,or give herself any concern or trouble to prevent it.

  Jones therefore, at his return, found the woman alone. He would havespent some time in searching for Northerton, but she would not permithim; earnestly entreating that he would accompany her to the townwhither they had been directed. "As to the fellow's escape," said she,"it gives me no uneasiness; for philosophy and Christianity bothpreach up forgiveness of injuries. But for you, sir, I am concerned atthe trouble I give you; nay, indeed, my nakedness may well make meashamed to look you in the face; and if it was not for the sake ofyour protection, I should wish to go alone."

  Jones offered her his coat; but, I know not for what reason, sheabsolutely refused the most earnest solicitations to accept it. Hethen begged her to forget both the causes of her confusion. "Withregard to the former," says he, "I have done no more than my duty inprotecting you; and as for the latter, I will entirely remove it, bywalking before you all the way; for I would not have my eyes offendyou, and I could not answer for my power of resisting the attractivecharms of so much beauty."

  Thus our heroe and the redeemed lady walked in the same manner asOrpheus and Eurydice marched heretofore; but though I cannot b
elievethat Jones was designedly tempted by his fair one to look behind him,yet as she frequently wanted his assistance to help her over stiles,and had besides many trips and other accidents, he was often obligedto turn about. However, he had better fortune than what attended poorOrpheus, for he brought his companion, or rather follower, safe intothe famous town of Upton.