given the justice no trouble that evening. Indeed, it required not the art of a Shepherd to escape, especially as the darkness of the night would have so much befriended him; but Adams trusted rather to his innocence than his heels, and without thinking of flight, which was easy, or resistance (which was impossible, as there were six lusty young fellows, besides the villain himself, present) he walked with perfect resignation the way they thought proper to conduct him.

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Adams frequently vented himself in ejaculations during their journey; at last poor Joseph Andrews occurring to his mind, he could not refrain sighing forth his name, which being heard by his companion in affliction, she cried with some vehemence, 'Sure I should know that voice; you cannot certainly, Sir, be Mr. Abraham 'Adams? Indeed, damsel,' says he,' that is my name; 'there is something also in your voice which persuades me I have heard it before.'-' La! Sir,' says she, 'don't you remember poor Fanny?'-' How, Fanny!' answered Adams: 'indeed, I very well remember you; what can 'have brought you hither?'-'I have told you, Sir,' replied she 'I was travelling towards London; but I เ thought you mentioned Joseph Andrews, pray what is 'become of him?'-'I left him, child, this afternoon,' said Adams, 'in the stage-coach, in his way towards our parish, whither he is going to see you.'-'To see me! La, Sir,' answered Fanny, 'sure you jeer me: what 'should he be going to see me for?'-'Can you ask 'that?' replied Adams. 'I hope, Fanny, you are not inconstant; I assure you he deserves much better of you.'-' La! Mr. Adams,' said she, 'what is Mr. Joseph to me? I am sure I never had any thing to say to 'him, but as one fellow-servant might to another.'-'I ' am sorry to hear this,' said Adams; 'a virtuous passion 'for a young man is what no woman need be ashamed of.

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'You either do not tell me truth, or you are false to a very worthy man.' Adams then told her what had happened at the inn, to which she listened very attentively; and a sigh often escaped from her, notwithstanding her utmost endeavours to the contrary; nor could she prevent herself from asking a thousand questions, which would have assured any one but Adams, who never saw farther into people than they desired to let him, of the truth of a passion she endeavoured to conceal. Indeed, the fact was, that this poor girl having heard of Joseph's misfortune, by some of the servants belonging to the coach, which we have formerly mentioned to have stopt at the inn while the poor youth was confined to his bed, that instant abandoned the cow she was milking, and taking with her a little bundle of clothes under her arm, and all the money she was worth in her own purse, without consulting any one, immediately set forward, in pursuit of one, whom, notwithstanding her shyness to the parson, she loved with inexpressible violence, though with the purest and most delicate passion. This shyness, therefore, as we trust it will recommend her character to all our female readers, and not greatly surprise such of our males as are well acquainted with the younger part of the other sex, we shall not give ourselves any trouble to vindicate.

CHAPTER XI.

What happened to them while before the Justice. A chapter very full of learning.

THEIR fellow-travellers were so engaged in the hot dispute concerning the division of the reward for appre

hending these innocent people, that they attended very little to their discourse. They were now arrived at the justice's house, and had sent one of his servants in to acquaint his worship, that they had taken two robbers, and brought them before him. The justice, who was just returned from a fox-chase, and had not yet finished his dinner, ordered them to carry the prisoners into the stable, whither they were attended by all the servants in the house, and all the people in the neighbourhood, who flocked together to see them, with as much curiosity as if there was something uncommon to be seen, or that a rogue did not look like other people.

The justice now, being in the height of his mirth and his cups, bethought himself of the prisoners; and telling his company he believed they should have good sport in their examination, he ordered them into his presence. They had no sooner entered the room than he began to revile them, saying, That robberies on the highway were now grown so frequent that people could not sleep safely in their beds, and assured them they both should be made examples of at the ensuing assizes. After he had gone on some time in this manner he was reminded by his clerk, That it would be proper to take the depositions of the witnesses against them. Which he bid him do, and he would light his pipe in the mean time. Whilst the clerk was employed in writing down the deposition of the fellow who had pretended to be robbed, the justice employed himself in cracking jests on poor Fanny, in which he was seconded by all the company at table. One asked, Whether she was to be indicted for a highwayman? Another whispered in her ear, If she had not provided herself a great belly, he was at her service. A third said, He warranted she was a relation of Turpin. To which one of the company, a great wit, shaking his head, and then his sides, answered, He

believed she was nearer related to Turpis; at which there was an universal laugh. They were proceeding thus with the poor girl, when somebody, smoking the cassock peeping forth from under the great-coat of Adams, cried out, What have we here, a parson?''How, sirrah,' says the justice, 'do you go robbing in 'the dress of a clergyman? let me tell you, your habit 'will not entitle you to the benefit of the clergy.''Yes,' said the witty fellow, 'he will have one benefit 'of clergy, he will be exalted above the heads of the people;' at which there was a second laugh. And now the witty spark, seeing his jokes take, began to rise in spirits; and turning to Adams, challenged him to cap verses, and provoking him by giving the first blow, he repeated,

'Molle meum levibus cord est vilebile telis.'

Upon which Adams, with a look full of ineffable contempt, told him, He deserved scourging for his pronunciation. The witty fellow answered, 'What do you 'deserve, doctor, for not being able to answer the first 'time? Why, I'll give one, you blockhead with an S.

'Si licet, ut fulvum spectatur in ignibus haurum.'

What, can'st not with an M neither? Thou art a pretty fellow for a parson. Why did'st not steal some 'of the parson's Latin as well as his gown? Another at the table then answered,' If he had, you would have 'been too hard for him; I remember you at the college 'a very devil at this sport; I have seen you catch a 'fresh man; for nobody that knew you would engage 'with you.'-' I have forgot those things now,' cried the wit. I believe I could have done pretty well formerly. 'Let's see, what did I end with-an M again-ay

'Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, virorum.'

'I could have done it once.'-' Ah! evil betide you, and 'so you can now,' said the other: 'nobody in this country 'will undertake you.' Adams could hold no longer: 'Friend,' said he, 'I have a boy not above eight years 'old, who would instruct thee that the last verse runs 'thus:

'Ut sunt Divorum, Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, virorum.'

'I'll hold thee a guinea of that,' said the wit, throwing the money on the table. 'And I'll go your halves,' cries the other. 'Done,' answered Adams; but upon applying to his pocket he was forced to retract, and own he had no money about him; which set them all a-laughing, and confirmed the triumph of his adversary, which was not moderate; any more than the approbation he met with from the whole company, who told Adams he must go a little to school, before he attempted to attack that gentleman in Latin.

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The clerk having finished the depositions, as well of the fellow himself, as of those who apprehended the prisoners, delivered them to the justice; who having sworn the several witnesses, without reading a syllable, ordered his clerk to make the mittimus.

Adams then said, He hoped he should not be condemned unheard.-'No, no,' cries the justice, 'you will 'be asked what you have to say for yourself, when you come on your trial: we are not trying you now; I shall ' only commit you to gaol: if you can prove your inno'cence at 'size, you will be found ignoramus, and so no 'harm done.'-' Is it no punishment, Sir, for an innocent 'man to lie several months in gaol?' cries Adams: 'I 'beg you would at least hear me before you sign the mit

'timus.'-'What signifies all you can say ?' says the justice, 'is it not here in black and white against you? I must tell you you are a very impertinent fellow to take