one foot backward, he darted his fist so fiercely at his enemy, that had he not caught it in his hand, (for he was a boxer of no inferior fame,) it must have tumbled him on the ground. And now the ravisher meditated another blow, which he aimed at that part of the breast where the heart is lodged; Joseph did not catch it as before, yet so prevented its aim, that it fell directly on his nose, but with abated force. Joseph, then, moving both fist and foot forwards at the same time, threw his head so dexterously into the stomach of the ravisher, that he fell a lifeless lump on the field, where he lay many minutes breathless and motionless.

When Fanny saw her Joseph receive a blow in his face, and blood running in a stream from him, she began to tear her hair, and invoke all human and divine power to his assistance. She was not, however, long under this affliction, before Joseph, having conquered his enemy, ran to her, and assured her he was not hurt; she then instantly fell on her knees, and thanked God that he made Joseph the means of her rescue, and at the same time preserved him from being injured in attempting it. She offered with her handkerchief to wipe his blood from his face; but he, seeing his rival attempting to recover his legs, turned, to him, and asked him, if he had enough? To which the other answered, he had; for he believed he had fought with the devil, instead of a man; and loosening his horse, said he should not have attempted the wench, if he had known she had been so well provided for.

position of his eyes, produced an idea in the lovely maid, which brought more blood into her face than had flowed from Joseph's nostrils. The snowy hue of her bosom was likewise changed to vermillion, at the instant when she clapped her handkerchief around her neck. Joseph saw the uneasiness she suffered, and immediately removed his eyes from an object, in surveying which he had felt the greatest delight which the organs of sight were capable of conveying to his soul;-so great was his fear of offending her, and so truly did his passion for her deserve the noble name of love.

Fanny, being now recovered from her confusion, which was almost equalled by what Joseph had felt from observing it, again mentioned her request; this was instantly and gladly complied with: and together they crossed two or three fields, which brought them to the habitation of Mr. Adams.

CHAPTER VIII.

A discourse which happened between Mr. Adams, Mrs. Adams, Joseph, and Fanny; with some behaviour of Mr. Adams, which will be called by some few readers very low, absurd, and unnatural.

THE parson and his wife had just ended a long dispute when the lovers came to the door. Indeed this young couple had been the subject of the dispute; for Mrs. Adams was one of those prudent people who never do any thing to injure their families, or perhaps one of those good mothers who would even stretch their conscience to serve their Fanny now begged Joseph to return with children. She had long entertained hopes her to Parson Adams, and to promise that of seeing her eldest daughter succeed Mrs. he would leave her no more. These were Slipslop, and of making her second son an propositions so agreeable to Joseph, that, exciseman by Lady Booby's interest. These had he heard them, he would have given were expectations she could not endure the an immediate assent; but indeed his eyes thoughts of quitting, and was therefore very were now his only sense; for you may re-uneasy to see her husband so resolute to member, reader, that the ravisher had tore her handkerchief from Fanny's neck, by which he had discovered such a sight, that Joseph hath declared, all the statues he ever beheld were so much inferior to it in beauty, that it was more capable of converting a man into a statue, than of being imitated by the greatest master of that art. This modest creature, whom no warmth in summer could ever induce to expose her charms to the wanton sun, a modesty to which perhaps they owed their inconceivable whiteness, had stood many minutes bare-necked in the presence of Joseph, before her apprehension of his danger, and the horror of seeing his blood, would suffer her once to reflect on what concerned herself; till at last, when the cause of her concern had vanished, an admiration at his silence, together with observing the fixed

oppose the lady's intention in Fanny's affair. She told him, 'It behooved every man to take the first care of his family; that he had a wife and six children, the maintaining and providing for whom would be business enough for him without intermeddling in other folks' affairs; that he had always preached up submission to superiors, and would do ill to give an example of the contrary behaviour in his own conduct; that if Lady Booby did wrong, she must answer for it herself, and the sin would not lie at their door; that Fanny had been a servant, and bred up in the lady's own family, and consequently she must have known more of her than they did, and it was very improbable, if she had behaved herself well, that the lady would have been so bitterly her enemy; that perhaps he was too much inclined to think well of her, because she was

handsome, but handsome women were often after her. The latter part I shall omit, as no better than they should be; that G-foreign to my purpose. Indeed, all such made ugly women as well as handsome brutal lusts and affections are to be greatly ones, and that if a woman had virtue, it subdued, if not totally eradicated, before signified nothing whether she had beauty the vessel can be said to be consecrated to or no.' For all which reasons she concluded honour. To marry with a view of gratihe should oblige the lady, and stop the fu-fying those inclinations, is a prostitution of ture publication of the banns.

not only to defeat the designs of our enemies, but even to turn their hearts. Instead of taking, therefore, any unjustifiable or desperate means to rid ourselves of fear, we should resort to prayer only, on these occasions; and we may be then certain of obtaining what is best for us. When any accident threatens us, we are not to despair, nor, when it overtakes us, to grieve; we must submit in all things to the will of Providence, and set our affections so much on nothing here, that we cannot quit it without reluctance.

that holy ceremony, and must entail a curse But all these excellent arguments had no on all who so lightly undertake it. If, thereeffect on the parson, who persisted in doing fore, this haste arises from impatience, you his duty without regarding the consequence are to correct, and not give way to it. it might have on his worldly interest. He Now, as to the second head which I proendeavoured to answer her as well as he posed to speak to, namely, fear: it argues could; to which she had just finished her a diffidence highly criminal of that Power reply, (for she had always the last word in which alone we should put our trust, seeevery where but at church,) when Josephing we may be well assured that he is able, and Fanny entered their kitchen, where the parson and his wife then sat at breakfast over some bacon and cabbage. There was a coldness in the civility of Mrs. Adams, which persons of accurate speculation might have observed, but escaped her present guests; indeed, it was a good deal covered by the heartiness of Adams, who no sooner heard that Fanny had neither eat nor drank that morning, than he presented her a bone of bacon he had just been gnawing, being the only remains of his provision, and then ran nimbly to the tap, and produced a mug of small beer, which he called ale; 'You are a young man, and can know however it was the best in his house. Jo- but little of this world; I am older, and have seph, addressing himself to the parson, told seen a great deal. All passions are criminal him the discourse which had passed between in their excess; and even love itself, if it is Squire Booby, his sister, and himself, con- not subservient to our duty, may render us cerning Fanny: he then acquainted him blind to it. Had Abraham so loved his son with the dangers whence he had rescued her, Isaac, as to refuse the sacrifice required, is and communicated some apprehensions on there any of us who would not condemn her account. He concluded, that he should him? Joseph, I know your many good quanever have an easy moment till Fanny was lities, and value you for them; but as I am absolutely his, and begged that he might be to render an account of your soul, which is suffered to fetch a licence, saying he could committed to my cure, I cannot see any easily borrow the money. The parson an- fault without reminding you of it. You are swered, That he had already given his too much inclined to passion, child, and have sentiments concerning a licence, and that a set your affections so absolutely on this very few days would make it unnecessary. young woman, that if G- required her at 'Joseph,' says he, I wish this haste doth your hands, I fear you would reluctantly not arise rather from your impatience than part with her. Now, believe me, no Chrisyour fear; but as it certainly springs from tian ought so to set his heart on any person one of these causes I will examine both. Of or thing in this world, but that whenever it each of these therefore in their turn; and shall be required, or taken from him in any first, for the first of these, namely, impatience. manner by divine providence, he may be Now child, I must inform you, that if, in able peaceably, quietly, and contentedly to your purposed marriage with this young resign it. At which words one came haswoman, you have no intention but the in- tily in and acquainted Mr. Adams, that his dulgence of carnal appetites, you are guilty youngest son was drowned. He stood siof a very heinous sin. Marriage was or-lent a moment, and soon began to stamp dained for nobler purposes, as you will learn about the room and deplore his loss with when you hear the service provided on that the bitterest agony. Joseph, who was overoccasion read to you. Nay, perhaps, if you whelmed with concern likewise, recovered are a good lad, I, child, shall give you a himself sufficiently to endeavour to comfort sermon gratis, wherein I shall demonstrate the parson; in which attempt he used many how little regard ought to be had to the flesh arguments, that he had at several times reon such occasions. The text will be, Mat-membered, out of his own discourses, both thew the 5th, and part of the 28th verse, in private and public, (for he was a great Whosoever looketh on a woman, so as to lust enemy to the passions, and preached no

to love my wife, no, not even to dote on her to distraction!'-Indeed, but it is,' says Adams. Every man ought to love his wife, no doubt; we are commanded so to do; but we ought to love her with moderation and discretion.'-'I am afraid I shall be guilty of some sin, in spite of all my endeavours,' says Joseph; for I shall love without any moderation, I am sure. - You talk foolishly and childishly,' cries Adams.'

thing more than the conquest of them by son, taking Joseph aside, proceeded thus— reason and grace,) but he was not at leisure No, Joseph, do not give too much way to now to hearken to his advice. Child, thy passions, if thou dost expect happiness.' child,' said he, 'do not go about impossibi--The patience of Joseph, nor perhaps of lities. Had it been any other of my children, Job, could bear no longer; he interrupted I could have borne it with patience; but the parson, saying, 'It was easier to give my little prattler, the darling and comfort of advice than take it; nor did he perceivs he my old age, the little wretch, to be snatched could so entirely conquer himself, when he out of life just at his entrance into it; the apprehended he had lost his son, or when best-tempered boy, who never did a thing he found him recovered.'-' Boy,' replied to offend me. It was but this morning I Adams, raising his voice, 'it doth not begave him his first lesson in Qua Genus. come green heads to advise grey hairs.This was the very book he learnt; poor Thou art ignorant of the tenderness of child! it is of no further use to thee now. fatherly affection: when thou art a father, He would have made the best scholar, and thou wilt be capable then only of knowing have been an ornament to the church;- what a father can feel. No man is obliged such parts and such goodness, never met in to impossibilities; and the loss of a child is one so young. And the handsomest lad, one of those great trials, where our grief too,' says Mrs. Adams, recovering from a may be allowed to become immoderate.'swoon in Fanny's arms. My poor Jacky,Well, sir,' cries Joseph, and if I love a shall I never see thee more?' cries the par- mistress as well as you your child, surely son. Yes, surely,' says Joseph, and in a her loss would grieve me equally. Yes, better place, you will meet again, never to but such love is foolishness, and wrong in part more.' I believe the parson did not itself, and ought to be conquered,' answered hear these words, for he paid little regard to Adams; 'it savours too much of the flesh.' them, but went on lamenting, whilst the Sure, sir,' says Joseph, 'it is not sinful tears trickled down into his bosom. At last he cried out, Where is my little darling?' and was sallying out, when, to his great surprise and joy, in which I hope the reader will sympathise, he met his son in a wet condition indeed, but alive, and running towards him. The person who brought the news of his misfortune, had been a little too eager, as people sometimes are, from, I believe, no very good principle, to relate ill news; and seeing him fall into the river, Indeed,' says Mrs. Adams, who had instead of running to his assistance, directly listened to the latter part of their conversaran to acquaint his father of a fate which he tion, 'you talk more foolish yourself. I hope, had concluded to be inevitable, but whence my dear, you will never preach any such the child was relieved by the same poor doctrines, as that husbands can love their pedlar who had relieved his father before wives too well. If I knew you had such a from a less distress. The parson's joy was sermon in the house, I am sure I would burn now as extravagant as his grief had been it; and I declare, if I had not been convinced before; he kissed and embraced his son a you had loved me as well as you could, thousand times, and danced about the room I can answer for myself, I should have hated like one frantic; but as soon as he discovered and despised you. Marry come up! Fine the face of his old friend the pedlar, and doctrine, indeed! A wife hath a right to inheard the fresh obligation he had to him, sist on her husband's loving her as much what were his sensations? not those which as ever he can; and he is a sinful villain two courtiers feel in one another's embraces; who doth not. Doth he not promise to love not those with which a great man receives her, and comfort her, and to cherish her, the vile treacherous engines of his wicked and all that? I am sure I remember it all, purposes; not those with which a worth- as well as if I had repeated it over but yesless younger brother wishes his elder joy of terday, and shall never forget it. Besides, a son, or a man congratulates his rival on I am certain you do not preach as you his obtaining a mistress, a place, or an ho-practice; for you have been a loving and a nour.-No, reader, he felt the ebullition, the cherishing husband to me, that's the truth overflowings of a full, honest, open heart, on't, and why you should endeavour to put towards the person who had conferred a such wicked nonsense into this young man's real obligation, and of which, if thou canst head I cannot devise. Don't hearken to not conceive an idea within, I will not vain- him, Mr. Joseph; be as good a husband as ly endeavour to assist thee. you are able, and love your wife with all your body and soul too.' Here a violent

When these tumults were over, the par

rap at the door put an end to their discourse, and produced a scene which the reader will find in the next chapter.

CHAPTER IX.

A visit which the polite Lady Booby and her polite

friend paid to the Parson.

and legs none of the best, for he had very narrow shoulders, and no calf; and his gait might more properly be called hopping than walking. The qualifications of his mind were well adapted to his person. We shall handle the first negatively. He was not entirely ignorant; for he could talk a little French, and sing two or three Italian songs: he had lived too much in the world to be bashful, and too much at court to be proud: he seemed not much inclined to avarice; for he was profuse in his expenses: nor had he all the features of prodigality; for he never gave a shilling: no hater of women, for he always dangled after them; yet so little subject to lust, that he had, among those who knew him best, the character of great moderation in his pleasures. No drinker of wine; nor so addicted to passion, but that a hot word or two from an adversary made him immediately cool.

THE Lady Booby had no sooner had an account from the gentleman, of his meeting a wonderful beauty near her house, and perceived the raptures with which he spoke of her, than immediately concluding it must be Fanny, she began to meditate a design of bringing them better acquainted; and to entertain hopes that the fine clothes, presents, and promises of this youth, would prevail on her to abandon Joseph: she therefore proposed to her company a walk in the fields before dinner, when she led them towards Mr. Adams's house; and, as Now, to give him only a dash or two on she approached it, told them, if they pleased the affirmative side: though he was born she would divert them with one of the most to an immense fortune, he chose, for the ridiculous sights they had ever seen, which pitiful and dirty consideration of a place of was an old foolish parson, who, she said little consequence, to depend entirely on the laughing, kept a wife and six brats on a will of a fellow, whom they call a great salary of about twenty pounds a year; add-man; who treated him with the utmost dising, that there was not such another ragged family in the parish..

respect, and exacted of him a plenary obedience to his commands; which he implicitly They all readily agreed to this visit, and submitted to, at the expense of his conarrived whilst Mrs. Adams was declaiming, science, his honour, and of his country, in as in the last chapter. Beau Didapper, which he had himself so very large a share. which was the name of the young gentle- And to finish his character; as he was enman we have seen riding towards Lady tirely well satisfied with his own person and Booby's, with his cane mimicked the rap of parts, so he was very apt to ridicule_and a London footman at the door. The peo- laugh at any imperfection in another. Such ple within, namely, Adams, his wife, and was the little person, or rather thing, that three children, Joseph, Fanny, and the ped-hopped after Lady Booby into Mr. Adams's lar, were all thrown into confusion by this kitchen.

'

6

knock; but Adams went directly to the The parson and his company retreated door, which being opened, the Lady Booby from the chimney-side, where they had been and her company walked in, and were re-seated, to give room to the lady and hers. ceived by the parson with about two hun-Instead of returning any of the curtesies or dred bows, and by his wife with as many extraordinary civility of Mrs. Adams, the curtesies; the latter telling the lady, She lady, turning to Mr. Booby, cried out, was ashamed to be seen in such a pickle, Quelle bête! Quel animal! And preand that her house was in such a litter; but sently after discovering Fanny, (for she did that if she had expected such an honour not need the circumstance of her standing from her ladyship, she should have found by Joseph to assure the identity of her perher in a better manner.' The parson made son,) she asked the beau, 'Whether he did no apologies, though he was in his half not think her a pretty girl? '—' Begad, cassock, and a flannel night-cap. He said, madam,' answered he, "tis the very same I "They were heartily welcome to his poor met.'-'I did not imagine,' replied the lady, cottage,' and, turning to Mr. Didapper, you had so good a taste.-Because i cried out, 'Non mea renidet in domo lacu- never liked you, I warrant,' cries the beau. nar.' The beau answered, He did not understand Welch' at which the parson stared and made no reply.

Mr. Didapper, or Beau Didapper, was a young gentleman of about four foot five inches in height. He wore his own hair, though the scarcity of it might have given him sufficient excuse for a periwig. His face was thin and pale; the shape of his body

Ridiculous!' said she: you know you was always my aversion.' 'I would never mention aversion,' answered the beau' with that face; dear Lady Booby, wash your face before you mention aversion, I beseech

Lest this should appear unnatural to some readverbatim from very polite conversation. ers, we think proper to acquaint them, that it is taken