Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

London

Printed for A. Millar

1749

"I am not used, Madam, said Jones, to submit to such sudden Conquests; but as you have taken my Heart by Surprize, the rest of my Body hath a Right to follow"

While Jones and his Mask were walking together about the Room, to rid themselves of the Teazer, he observed his Lady speak to several Masks, with the same Freedom of Acquaintance as if they had been barefaced. He could not help expressing his Surprise at this, saying, 'Sure, Madam, you must have infinite Discernment to know People in all Disguises.' To which the Lady answered, 'You cannot conceive any Thing more insipid and childish than a Masquerade to the People of Fashion, who in general know one another as well here, as when they meet in an Assembly or a Drawing-room; nor will any Woman of Condition converse with a Person with whom she is not acquainted. In short, the Generality of Persons whom you see here, may more properly be said to kill Time in this Place, than in any other; and generally retire from hence more tired than from the longest Sermon. To say the Truth, I begin to be in that Situation myself, and if I have any Faculty at guessing, you are not much better pleased. I protest it would be almost Charity in me to go Home for your Sake.' 'I know but one Charity equal to it, cries Jones, and that is to suffer me to wait on you Home. Sure, answered the Lady, you have a strange Opinion of me, to imagine, that upon such an Acquaintance, I would let you into my Doors at this Time o'Night. I fancy you impute the Friendship I have shewn my Cousin, to some other Motive. Confess honestly; don't you consider this contrived Interview as little better than a downright Assignation? Are you used, Mr. Jones, to make these sudden Conquests? I am not used, Madam, said Jones, to submit to such sudden Conquests; but as you have taken my Heart by Surprize, the rest of my Body hath a Right to follow; so you must pardon me if I resolve to attend you wherever you go.' He accompanied these Words with some proper Actions; upon which the Lady, after a gentle Rebuke, and saying their Familiarity would be observed, told him 'She was going to sup with an Acquaintance, whither she hoped he would not follow her; for if you should, said she, I shall be thought an unaccountable Creature, though my Friend indeed is not censorious, yet I hope you won't follow me: I protest I shall not know what to say, if you do.'
(pp. 61-3)

War::Conquest

Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Prose)

Over 75 entries in the ESTC (1749, 1750, 1751, 1759, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1780, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1786, 1787, 1789, 1791, 1792, 1794, 1795, 1797, 1800).

See The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes. By Henry Fielding. (London: Printed for A. Millar, 1749). <Link to ECCO><Link to LION>

See also three-volume Dublin edition in ECCO-TCP <Link to Vol. I in ECCO-TCP><Vol. II><Vol. III>

Reading The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. Norton Critical Edition, ed. Sheridan W. Baker. (New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1973).

Also reading Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, eds. John Bender and Simon Stern (Oxford: OUP, 1996).

09/29/2004