Nor doth the Abbé Bellegarde, who hath written a treatise on this subject, though he shows us many species of it, once trace it to its fountain.

The only source of the true ridiculous (as it appears to me) is affectation. But though it arises from one spring only, when we consider the infinite streams into which this one branches, we shall presently cease to admire at the copious field it affords to an observer. Now, affectation proceeds from one of these two causes, vanity or hypocrisy: for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause; so hypocrisy sets us on an endeavour to avoid censure, by concealing our vices under an appearance of their opposite virtues. And though these two causes are often confounded (for there is some difficulty in distinguishing them), yet, as they proceed from very different motives, so they are as clearly distinct in their operations: for indeed, the affectation which arises from vanity is nearer to truth than the other, as it hath not that violent repugnancy of nature to struggle with, which that of the hypocrite hath. It may be likewise noted, that affectation doth not imply an absolute negation of those qualities which are affected; and, therefore, though, when it proceeds from hypocrisy, it be nearly allied to deceit; yet when it comes from vanity only, it partakes of the nature of ostentation: for instance, the affectation of liberality in a vain man differs visibly from the same affectation in the avaricious; for though the vain man is not what he would appear, or hath not the virtue he affects, to the degree he would be thought to have it; yet it sits less awkwardly on him than on the avaricious man, who is the very reverse of what he would seem to be.

From the discovery of this affectation arises the ridiculous, which always strikes the reader with surprise and pleasure; and that in a higher and stronger degree when the affectation arises from hypocrisy, than when from vanity; for to discover any one to be the exact reverse of what he affects, is more surprising, and consequently more ridiculous, than to find him a little deficient in the quality he desires the reputation of. I might observe that our Ben Jonson, who of all men understood the ridiculous the best, hath chiefly used the hypocritical affectation.

Now, from affectation only, the misfortunes and calamities of life, or the imperfections of nature, may become the objects of ridicule. Surely he hath a very ill-framed mind who can look on ugliness, infirmity, or poverty, as ridiculous in themselves: nor do I believe any man living, who meets a dirty fellow riding through the streets in a cart, is struck with an idea of the ridiculous from it; but if he should see the same figure descend from his coach and six, or bolt from his chair with his hat under his arm, he would then begin to laugh, and with justice. In the same manner, were we to enter a poor house and behold a wretched family shivering with cold and languishing with hunger, it would not incline us to laughter (at least we must have very diabolical natures if it would); but should we discover there a grate, instead of coals, adorned with flowers, empty plate or china dishes on the sideboard, or any other affectation of riches and finery, either on their persons or in their furniture, we might then indeed be excused for ridiculing so fantastical an appearance. Much less are natural imperfections the object of derision; but when ugliness aims at the applause of beauty, or lameness endeavours to display agility, it is then that these unfortunate circumstances, which at first moved our compassion, tend only to raise our mirth.

The poet carries this very far:—

None are for being what they are in fault,
But for not being what they would be thought.

Where if the metre would suffer the word ridiculous to close the first line, the thought would be rather more proper. Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults, of our pity; but affectation appears to me the only true source of the ridiculous.

But perhaps it may be objected to me, that I have against my own rules introduced vices, and of a very black kind, into this work. To which I shall answer: first, that it is very difficult to pursue a series of human actions, and keep clear from them. Secondly, that the vices to be found here, are rather the accidental consequences of some human frailty or foible, than causes habitually existing in the mind. Thirdly, that they are never set forth as the objects of ridicule, but detestation. Fourthly, that they are never the principal figure at that time on the scene: and, lastly, they never produce the intended evil.

Having thus distinguished Joseph Andrews from the productions of romance writers on the one hand and burlesque writers on the other, and given some few very short hints (for I intended no more) of this species of writing, which I have affirmed to be hitherto unattempted in our language; I shall leave to my good-natured reader to apply my piece to my observations, and will detain him no longer than with a word concerning the characters in this work.

And here I solemnly protest I have no intention to vilify or asperse any one; for though everything is copied from the book of nature, and scarce a character or action produced which I have not taken from my own observations and experience; yet I have used the utmost care to obscure the persons by such different circumstances, degrees, and colours, that it will be impossible to guess at them with any degree of certainty; and if it ever happens otherwise, it is only where the failure characterized is so minute, that it is a foible only which the party himself may laugh at as well as any other.

As to the character of Adams, as it is the most glaring in the whole, so I conceive it is not to be found in any book now extant. It is designed a character of perfect simplicity; and as the goodness of his heart will recommend him to the good-natured, so I hope it will excuse me to the gentlemen of his cloth; for whom, while they are worthy of their sacred order, no man can possibly have a greater respect. They will therefore excuse me, notwithstanding the low adventures in which he is engaged, that I have made him a clergyman; since no other office could have given him so many opportunities of displaying his worthy inclinations.

Table of Contents

DOVER · THRIFT · EDITIONS
Title Page
Copyright Page
Note
Preface
BOOK I.

CHAPTER I. - OF WRITING LIVES IN GENERAL, AND PARTICULARLY OF PAMELA; WITH A WORD BY THE BYE OF COLLEY CIBBER AND OTHERS.
CHAPTER II - OF MR JOSEPH ANDREWS, HIS BIRTH, PARENTAGE, EDUCATION, AND GREAT ENDOWMENTS; WITH A WORD OR TWO CONCERNING ANCESTORS.
CHAPTER III. - OF MR ABRAHAM ADAMS THE CURATE, MRS SLIPSLOP THE CHAMBERMAID, AND OTHERS.
CHAPTER IV. - WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEIR JOURNEY TO LONDON.
CHAPTER V. - THE DEATH OF SIR THOMAS BOOBY, WITH THE AFFECTIONATE AND MOURNFUL BEHAVIOUR OF HIS WIDOW, AND THE GREAT PURITY OF JOSEPH ANDREWS.
CHAPTER VI. - HOW JOSEPH ANDREWS WRIT A LETTER TO HIS SISTER PAMELA.
CHAPTER VII. - SAYINGS OF WISE MEN. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE LADY AND HER MAID; AND A PANEGYRIC, OR RATHER SATIRE, ON THE PASSION OF LOVE, IN THE SUBLIME STYLE.
CHAPTER VIII. - IN WHICH, AFTER SOME VERY FINE WRITING, THE HISTORY GOES ON, AND RELATES THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE LADY AND JOSEPH; WHERE THE LATTER HATH SET AN EXAMPLE WHICH WE DESPAIR OF SEEING FOLLOWED BY HIS SEX IN THIS VICIOUS AGE.
CHAPTER IX. - WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THE LADY AND MRS SLIPSLOP; IN WHICH WE PROPHESY THERE ARE SOME STROKES WHICH EVERY ONE WILL NOT TRULY COMPREHEND AT THE FIRST READING.
CHAPTER X. - JOSEPH WRITES ANOTHER LETTER: HIS TRANSACTIONS WITH MR PETER POUNCE, ETC., WITH HIS DEPARTURE FROM LADY BOOBY.
CHAPTER XI. - OF SEVERAL NEW MATTERS NOT EXPECTED.
CHAPTER XII. - CONTAINING MANY SURPRISING ADVENTURES WHICH JOSEPH ANDREWS MET WITH ON THE ROAD, SCARCE CREDIBLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER TRAVELLED IN A STAGE-COACH.
CHAPTER XIII. - WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSEPH DURING HIS SICKNESS AT THE INN, WITH THE CURIOUS DISCOURSE BETWEEN HIM AND MR BARNABAS, THE PARSON OF THE PARISH.
CHAPTER XIV. - BEING VERY FULL OF ADVENTURES WHICH SUCCEEDED EACH OTHER AT THE END.
CHAPTER XV. - SHOWING HOW MRS TOW-WOUSE WAS A LITTLE MOLLIFIED; AND HOW OFFICIOUS MR BARNABAS AND THE SURGEON WERE TO PROSECUTE THE THIEF: WITH A DISSERTATION ACCOUNTING FOR THEIR ZEAL, AND THAT OF MANY OTHER PERSONS NOT MENTIONED IN THIS HISTORY.
CHAPTER XVI. - THE ESCAPE OF THE THIEF. MR ADAMS’S DISAPPOINTMENT. THE ARRIVAL OF TWO VERY EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAGES, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF PARSON ADAMS TO PARSON BARNABAS.
CHAPTER XVII. - A PLEASANT DISCOURSE BETWEEN THE TWO PARSONS AND THE BOOKSELLER, WHICH WAS BROKE OFF BY AN UNLUCKY ACCIDENT HAPPENING IN THE INN, WHICH PRODUCED A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MRS TOW-WOUSE AND HER MAID OF NO GENTLE KIND.
CHAPTER XVIII. - THE HISTORY OF BETTY THE CHAMBERMAID, AND AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCASIONED THE VIOLENT SCENE IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTER.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I. - OF DIVISIONS IN AUTHORS.
CHAPTER II. - A SURPRISING INSTANCE OF MR ADAMS’S SHORT MEMORY, WITH THE UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES WHICH IT BROUGHT ON JOSEPH.
CHAPTER III. - THE OPINION OF TWO LAWYERS CONCERNING THE SAME GENTLEMAN, WITH MR ADAMS’S INQUIRY INTO THE RELIGION OF HIS HOST.
CHAPTER IV - THE HISTORY OF LEONORA, OR THE UNFORTUNATE JILT.
CHAPTER V. - A DREADFUL QUARREL WHICH HAPPENED AT THE INN WHERE THE COMPANY DINED, WITH ITS BLOODY CONSEQUENCES TO MR ADAMS.
CHAPTER VI. - CONCLUSION OF THE UNFORTUNATE JILT.
CHAPTER VII. - A VERY SHORT CHAPTER, IN WHICH PARSON ADAMS WENT A GREAT WAY.
CHAPTER VIII. - A NOTABLE DISSERTATION BY MR ABRAHAM ADAMS; WHEREIN THAT GENTLEMAN APPEARS IN A POLITICAL LIGHT.
CHAPTER IX. - IN WHICH THE GENTLEMAN DESCANTS ON BRAVERY AND HEROIC VIRTUE, TILL AN UNLUCKY ACCIDENT PUTS AN END TO THE DISCOURSE.
CHAPTER X. - GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE STRANGE CATASTROPHE OF THE PRECEDING ADVENTURE, WHICH DREW POOR ADAMS INTO FRESH CALAMITIES; AND WHO THE WOMAN WAS WHO OWED THE PRESERVATION OF HER CHASTITY TO HIS VICTORIOUS ARM.
CHAPTER XI. - WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WHILE BEFORE THE JUSTICE. A CHAPTER VERY FULL OF LEARNING.
CHAPTER XII. - A VERY DELIGHTFUL ADVENTURE, AS WELL TO THE PERSONS CONCERNED AS TO THE GOOD-NATURED READER.
CHAPTER XIII. - A DISSERTATION CONCERNING HIGH PEOPLE AND LOW PEOPLE, WITH MRS SLIPSLOP’S DEPARTURE IN NO VERY GOOD TEMPER OF MIND, AND THE EVIL PLIGHT IN WHICH SHE LEFT ADAMS AND HIS COMPANY.
CHAPTER XIV. - AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN PARSON ADAMS AND PARSON TRULLIBER.
CHAPTER XV. - AN ADVENTURE THE CONSEQUENCE OF A NEW INSTANCE WHICH PARSON ADAMS GAVE OF HIS FORGETFULNESS.
CHAPTER XVI. - A VERY CURIOUS ADVENTURE, IN WHICH MR ADAMS GAVE A MUCH GREATER INSTANCE OF THE HONEST SIMPLICITY OF HIS HEART THAN OF HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD.
CHAPTER XVII. - A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MR ABRAHAM ADAMS AND HIS HOST, WHICH, BY THE DISAGREEMENT IN THEIR OPINIONS, SEEMED TO THREATEN AN UNLUCKY CATASTROPHE, HAD IT NOT BEEN TIMELY PREVENTED BY THE RETURN OF THE LOVERS.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I. - MATTER PREFATORY IN PRAISE OF BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER II. - A NIGHT-SCENE, WHEREIN SEVERAL WONDERFUL ADVENTURES BEFEL ADAMS AND HIS FELLOW-TRAVELLERS.
CHAPTER III. - IN WHICH THE GENTLEMAN RELATES THE HISTORY OF HIS LIFE.
CHAPTER IV. - A DESCRIPTION OF MR WILSON’S WAY OF LIVING. THE TRAGICAL ADVENTURE OF THE DOG, AND OTHER GRAVE MATTERS.
CHAPTER V. - A DISPUTATION ON SCHOOLS HELD ON THE ROAD BY MR ABRAHAM ADAMS AND JOSEPH; AND A DISCOVERY NOT UNWELCOME TO THEM BOTH.
CHAPTER VI. - MORAL REFLECTIONS BY JOSEPH ANDREWS; WITH THE HUNTING ADVENTURE, AND PARSON ADAMS’S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
CHAPTER VII. - A SCENE OF ROASTING, VERY NICELY ADAPTED TO THE PRESENT TASTE AND TIMES.
CHAPTER VIII. - WHICH SOME READERS WILL THINK TOO SHORT AND OTHERS TOO LONG.
CHAPTER IX. - CONTAINING AS SURPRISING AND BLOODY ADVENTURES AS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS OR PERHAPS ANY OTHER AUTHENTIC HISTORY.
CHAPTER X. - A DISCOURSE BETWEEN THE POET AND THE PLAYER; OF NO OTHER USE IN THIS HISTORY BUT TO DIVERT THE READER.
CHAPTER XI. - CONTAINING THE EXHORTATIONS OF PARSON ADAMS TO HIS FRIEND IN AFFLICTION; CALCULATED FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE READER.
CHAPTER XII. - MORE ADVENTURES, WHICH WE HOPE WILL AS MUCH PLEASE AS SURPRISE THE READER.
CHAPTER XIII. - A CURIOUS DIALOGUE WHICH PASSED BETWEEN MR ABRAHAM ADAMS AND MR PETER POUNCE, BETTER WORTH READING THAN ALL THE WORKS OF COLLEY CIBBER AND MANY OTHERS.

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I. - THE ARRIVAL OF LADY BOOBY AND THE REST AT BOOBY-HALL.
CHAPTER II. - A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MR ABRAHAM ADAMS AND LADY BOOBY.
CHAPTER III. - WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THE LADY AND LAWYER SCOUT.
CHAPTER IV. - A SHORT CHAPTER, BUT VERY FULL OF MATTER; PARTICULARLY THE ARRIVAL OF MR BOOBY AND HIS LADY.
CHAPTER V. - CONTAINING JUSTICE BUSINESS; CURIOUS PRECEDENTS OF DEPOSITIONS, AND OTHER MATTERS NECESSARY TO BE PERUSED BY ALL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND THEIR CLERKS.
CHAPTER VI. - OF WHICH YOU ARE DESIRED TO READ NO MORE THAN YOU LIKE.
CHAPTER VII. - PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS, THE LIKE NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY LIGHT FRENCH ROMANCE. MR BOOBY’S GRAVE ADVICE TO JOSEPH, AND FANNY’S ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAU.
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.
CHAPTER IX. - A VISIT WHICH THE POLITE LADY BOOBY AND HER POLITE FRIEND PAID TO THE PARSON.
CHAPTER X. - THE HISTORY OF TWO FRIENDS, WHICH MAY AFFORD AN USEFUL LESSON TO ALL THOSE PERSONS WHO HAPPEN TO TAKE UP THEIR RESIDENCE IN MARRIED FAMILIES.
CHAPTER XI. - IN WHICH THE HISTORY IS CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XII. - WHERE THE GOOD-NATURED READER WILL SEE SOMETHING WHICH WILL GIVE HIM NO GREAT PLEASURE.
CHAPTER XIII. - THE HISTORY, RETURNING TO THE LADY BOOBY, GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF THE TERRIBLE CONFLICT IN HER BREAST BETWEEN LOVE AND PRIDE; WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON THE PRESENT DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER XIV. - CONTAINING SEVERAL CURIOUS NIGHT-ADVENTURES, IN WHICH MR ADAMS FELL INTO MANY HAIR-BREADTH ’SCAPES, PARTLY OWING TO HIS GOODNESS, AND PARTLY TO HIS INADVERTENCY.
CHAPTER XV. - THE ARRIVAL OF GAFFAR AND GAMMAR ANDREWS, WITH ANOTHER PERSON NOT MUCH EXPECTED; AND A PERFECT SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTIES RAISED BY THE PEDLAR.
CHAPTER XVI. - BEING THE LAST, IN WHICH THIS TRUE HISTORY IS BROUGHT TO A HAPPY CONCLUSION.

DOVER · THRIFT · EDITIONS

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

OF WRITING LIVES IN GENERAL, AND PARTICULARLY OF PAMELA; WITH A WORD BY THE BYE OF COLLEY CIBBER AND OTHERS.

IT IS A trite but true observation, that examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts: and if this be just in what is odious and blameable, it is more strongly so in what is amiable and praiseworthy. Here emulation most effectually operates upon us, and inspires our imitation in an irresistible manner. A good man therefore is a standing lesson to all his acquaintance, and of far greater use in that narrow circle than a good book.

But as it often happens that the best men are but little known, and consequently cannot extend the usefulness of their examples a great way; the writer may be called in aid to spread their history farther, and to present the amiable pictures to those who have not the happiness of knowing the originals; and so, by communicating such valuable patterns to the world, he may perhaps do a more extensive service to mankind than the person whose life originally afforded the pattern.

In this light I have always regarded those biographers who have recorded the actions of great and worthy persons of both sexes. Not to mention those ancient writers which of late days are little read, being written in obsolete, and as they are generally thought, unintelligible languages, such as Plutarch, Nepos, and others which I heard of in my youth; our own language affords many of excellent use and instruction, finely calculated to sow the seeds of virtue in youth, and very easy to be comprehended by persons of moderate capacity. Such as the history of John the Great, who, by his brave and heroic actions against men of large and athletic bodies, obtained the glorious appellation of the Giant-killer; that of an earl of Warwick, whose Christian name was Guy; the lives of Argalus and Parthenia; and above all, the history of those seven worthy personages, the Champions of Christendom. In all these delight is mixed with instruction, and the reader is almost as much improved as entertained.

But I pass by these and many others to mention two books lately published, which represent an admirable pattern of the amiable in either sex. The former of these, which deals in male virtue, was written by the great person himself, who lived the life he hath recorded, and is by many thought to have lived such a life only in order to write it. The other is communicated to us by an historian who borrows his lights, as the common method is, from authentic papers and records. The reader, I believe, already conjectures, I mean the lives of Mr Colley Cibber and of Mrs Pamela Andrews.