Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/101

 Charity is condemned by Law as irreligious, we think proper to oberve, that he concluded the whole with aying, ‘Snce [sic] it was her Brother’s Whim to adopt the little Brat, he uppoed little Mater mut be treated with great Tendernes; for her part, he could not help thinking it was an Encouragement to Vice; but that he knew too much of the Obtinacy of Mankind to oppoe any of their ridiculous Humours.’

With reflections of this nature, he uually, as hath been hinted, accompany’d every Act of Compliance with her Brother’s Inclinations; and urely nothing could more contribute to heighten the Merit of this Compliance, than a Declaration that he knew at the ame time the Folly and Unreaonablenes of thoe Inclinations to which he ubmitted. Tacit Obedience implies no Force upon the Will, and conequently may be eaily, and without any Pains preerved; but when a Wife, a Child, a Relation, or a Friend, performs what we deire, with Grumbling, and Reluctance, with Expreions of Dilike and Diatisfaction, the manifet Difficulty which they undergo, mut greatly enhance the Obligation.