Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/111

 hould execute that Power, becaue you have, in a manner, laid your Sins at my Door.

‘But perhaps this is one Reaon which hath determined me to act in a milder Manner with you: For, as no private Reentment hould ever influence a Magitrate, I will be o far from conidering your having depoited the Infant in my Houe, as an Aggravation of your Offence, that I will uppoe, in your Favour, this to have proceeded from a natural Affection to your Child; ince you might have ome Hopes to ee it thus better provided for, than was in the Power of yourelf, or its wicked Father, to provide for it. I hould indeed have been highly offended with you, had you expoed the little Wretch in the Manner of ome inhuman Mothers, who eem no les to have abandoned their Humanity, than to have parted with their Chatity. It is the other Part of your Offence therefore upon which I intend to admonih you, I mean the Violation of your Chatity. A Crime, however lightly it may be treated by debauched Perons, very heinous in itelf, and very dreadful in its Conequences.