Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/209

 Motives, he grew weary of this Condecention, and began to treat the Opinions of his Wife with that Haughtines and Inolence, which none but thoe who deerve ome Contempt themelves can betow, and thoe only who deerve no Contempt can bear.

When the firt Torrent of Tendernes was over, and when in the calm and long Interval between the Fits, Reaon began to open the Eyes of the Lady, and he aw this Alteration of Behaviour in the Captain, who at length anwered all her Arguments only with Pih and Phaw, he was far from enduring the Indignity with a tame Submiion. Indeed, it at firt o highly provoked her, that it might have produced ome tragical Event, had it not taken a more harmles Turn, by filling her with the utmot Contempt for her Huband’s Undertanding, which omewhat qualified her Hatred towards him; tho’ of this likewie, he had a pretty moderate Share.

The Captain’s Hatred to her was of a purer Kind: For as to any Imperfections in her Knowledge or Undertanding, he no more depied her for them than for her not being ix Feet high. In his Opinion of the female Sex, he exceeded the Moroenes of