Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/23

 Decency, nor which can offend even the chatet Eye in the Perual. On the contrary, I declare, that to recommend Goodnes and Innocence hath been my incere Endeavour in this Hitory. This honet Purpoe you have been pleaed to think I have attained: And to ay the Truth, it is likeliet to be attained in Books of this Kind; for an Example is a Kind of Picture, in which Virtue becomes as it were an Object of Sight, and trikes us with an Idea of that Lovelines, which Plato aerts there is in her naked Charms.

Beides diplaying that Beauty of Virtue which may attract the Admiration of Mankind, I have attempted to en-