Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/86

 he in her Conduct, that her Prudence was as much on the Guard, as if he had had all the Snares to apprehend which were ever laid for her whole Sex. Indeed, I have oberved (tho’ it may eem unaccountable to the Reader) that this Guard of Prudence, like the Trained Bands, is always readiet to go on Duty where there is the leat Danger. It often baely and cowardly deerts thoe Paragons for whom the Men are all wihing, ighing, dying, and preading every Net in their Power; and contantly attends at the Heels of that higher Order of Women, for whom the other Sex have a more ditant and awful Repect, and whom, (from Depair, I uppoe, of Succes) they never venture to attack.

Reader, I think proper, before we proceed any farther together, to acquaint thee, that I intend to digres, through this whole Hitory, as often as I ee Occaion: Of which I am myelf a better Judge than any pitiful Critic whatever; and here I mut deire all thoe Critics to mind their own Buines, and not to intermeddle with Affairs, or Works, which no ways concern them: For, till they produce the Authority by which they are contituted Judges, I hall plead to their Juridiction.