Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/11

2 would avoid any Reemblance to that Kind of Hitory which a celebrated Poet eems to think is no les calculated for the Emolument of the Brewer, as the reading it hould be always attended with a Tankard of good Ale.

While—Hitory with her Comrade Ale

Sooths the ad Series of her erious Tale.

For as this is the Liquor of modern Hitorians, nay, perhaps their Mue, if we may believe the Opinion of Butler, who attributes Inpiration to Ale, it ought likewie to be the Potation of their Readers; ince every Book ought to be read with the ame Spirit, and in the ame Manner, as it is writ. Thus the famous Author of Hurlothrumbo told a learned Bihop, that the Reaon his Lordhip could not tate the Excellence of his Piece, was, that he did not read it with a Fiddle in his Hand; which Intrument he himelf had always had in his own, when he compoed it.

That our Work, therefore, might be in no Danger of being likened to the Labours of thee Hitorians, we have taken every Occaion of interpering through the whole undry Similes, Decriptions, and other