Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/36

 trongly attached to the Interet only of one ingle Peron; and who that ingle Peron was, the Reader will be able to divine without any Aitance of ours.

Thee two Characters are not always received in the World with the different Regard which eems everally due to either; and which one would imagine Mankind, from Self-interet, should hew towards them. But perhaps there may be a political Reaon for it: In finding one of a truly benevolent Dipoition, Men may very reaonably uppoe, they have found a Treaure, and be deirous of keeping it, like all other good Things, to themelves. Hence they may imagine, that to trumpet forth the Praies of uch a Peron, would, in the vulgar Phrae, be crying Roat-meat; and calling in Partakers of what they intend to apply olely to their own Ue. If this Reaon doth not atisfy the Reader, I know no other Means of accounting for the little Repect which I have commonly een paid to a Character which really doth great Honour to Human Nature, and is productive of the highet Good to Society. But it was otherwie with Sophia. She honoured Tom Jones, and corned Mater Blifil, almot as