Joseph Andrews, vol 2 | Page 3

sorry for the
mistake, but that he must blame his wife," adding, "she was a fool, and
always committed blunders." He then desired him to walk in and clean
himself, that he would only fasten up the stye and follow him. Adams
desired leave to dry his greatcoat, wig, and hat by the fire, which
Trulliber granted. Mrs Trulliber would have brought him a basin of
water to wash his face, but her husband bid her be quiet like a fool as
she was, or she would commit more blunders, and then directed Adams
to the pump. While Adams was thus employed, Trulliber, conceiving
no great respect for the appearance of his guest, fastened the parlour
door, and now conducted him into the kitchen, telling him he believed a
cup of drink would do him no harm, and whispered his wife to draw a
little of the worst ale. After a short silence Adams said, "I fancy, sir,
you already perceive me to be a clergyman."--"Ay, ay," cries Trulliber,
grinning, "I perceive you have some cassock; I will not venture to caale
it a whole one." Adams answered, "It was indeed none of the best, but
he had the misfortune to tear it about ten years ago in passing over a
stile." Mrs Trulliber, returning with the drink, told her husband, "She
fancied the gentleman was a traveller, and that he would be glad to eat
a bit." Trulliber bid her hold her impertinent tongue, and asked her, "If
parsons used to travel without horses?" adding, "he supposed the
gentleman had none by his having no boots on."--"Yes, sir, yes," says
Adams; "I have a horse, but I have left him behind me."--"I am glad to
hear you have one," says Trulliber; "for I assure you I don't love to see
clergymen on foot; it is not seemly nor suiting the dignity of the cloth."
Here Trulliber made a long oration on the dignity of the cloth (or rather
gown) not much worth relating, till his wife had spread the table and set
a mess of porridge on it for his breakfast. He then said to Adams, "I
don't know, friend, how you came to caale on me; however, as you are
here, if you think proper to eat a morsel, you may." Adams accepted the
invitation, and the two parsons sat down together; Mrs Trulliber
waiting behind her husband's chair, as was, it seems, her custom.
Trulliber eat heartily, but scarce put anything in his mouth without
finding fault with his wife's cookery. All which the poor woman bore

patiently. Indeed, she was so absolute an admirer of her husband's
greatness and importance, of which she had frequent hints from his
own mouth, that she almost carried her adoration to an opinion of his
infallibility. To say the truth, the parson had exercised her more ways
than one; and the pious woman had so well edified by her husband's
sermons, that she had resolved to receive the bad things of this world
together with the good. She had indeed been at first a little contentious;
but he had long since got the better; partly by her love for this, partly
by her fear of that, partly by her religion, partly by the respect he paid
himself, and partly by that which he received from the parish. She had,
in short, absolutely submitted, and now worshipped her husband, as
Sarah did Abraham, calling him (not lord, but) master. Whilst they
were at table her husband gave her a fresh example of his greatness; for,
as she had just delivered a cup of ale to Adams, he snatched it out of
his hand, and, crying out, "I caal'd vurst," swallowed down the ale.
Adams denied it; it was referred to the wife, who, though her
conscience was on the side of Adams, durst not give it against her
husband; upon which he said, "No, sir, no; I should not have been so
rude to have taken it from you if you had caal'd vurst, but I'd have you
know I'm a better man than to suffer the best he in the kingdom to drink
before me in my own house when I caale vurst."
As soon as their breakfast was ended, Adams began in the following
manner: "I think, sir, it is high time to inform you of the business of my
embassy. I am a traveller, and am passing this way in company with
two young people, a lad and a damsel, my parishioners, towards my
own cure; we stopt at a house of hospitality in the parish, where they
directed me to you as having the cure."--"Though I am but a curate,"
says Trulliber, "I believe I am as warm as the vicar himself, or perhaps
the rector of the