Joseph Andrews, vol 2 | Page 6

sallied out all round the parish, but to no purpose; he returned as
pennyless as he went, groaning and lamenting that it was possible, in a
country professing Christianity, for a wretch to starve in the midst of
his fellow-creatures who abounded.
Whilst he was gone, the hostess, who stayed as a sort of guard with
Joseph and Fanny, entertained them with the goodness of parson
Trulliber. And, indeed, he had not only a very good character as to
other qualities in the neighbourhood, but was reputed a man of great
charity; for, though he never gave a farthing, he had always that word
in his mouth.
Adams was no sooner returned the second time than the storm grew
exceedingly high, the hostess declaring, among other things, that, if

they offered to stir without paying her, she would soon overtake them
with a warrant.
Plato and Aristotle, or somebody else, hath said, _that when the most
exquisite cunning fails, chance often hits the mark, and that by means
the least expected_. Virgil expresses this very boldly:--
_Turne, quod optanti divum promittere nemo Auderet, volvenda dies,
en! attulit ultro._
I would quote more great men if I could; but my memory not
permitting me, I will proceed to exemplify these observations by the
following instance:--
There chanced (for Adams had not cunning enough to contrive it) to be
at that time in the alehouse a fellow who had been formerly a drummer
in an Irish regiment, and now travelled the country as a pedlar. This
man, having attentively listened to the discourse of the hostess, at last
took Adams aside, and asked him what the sum was for which they
were detained. As soon as he was informed, he sighed, and said, "He
was sorry it was so much; for that he had no more than six shillings and
sixpence in his pocket, which he would lend them with all his heart."
Adams gave a caper, and cry'd out, "It would do; for that he had
sixpence himself." And thus these poor people, who could not engage
the compassion of riches and piety, were at length delivered out of their
distress by the charity of a poor pedlar.
I shall refer it to my reader to make what observations he pleases on
this incident: it is sufficient for me to inform him that, after Adams and
his companions had returned him a thousand thanks, and told him
where he might call to be repaid, they all sallied out of the house
without any compliments from their hostess, or indeed without paying
her any; Adams declaring he would take particular care never to call
there again; and she on her side assuring them she wanted no such
guests.

CHAPTER XVI.
_A very curious adventure, in which Mr Adams gave a much greater
instance of the honest simplicity of his heart, than of his experience in
the ways of this world._
Our travellers had walked about two miles from that inn, which they
had more reason to have mistaken for a castle than Don Quixote ever
had any of those in which he sojourned, seeing they had met with such
difficulty in escaping out of its walls, when they came to a parish, and
beheld a sign of invitation hanging out. A gentleman sat smoaking a
pipe at the door, of whom Adams inquired the road, and received so
courteous and obliging an answer, accompanied with so smiling a
countenance, that the good parson, whose heart was naturally disposed
to love and affection, began to ask several other questions; particularly
the name of the parish, and who was the owner of a large house whose
front they then had in prospect. The gentleman answered as obligingly
as before; and as to the house, acquainted him it was his own. He then
proceeded in the following manner: "Sir, I presume by your habit you
are a clergyman; and as you are travelling on foot I suppose a glass of
good beer will not be disagreeable to you; and I can recommend my
landlord's within as some of the best in all this country. What say you,
will you halt a little and let us take a pipe together? there is no better
tobacco in the kingdom." This proposal was not displeasing to Adams,
who had allayed his thirst that day with no better liquor than what Mrs
Trulliber's cellar had produced; and which was indeed little superior,
either in richness or flavour, to that which distilled from those grains
her generous husband bestowed on his hogs. Having, therefore,
abundantly thanked the gentleman for his kind invitation, and bid
Joseph and Fanny follow him, he entered the alehouse, where a large
loaf and cheese and a pitcher of beer, which truly answered the
character given of it,