‘And this in many Degrees; the laſt and greateſt of which ſeems ſcarce diſtinguiſhable from Madneſs. I mean, where Perſons of immenſe Fortunes contract themſelves to thoſe who are, and muſt be, diſagreeable to them; to Fools and Knaves, in order to encreaſe an Eſtate, already larger even than the Demands of their Pleaſures. Surely ſuch Perſons, if they will not be thought mad, muſt own, either that they are incapable of taſting the Sweets of the tendereſt Friendſhip, or that they ſacrifice the greateſt Happineſs of which they are capable, to the vain, uncertain, and ſenſeleſs Laws of vulgar Opinion, which owe as well their Force, as their Foundation, to Folly.’
Here Allworthy concluded his Sermon, to which Blifil had liſtened with the profoundeſt Attention, tho’ it coſt him ſome Pains to prevent now and then a ſmall Diſcompoſure of his Muſcles. He now praiſed every Period of what he had heard, with the Warmth of a young Divine who hath the Honour to dine with a Biſhop the ſame Day in which his Lordſhip hath mounted the Pulpit.
CHAP.
