The History of Tom Jones a Foundling V1 Author:Henry Fielding Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE HISTORY OF A FOUNDLING. BOOK I. Containing as much of the birth of the Foundling as is necessary or proper to acquaint the reader tvith in the begin... more »ning of this history. CHAPTER I. The introduction to the Work, or bill of fare to the feast. An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money. In the formercase.it is well known that the entertainer provides what fare he pleases; and, though this should be very indifferent, and utterly disagreeable to the taste of his company, they must not find any fault; nay, on the contrary, good breeding forces them outwardly to approve and to commend whatever is set before them. Now the contrary of this happens to the master of an ordinary. Men, who pay for what they eat, will insist on gratifying their palates, however nice and whimsical these may prove; and, if every thing is not agreeable to their taste, will challenge a right to censure, to abuse, and to d—n their dinner without control. To prevent, therefore, giving offence lo their customersby any such disappointment, it hath been usual with the honest and well-meaning host to provide a bill of fare, which all persons may peruse at their first entrance into the house; and, having thence acquainted themselves with the entertainment which they may expect, may either stay and regale with what is provided for them, or may depart to some other ordinary better accommodated to their taste. As we do not disdain to borrow wit or wisdom from any man who is capable of lending us either, we have condescended to take a hint from these honest victuallers, and shall prefix not only a general bill of fare to our whole entertainment, but...« less