Fielding, Henry

                                     Amelia

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                                 Henry Fielding

                                     Amelia

                              To Ralph Allen, Esq;

Sir,
    The following Book is sincerely designed to promote the Cause of Virtue, and
to expose some of the most glaring Evils, as well public as private, which at
present infest the Country; tho' there is scarce, as I remember, a single Stroke
of Satire aimed at any one Person throughout the whole.
    The best Man is the properest Patron of such an Attempt. This, I believe,
will be readily granted; nor will the public Voice, I think, be more divided, to
whom they shall give that Appellation. Should a Letter indeed be thus inscribed,
Detur Optimo, there are few Persons who would think it wanted any other
Direction.
    I will not trouble you with a Preface concerning the Work; nor endeavour to
obviate any Criticisms which can be made on it. The goodnatured Reader, if his
Heart should be here affected, will be inclined to pardon many Faults for the
Pleasure he will receive from a tender Sensation; and for Readers of a different
Stamp, the more Faults they can discover, the more, I am convinced, they will be
pleased.
    Nor will I assume the fulsome Stile of common Dedicators. I have not their
usual Design in this Epistle; nor will I borrow their Language. Long, very long
may it be before a most dreadful Circumstance shall make it possible for any Pen
to draw a just and true Character of yourself, without incurring a Suspicion of
Flattery in the Bosoms of the Malignant. This Task, therefore, I shall defer
till that Day (if I should be so unfortunate as ever to see it) when every good
Man shall pay a Tear for the Satisfaction of his Curiosity; a Day which at
present, I believe, there is but one good Man in the World who can think of with
Unconcern.
    Accept then, Sir, this small Token of that Love, that Gratitude, and that
Respect, with which I shall always esteem it my greatest Honour to be,
                                                                            SIR,
                                                              Your most obliged,
                                                               And most obedient
                                                                 Humble Servant,
                                                                 Henry Fielding.
 
Bow Street,
Dec. 12, 1751.
 

                                     Book I

                                   Chapter I

                         Containing the Exordium, etc.

The various Accidents which befel a very worthy Couple, after