Henry Fielding

“ All these Matters, Sir, we doubt not to prove to your Satisfaction, and then we doubt not but that you will do exemplary Justice to such intolerable sad Stuff, and, will pass such a Sentence as may be a dreadful Example to all future Books, how they dare stand up in Opposition to the Humour of the Age. A great Noise was now heard in the Court, and much female Vociferation; when the Censor was informed, that it was a married Lady, one of the Witnesses against Amelia, who was scolding at her Husband for not making her Way through the Crowd. ”

“ It raises my Indignation to read Beauty, Sense, Merit, and all Qualifications necessary to render the married State happy, at the End of every married Woman's Name, while a profound Silence is always preserved with regard to the Merits of the Husband. Good Mr. Censor, are we to understand by this that all Men are possessed of those Qualifications which can render the married State happy, or that there are really no Qualifications necessary on the Part of the Man ”

“ When the ambitious Man is sitting alone, and revolving in his Mind all his various Schemes for raising himself to the highest Pinnacle of Greatness, we know that he is too much wrapped up in his own Thoughts to give Attention to any outward Sound. ”

“ Dosewell, my Physician, told me so. -- The Doctor said, in a great deal of Company, that the Book, I forget the Name of it, was a sad stupid Book, and that the Author had not a Bit of Wit, or Learning, or Sense, or any Thing else. COURT. Mr. Town, you know this is only Hearsay, and not Evidence.-- C. TOWN. I do not contend for it. We shall call the Doctor himself by and by. -- We will give your Ladyship no further Trouble. L. DILLY. --I am heartily glad of it.-- Mr. Censor, if you are the Judge, I beg, as you have brought me into this odious Place, you will see me safe out again. ”

“ If we can present ourselves before a Fox-hunter in his Chace, he swiftly rides over us. If we attempt to engage one Moment's attention from the Hero marching at the Head of his Army to destroy his Fellow-Creatures, instead of listening to us, he immediately orders his Drums, and Trumpets, to strike up ”

“ Harrison, and Amelia herself, to have made a Jest of Religion, and the Clergy, of Virtue, and Innocence? Here the Council was hastily stopt by the Censor, and desired to proceed to his Proofs. TOWN. We shall prove then, to you, Sir, that the Book now at the Bar, is very sad Stuff; that Amelia herself is a low Character, a Fool, and a Milksop; that she is very apt to faint, and apt to drink Water, to prevent it. That she once taps a Bottle of Wine, and drinks two Glasses. That she shews too much Kindness for her Children, and is too apt to forgive the Faults of her Husband. ”

“ But if, by Accident, this great Man falls from all his Glory, and comes into Disgrace, the large Company which before hid, and almost stifled, us, instantly vanish, and he then wonders he had not before seen us, and harkened to our Voice. The Lover, whenever we apply to him, puffs us away with his Sighs ”