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THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT GREAVES
by Tobias Smollett
With the Author's Preface, and an Introduction by G. H. Maynadier, Ph.D.
Department of English, Harvard University
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
I In which certain Personages of this delightful History are
introduced to the Reader's Acquaintance
II In which the Hero of these Adventures makes his First
Appearance on the Stage of Action
III Which the Reader, on perusal, may wish were Chapter the last
IV In which it appears that the Knight, when heartily set in for
sleeping, was not easily disturbed
V In which this Recapitulation draws to a close
VI In which the Reader will perceive that in some Cases Madness
is catching
VII In which the Knight resumes his Importance
VIII Which is within a hair's-breadth of proving highly
interesting will interest the Curiosity of the Reader
IX Which may serve to show, that true Patriotism is of no Party
X Which showeth that he who plays at Bowls, will sometimes meet
with Rubbers
XI Description of a modern Magistrate
XII Which shows there are more Ways to kill a Dog than Hanging
XIII In which our Knight is tantalised with a transient Glimpse
of Felicity
XIV Which shows that a Man cannot always sip, when the Cup is
at his Lip
XV Exhibiting an Interview, which, it is to be hoped, will
interest the Curiosity of the Reader
XVI Which, it is to be hoped, the Reader will find an agreeable
Medley of Mirth and Madness, Sense and Absurdity
XVII Containing Adventures of Chivalry equally new and surprising
XVIII In which the Rays of Chivalry shine with renovated Lustre
XIX Containing the Achievements of the Knights of the Griffin and
Crescent
XX In which our Hero descends into the Mansions of the Damned
XXI Containing further Anecdotes relating to the Children of
Wretchedness
XXII In which Captain Crowe is sublimed into the Regions of
Astrology
XXIII In which the Clouds that cover the Catastrophe begin to
disperse
XXIV The Knot that puzzles human Wisdom, the Hand of Fortune
sometimes will untie familiar as her Garter
XXV Which, it is to be hoped, will be, on more accounts than one,
agreeable to the Reader
INTRODUCTION
It was on the great northern road from York to London, about the
beginning of the month of October, and the hour of eight in the evening,
that four travellers were, by a violent shower of rain, driven for
shelter into a little public-house on the side of the highway,
distinguished by a sign which was said to exhibit the figure of a black
lion. The kitchen, in which they assembled, was the only room for
entertainment in the house, paved with red bricks, remarkably clean,
furnished with three or four Windsor chairs, adorned with shining plates
of pewter, and copper saucepans, nicely scoured, that even dazzled the
eyes of the beholder; while a cheerful fire of sea-coal blazed in the
chimney.
It would be hard to find a better beginning for a wholesome novel of
English life, than these first two sentences in The Adventures of Sir
Launcelot Greaves. They are full of comfort and promise. They promise
that we shall get rapidly into the story; and so we do. They give us the
hope, in which we are not to be disappointed, that we shall see a good
deal of those English inns which to this day are delightful in reality,
and which to generations of readers, have been delightful in fancy.
Truly, English fiction, without its inns, were as much poorer as the
English country, without these same hostelries, were less comfortable.
For few things in the world has the so-called "Anglo-Saxon" race more
reason to be grateful than for good old English inns. Finally there is a
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