Fielding called “the greatness which is totally devoid of goodness.”  He avowed it his intention “to expose the character of this bombast greatness,” and no one can deny the success of his achievement.  Surely no story was ever written under more desperate circumstances.  The evils of poverty, which at this period were at their height, were aggravated by the serious illness of his wife, and his own sufferings from attacks of gout.  These troubles and others may well increase our admiration for the genius which, in the face of all difficulties, is shown in “Jonathan Wild.”

I.—­Mr. Wild’s Early Exploits

Mr. Jonathan Wild, who was descended from a long line of great men, was born in 1665.  His father followed the fortunes of Mr. Snap, who enjoyed a reputable office under the sheriff of London and Middlesex; and his mother was the daughter of Scragg Hollow, Esq., of Hockley-in-the-Hole.  He was scarce settled at school before he gave marks of his lofty and aspiring temper, and was regarded by his schoolfellows with that deference which men generally pay to those superior geniuses who will exact it of them.  If an orchard was to be robbed, Wild was consulted; and though he was himself seldom concerned in the execution of the design, yet was he always concerter of it, and treasurer of the booty, some little part of which he would now and then, with wonderful generosity, bestow on those who took it.  He was generally very secret on these occasions; but if any offered to plunder of his own head without acquainting Master Wild, and making a deposit of the booty, he was sure to have an information against him lodged with the schoolmaster, and to be severely punished for his pains.

At the age of seventeen his father brought the young gentleman to town, where he resided with him till he was of an age to travel.

Men of great genius as easily discover one another as Freemasons can.  It was therefore no wonder that the Count la Ruse—­who was confined in Mr. Snap’s house until the day when he should appear in court to answer a certain creditor—­soon conceived an inclination to an intimacy with our young hero, whose vast abilities could not be concealed from one of the count’s discernment; for though the latter was exceedingly expert at his cards, he was no match for Master Wild, who never failed to send him away from the table with less in his pocket than he brought to it.  With so much ingenuity, indeed, could our young hero extract a purse, that his hands made frequent visits to the count’s pocket before the latter had entertained any suspicion of him.  But one night, when Wild imagined the count asleep, he made so unguarded an attack upon him that the other caught him in the act.  However, he did not think proper to acquaint him with the discovery he had made, but only took care for the future to button his pockets and to pack the cards with double industry.

In reality, this detection recommended these two prigs to each other, for a wise man—­that is to say, a rogue—­considers a trick in life as a gamester doth a trick at play.  It sets him on his guard, but he admires the dexterity of him who plays it.