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treasure to an accomplice who set a pistol to his head。 But it is certain
that the accomplice died at Tyburn for his pains； and on equal terms
Jonathan was resolute with the best。 On the trail he was savage as a wild
beast。 When he arrested James Wright for a robbery committed upon the
persons of the Earl of Bln and the Lord Bruce； he held on to the
victim's chin by his teethan exploit which reminds you of the illustrious
Tiger Roche。
Even in his lifetime he was generously styled the Great。 The scourge
of London； he betrayed and destroyed every man that ever dared to live
upon terms of friendship with him。 It was Jonathan that made Blueskin a
thief； and Jonathan screened his creature from justice only so long as
clemency seemed profitable。 At the first hint of disobedience Blueskin
was committed to Newgate。 When he had stood his trial； and was being
taken to the Condemned Hole； he beckoned to Wild as though to a
conference； and cut his throat with a penknife。 The assembled rogues
and turnkeys thought their Jonathan dead at last； and rejoiced exceedingly
therein。 Straightway the poet of Newgate's Garland leaped into verse：
Then hopeless of life； He drew his penknife；
And made a sad widow of Jonathan's wife。 But forty pounds paid
her； her grief shall appease； And every man round me may rob； if he
please。
But Jonathan recovered； and Molly； his wife； was destined a second
time to win the conspicuous honour that belongs to a hempen widow。
As his career drew to its appointed close； Fortune withheld her smiles。
‘People got so peery；' complained the great man； ‘that ingenious men were
put to dreadful shifts。' And then； highest tribute to his greatness； an Act
of Parliament was passed which made it a capital offence ‘for a prig to
steal with the hands of other people'； and in the increase of public
vigilance his undoing became certain。 On the 2nd of January； 1725； a
day not easy to forget； a creature of Wild's spoke with fifty yards of lace；
worth 40； at his Captain's bidding； and Wild； having otherwise
disposed of the plunder； was charged on the 10th of March that he ‘did
feloniously receive of Katharine Stetham ten guineas on account and
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under colour of helping the said Katharine Stetham to the said lace again；
and did not then； nor any time since； discover or apprehend； or cause to be
apprehended and brought to Justice； the persons that committed the said
felony。' Thus runs the indictment； and； to the inexpressible relief of
lesser men； Jonathan Wild was condemned to the gallows。
Thereupon he had serious thoughts of ‘putting his house in order'； with
an ironical smile he demanded an explanation of the text： ‘Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree'； but； presently reflecting that ‘his Time
was but short in this World； he improved it to the best advantage in Eating；
Drinking； Swearing； Cursing； and talking to his Visitants。' For all his
bragging； drink alone preserved his courage： ‘he was very restless in the
Condemned Hole；' though ‘he gave little or no attention to the condemned
Sermon which the purblind Ordinary preached before him；' and which was；
in Fielding's immortal phrase； ‘unto the Greeks foolishness。' But in the
moment of death his distinction returned to him。 He tried； and failed； to
kill himself； and his progress to the nubbing cheat was a triumph of
execration。 He reached Tyburn through a howling mob； and died to a
yell of universal joy。
The Ordinary has left a record so precious and so lying； that it must
needs be quoted at length。 The great Thief…Catcher's confession is a
masterpiece of comfort； and is so far removed from the truth as completely
to justify Fielding's incomparable creation。 ‘Finding there was no room
for mercy （and how could I expect mercy； who never showed any）'thus
does the devil dodger dishonour our Jonathan's memory！‘as soon as I
came into the Condemned Hole； I began to think of making a preparation
for my soul。 。 。 。 To part with my wife； my dear Molly； is so great an
Affliction to me； that it touches me to the Quick； and is like Daggers
entering into my Heart。' How tame the Ordinary's falsehood to the
brilliant invention of Fielding； who makes Jonathan kick his Tishy in the
very shadow of the Tree！ And the Reverend Gentleman gains in unction
as he goes： ‘In the Cart they all kneeled down to prayers and seemed
very penitent； the Ordinary used all the means imaginable to make them
think of another World； and after singing a penitential Psalm； they cry'd
Lord Jesus Christ receive our Souls； the cart drew away and they were all
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turned off。 This is as good an account as can be given by me。' Poor
Ordinary！ If he was modest； he was also untruthful； and you are certain
that it was not thus the hero met his death。
Even had Fielding never written his masterpiece； Jonathan Wild would
still have been surnamed ‘The Great。' For scarce a chap… book appeared
in the year of Jonathan's death that did not expose the only right and true
view of his character。 ‘His business；' says one hack of prison literature；
‘at all times was to put a false gloss upon things； and to make fools of
mankind。' Another precisely formulates the theory of greatness insisted
upon by Fielding with so lavish an irony and so masterly a wit。 While it
is certain that The History of the Late Mr。 Jonathan Wild is as noble a
piece of irony as literature can show； while for the qualities of wit and
candour it is equal to its motive； it is likewise true that therein you meet
the indubitable Jonathan Wild。 It is an entertainment to compare the
chap…books of the time with the reasoned； finished work of art： not in any
spirit of pedantrysince accuracy in these matters is of small account； but
with intent to show how doubly fortunate Fielding was in his genius and in
his material。 Of course the writer rejoiced in the aid of imagination and
eloquence； of course he embellished his picture with such inspirations as
Miss Laetitia and the Count； of course he preserves from the first page to
the last the highest level of unrivalled irony。 But the sketch was there
before him； and a lawyer's clerk had treated Jonathan in a vein of heroism
within a few weeks of his death。 And since a plain statement is never so
true as fiction； Fielding's romance is still more credible； still convinces
with an easier effort； than the serious and pedestrian records of
contemporaries。 Nor can you return to its pages without realising that； so
far from being ‘the evolution of a purely intellectual conception；' Jonathan
Wild is a magnificently idealised and ironical portrait of a great man。
III A PARALLEL
（MOLL CUTPURSE AND JONATHAN WILD）
THEY plied the same trade； each with incomparable success。 By her；
as by him； the art of the fence was carried to its ultimate perfection。 In
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their hands the high policy of theft wanted nor dignity nor assurance。
Neither harboured a single scheme which was not straightway translated
into action； and they were masters at once of Newgate and the Highway。
As none might rob without the encouragement of his emperor； so none
was hanged at Tyburn while intrigue or bribery might avail to drag a half…
doomed neck from the halter； and not even Moll herself was more bitterly
tyrannical in the control of a reckless gang than the thin…jawed； hatchet…
faced Jonathan Wild。
They were statesmen rather than warriorshappy if they might direct
the enterprises of others； and determined to punish the lightest
disobedience by death。 The mind of each was readier than his right arm；
and neither would risk an easy advantage by a misunderstood or unwonted
sleight of hand。 But when you leave the exercise of their craft to
contemplate their character with a larger eye； it is the woman who at every
point has the advantage。 Not only was she the peerless inventor of a new
cunning； she was at home （and abroad） the better fellow。 The
suppression of sex was in itself an unparalleled triumph； and the most
envious detractor could not but marvel at the domination of her
womanhood。 Moreover； she shone in a gayer； more splendid epoch。
The worthy contemporary of Shakespeare； she had small difficulty in
performing feats of prowess and resource which daunted the intrepid
ruffians of the eighteenth century。 Her period； in brief； gave her an
eternal superiority； and it were as hopeless for Otway to surpass the master
whom he disgraced； as for Wild to o'ershadow the brilliant example of
Moll Cutpurse。