An Apology For All Heroes Who Have Good Stomachs, With a Description of a Battle of the Amorous Kind
- Tom settles down and inhales a ton of food, since it's been a full day since he last ate anything.
- As he is eating, Mrs. Waters sits and thinks about something else: Tom's attractiveness.
- He is, after all, "one of the handsomest young fellows in the world." (9.5.5)
- Not only is he handsome but he has also just rescued Mrs. Waters from an attacker.
- Of course she is going to think he's awesome.
- She wants to be attractive to Tom, as well.
- (Here, Fielding gives us another parody of classical poetic style, sort of like the mock-Homer passages in Book 4, Chapter 8.)
- Here are the "weapons" (9.5.12) that Mrs. Waters uses to seduce Tom:
- (1) two blue eyes (which Tom ignores in favor of his roast beef); and
- (2) a deep sigh (which he can't hear over the bubbling of his beer).
- Tom is concentrating so hard on eating that love doesn't really enter into his mind.
- Mrs. Waters decides to hold off on seducing Tom until he's finished dining.
- Once, he's done, though, she breaks out the big guns: a shy gaze that immediately gets Tom's attention.
- She follows up the shy look with a friendly smile.
- Tom notices and likes what he sees.
- Mrs. Waters drops the handkerchief from her neck.
- And Tom surrenders to her charms. Bow chicka bow bow!