Wakingupfromdreams，books，andvisionsofcollegehonors，inwhichfortwoyears，HarryEsmondhadbeenimmersed，hefoundhimself，instantly，onhisreturnhome，inthemidstofthisactualtragedyoflife，whichabsorbedandinterestedhimmorethanallhistutorhadtaughthim。Thepersonswhomhelovedbestintheworld，andtowhomheowedmost，werelivingunhappilytogether。
Thegentlestandkindestofwomenwassufferingillusageandsheddingtearsinsecret:themanwhomadeherwretchedbyneglect，ifnotbyviolence，wasHarry\'sbenefactorandpatron。Inhouseswhere，inplaceofthatsacred，inmostflameoflove，thereisdiscordatthecentre，thewholehouseholdbecomeshypocritical，andeachliestohisneighbor。Thehusband（oritmaybethewife）
lieswhenthevisitorcomesin，andwearsagrinofreconciliationorpolitenessbeforehim。Thewifelies（indeed，herbusinessistodothat，andtosmile，howevermuchsheisbeaten），swallowshertears，andliestoherlordandmaster;liesinbiddinglittleJackeyrespectdearpapa;liesinassuringgrandpapathatsheisperfectlyhappy。Theservantslie，wearinggravefacesbehindtheirmaster\'schair，andpretendingtobeunconsciousofthefighting;andso，frommorningtillbedtime，lifeispassedinfalsehood。Andwiseacrescallthisaproperregardofmorals，andpointoutBaucisandPhilemonasexamplesofagoodlife。
IfmyladydidnotspeakofhergriefstoHarryEsmond，mylordwasbynomeansreservedwheninhiscups，andspokehismindveryfreely，biddingHarryinhiscoarseway，andwithhisbluntlanguage，bewareofallwomenascheats，jades，jilts，andusingotherunmistakablemonosyllablesinspeakingofthem。Indeed，\'twasthefashionoftheday，asImustown;andthere\'snotawriterofmytimeofanynote，withtheexceptionofpoorDickSteele，thatdoesnotspeakofawomanasofaslave，andscornanduseherassuch。Mr。Pope，Mr。Congreve，Mr。Addison，Mr。Gay，everyoneof\'em，singinthiskey，eachaccordingtohisnatureandpoliteness，andlouderandfoulerthanallinabuseisDr。
Swift，whospokeofthemashetreatedthem，worstofall。