that the pofterity of fome of the most liberal con-
tributors here, in the changes which one century
may produce, may poffibly find shelter under
this very plant which now they fo kindly water.
Nay fo quickly fometimes has the wheel turn-
ed round, that many a man has lived to enjoy
the benefit of that charity which his own piety
projected.
SERMON V. P. 98.

YORICK'S OPINION OF GRAVITY.

SOM

OMETIMES, in his wild way of talking, would fay that Gravity was an errant fcoundrel; and he would add, of the most dan-gerous kind too, becaufe a fly one; and that he verily believed, more honeft, well-meaning people were bubbled out of their goods and money by it in one twelvemonth, than by pocketpicking and fhop-lifting in feven. In the naked temper which a merry heart discovered, he would fay there was no danger,-but to it felf: -whereas the very effence of gravity was defign, and confequently deceit ;-'twas a taught trick to gain credit of the world for more fenfe and knowledge than a man was worth; and that, with all its pretenfions,it was no better, but often worfe than what a French wit had long ago defined it, viz.-A mysterious carri-. age of the body to cover the defects of the mind. T. SHANDY, VOL. I. C. 2.

1

REFLECTION UPON MAN.

WHE

THEN I reflect upon man; and take view of that dark side of him which reprefents his life as open to fo many causes of trouble-when I confider how oft we eat the bread of affliction, and that we are born to it, as to the portion of our inheritance-when one runs over the catalogue of all the cross reckonings and forrowful items with which the heart of man is overcharged, 'tis wonderful by what hidden refources, the mind is enabled to stand it out, and bear itself up, as it does against the impofitions laid upon our nature.

T. SHANDY, VOL. II. C. 42.

R

REVENGE.

EVENGE from fome baneful corner fhall level a tale of dishonour at thee, which no innocence of heart or integrity of conduct shall fet right.

The fortunes of thy houfe fhall torter, thy character, which led the way to them, shall bleed on every fide of it,thy faith questioned,

thy works belied,thy wit forgotten,-thy learning trampled on. To wind up the last scene

of

of thy tragedy, CRUELTY and CoWARDICE, twin ruffians, hired and fet on by MALICE in the dark, shall strike together at all thy infirmi ,ties and mistakes: the beft of us lie open there, -and trust me,-truft me,-when, to gratify a private appetite, it is once refolved upon, that an innocent and an helpless creature fhall be facrificed, 'tis an eafy matter to pick up sticks enow from any thicket where it has trayed, to make a fire to offer it up with.

T. SHANDY, V. I. C. 12.

EJACULATION.

TIM

IME waftes too faft: every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity life follows my pen; the days and hours of it, more precious, my dear Jenny! than the rubies about thy neck, are flying over our heads like light clouds of a windy day, never to return more-every thing preffes on whilft thou art twisting that lock,→ fee! it grows grey; and every time I kifs thy hand to bid adieu, and every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal feparation which we are shortly to make.

T. SHANDY, V. IV. c. 67.1

TH

FATALITY.

HERE is a fatality attends the actions of fome men: order them as they will, they pass through a certain medium which so twifts and refracts them from their true directions— that, with all the titles to praise which a recti'tude of heart can give, the doers of them are nevertheless forced to live and die without it.

T. SHANDY, V. I. C. 10.

CONJUGAL HAPPINESS.

IT

T moft have been obferved by many a peripatetic philofopher, that nature has fet up sby her own unquestionable authority certain boundaries and fences to circumfcribe the difcon

१

tent of man: she has effected her purpose in the quieteft and easiest manner by laying him under almost insuperable obligations to work out his ease, and to sustain his fufferings at home. It is there only that she has provided him with the moft fuitable objects to partake of his happiness, and bear a part of that burden which, in all countries and ages, has ever been too heavy for one pair of shoulders. 'Tis true we are endued with an imperfect power of fpreading our happiness fometimes beyond her limits, but 'tis fo ordered, that from the want of languages, con

nections,

neations, and dependencies, and from the dif ference in education, customs and habits, we lie under fo many impediments in communicating our fenfations out of our own fphere, as often amount to a total im poffibility.

W

SENT. JOURNEY, P. 13.

LIFE OF MAN,

HAT is the life of man! is it not to shift from fide to fide!from forrow to forrow?-to button up onè cause of vexation; and unbutton another!

T. SHANDY, VOL. II. c. 66.

TRIM'S EXPLANATION

OF THE

FIFTH COMMANDMENT.

RY'THEE, Trim, quoth my father,What do'st thou mean, by "honouring thy father and mother?"

Allowing them, an' please your honour, three halfpence a-day out of my pay, when they grew old. And didst thou do that, Trim? faid Yorick.

He