The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Laurence Sterne

Dedication (to a Great Man)

223 of 315 · 2 min of reading

Non enim excursus hic ejus, sed opus ipsum est.

PLIN. Lib. V. Epist. 6.

Si quid urbaniusculè lusum a nobis, per Musas et Charitas et omnium poëtarum Numina, Oro te, ne me malè capias.

A

D E D I C A T I O N

TO

A GREAT MAN

HAVING, a priori, intended to dedicate The Amours of my Uncle Toby to Mr. ***----I see more reasons, a posteriori, for doing it to Lord *******.

I should lament from my soul, if this exposed me to the jealousy of their Reverences; because a posteriori, in Court-latin, signifies the kissing hands for preferment--or any thing else--in order to get it.

DEDICATION

My opinion of Lord ******* is neither better nor worse, than it was of Mr. ***. Honours, like impressions upon coin, may give an ideal and local value to a bit of base metal; but Gold and Silver will pass all the world over without any other recommendation than their own weight.

The same good-will that made me think of offering up half an hour’s amusement to Mr. *** when out of place--operates more forcibly at present, as half an hour’s amusement will be more serviceable and refreshing after labour and sorrow, than after a philosophical repast.

Nothing is so perfectly amusement as a total change of ideas; no ideas are so totally different as those of Ministers, and innocent Lovers: for which reason, when I come to talk of Statesmen and Patriots, and set such marks upon them as will prevent confusion and mistakes concerning them for the future--I propose to dedicate that Volume to some gentle Shepherd,

Whose thoughts proud Science never taught to stray, Far as the Statesman’s walk or Patriot-way; Yet simple Nature to his hopes had given Out of a cloud-capp’d head a humbler heaven; Some untam’d World in depths of wood embraced-- Some happier Island in the wat’ry-waste-- And where admitted to that equal sky, His faithful Dogs should bear him company.

In a word, by thus introducing an entire new set of objects to his Imagination, I shall unavoidably give a Diversion to his passionate and love-sick Contemplations. In the mean time,

I am THE AUTHOR.

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End of part 223 of 315