In all nice and ticklish discussions,—(of which, heaven knows, there
are but too many in my book)—where I find I cannot take a step without
the danger of having either their worships or their reverences upon my
back——I write one-half _full_,—and t’other _fasting;_——or write it all
full,—and correct it fasting;——or write it fasting,—and correct it
full, for they all come to the same thing:——So that with a less
variation from my father’s plan, than my father’s from the _Gothick_—I
feel myself upon a par with him in his first bed of justice,—and no way
inferior to him in his second.——These different and almost
irreconcileable effects, flow uniformly from the wise and wonderful
mechanism of nature,—of which,—be her’s the honour.——All that we can
do, is to turn and work the machine to the improvement and better
manufactory of the arts and sciences.——
Now, when I write full,—I write as if I was never to write fasting
again as long as I live;——that is, I write free from the cares as well
as the terrors of the world.——I count not the number of my scars,—nor
does my fancy go forth into dark entries and bye-corners to ante-date
my stabs.——In a word, my pen takes its course; and I write on as much
from the fulness of my heart, as my stomach.——
But when, an’ please your honours, I indite fasting, ’tis a different
history.——I pay the world all possible attention and respect,—and have
as great a share (whilst it lasts) of that under strapping virtue of
discretion as the best of you.——So that betwixt both, I write a
careless kind of a civil, nonsensical, good-humoured _Shandean_ book,
which will do all your hearts good——
——And all your heads too,—provided you understand it.