The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman

Opening of the book

THE
LIFE AND OPINIONS
OF
TRISTRAM SHANDY,
GENTLEMAN
by Laurence Sterne
Contents
Volume I.
Volume II.
Volume III.
Volume IV.

Laurence Sterne

Ταράσσει τοὺς Ἀνθρώπους οὐ τὰ Πράγματα,

Ἀλλὰ τὰ περὶ τῶν Πραγμάτων Δόγματα.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

M r.   P I T T.

S I R,

NEVER poor Wight of a Dedicator had less hopes from his

Dedication, than I have from this of mine; for it is written in a bye corner of the kingdom, and in a retir’d thatch’d house, where I live in a constant endeavour to fence against the infirmities of ill health, and other evils of life, by mirth; being firmly persuaded that every time a man smiles,——but much more so, when he laughs, it adds something to this Fragment of Life.

I humbly beg, Sir, that you will honour this book, by taking it—(not under your Protection,—it must protect itself, but)—into the country with you; where, if I am ever told, it has made you smile; or can conceive it has beguiled you of one moment’s pain—I shall think myself as happy as a minister of state;——perhaps much happier than any one (one only excepted) that I have read or heard of.

I am, GREAT SIR,

(and, what is more to your Honour)

I am, GOOD SIR,

Your Well-wisher, and

most humble Fellow-subject,

T H E  A U T H O R.

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