T H E L I F E  and  O P I N I O N S O F T R I S T R A M  S H A N D Y, Gent. ________________________________ C H A P. I. -- WE'LL not stop two mo- ments, my dear Sir, -- only, as we have got thro' these five volumes, (do, Sir, sit down upon a set -- they are better than nothing) let us just look back upon the country we have pass'd through. --   -- What a wilderness has it been ! and what a mercy that we have not both   VOL. VI.        B            of [ 2 ] of us been lost, or devoured by wild beasts, in it.   Did you think the world itself, Sir, had contained such a number of Jack Asses ? -- How they view'd and re- view'd us as we passed over the rivulet at the bottom of that little valley ! -- and when we climbed over that hill, and were just getting out of sight -- good God ! what a braying did they all set up together !   -- Prithee, shepherd ! who keeps all those Jack Asses ?  * * *   -- Heaven be their comforter -- What ! are they never curried ? -- Are they never taken in in winter ? -- Bray bray -- bray. Bray on, -- the world is deeply your debtor ; -- louder still --                           that's [ 3 ] that's nothing ; -- in good sooth, you are ill-used : -- Was I a Jack Asse, I solemnly declare, I would bray in G-sol-re-ut from morning, even unto night.