WRITING,, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I
think mine is) is but a different name for conversation: As
no one, who knows what he is about in good company,
would venture to talk all;-so no author, who under-
stands the just boundaries of decorum and good breeding,
would presume to think all: The truest respect which you
can pay to the reader's understanding, is to halve this
matter amicably, and leave him something to imagine, in
his turn, as well as yourself.
For my own part, I am eternally paying him compliments
of this kind, and do all that lies in my power to keep his
imagination as busy as my own.
'Tis his turn now;-l have given an ample description of
Dr Slop's sad overthrow, and of his sad appearance in the
back parlour;-his imagination must now go on with it for
a while.
Let the reader imagine then, that Dr Slop has told his
tale;-and in what words, and with what aggravations his
fancy chooses:-Let him suppose, that Obadiah has told
his tale also, and with such rueful looks of affected concern,
as he thinks best will contrast the two figures as they stand
by each other:-Let him imagine, that my father has stepped
upstairs to see my mother:-And, to conclude this
work of imagination,-Iet him imagine the doctor washed,
-rubbed down,-condoled with,-felicitated,-got into a
pair of Obadiah's pumps, stepping forwards towards the
door, upon the very point of entering upon action.
Truce!-truce, good Dr Slop!-stay thy obstetric hand;
-return it safe into thy bosom to keep it warm;-little dost
thou know what obstacles;-little dost thou think what
hidden causes retard its operation 1-Hast thou, Dr Slop,-
hast thou been entrusted with the secret articles of the
solemn treaty, which has brought thee into this place?-Art
thou aware that, at this instant, a daughter of Lucina is put
obstetrically over thy head? Alas I 'tis too true.-Besides,
great son of Pilumnus I what canst thou do?-Thou hast
come forth unarmed;-thou has left thy tire-tete,-thy
new-invented forceps,-thy crotchet,-thy squirt, and all thy
instruments of salvation and deliverance behind thee.-By
heaven I at this moment they are hanging up in a green bays
bag, betwixt thy two pistols, at the bed's head!-Ring;-
call;-send Obadiah back upon the coach-horse to bring
them with all speed.
-Make great haste, Obadiah, quoth my father, and I'll
give thee a crown;-and, quoth my uncle Toby, I'll give him
another.