Page:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy (Volume 1).pdf/99

 From Grantham, till they had cross'd the Trent, my father was out of all kind of patience at the vile trick and imposition which he fancied my mother had put upon him in this affair.—"Certainly, he would say to himself, over and over again, "the woman could not be deceived herself;—if she could,—what weakness!—tormenting word!—which led his imagination a thorny dance, and, before all was over, play'd the duce and all with him;"—for sure as ever the word weakness was uttered, and struck full upon his brain,—so sure it set him upon running divisions upon how many kinds of weaknesses there were;—that there was such a thing as weakness of the body,—as well as weakness of the mind,—and then he would do nothing but syllogize within himself for a stage or two