Page:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy (Volume 2).pdf/76

 door, upon the very point of entring 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!—Hast thou, Dr. Slop,—hast thou been intrusted 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! 'tis too true.—Besides, great son of Pilumnus! what canst thou do?—Thou hast come forth unarm'd;—thou hast left thy tire-tête,—thy new-invented forceps,—thy crotchet,—thy squirt, and all thy instruments of salvation and deliverance behind thee.—By heaven!