The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The corporal had not taken his measures so badly in this stroke of artilleryship, but that he might have kept the matter entirely to himself, and left Susannah to have sustained the whole weight of the attack, as she could; -- true courage is not content with coming off so.

-- -- -The corporal, whether as general or comptroller of the train, -- 'twas no matter, -- -- -had done that, without which, as he imagined, the misfortune could never have happened, -- at least in Susannah's hands; -- -- -How would your honours have behaved? -- -- -He determined at once, not to take shelter behind Susannah, -- but to give it; and with this resolution upon his mind, he marched upright into the parlour, to lay the whole manoeuvre before my uncle Toby.