The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

If the reader has not a clear conception of the rood and the half of ground which lay at the bottom of my uncle Toby's kitchen-garden, and which was the scene of so many of his delicious hours, -- the fault is not in me, -- but in his imagination; -- for I am sure I gave him so minute a description, I was almost ashamed of it.

When Fate was looking forwards one afternoon, into the great transactions of future times, -- and recollected for what purposes this little plot, by a decree fast bound down in iron, had been destined, -- -- -she gave a nod to Nature, -- 'twas enough -- Nature threw half a spade full of her kindliest compost upon it, with just so much clay in it, as to retain the forms of angles and indentings, -- and so little of it too, as not to cling to the spade, and render works of so much glory, nasty in foul weather.