The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

In mentioning the word gay (as in the close of the last chapter) it puts one (i.e. an author) in mind of the word spleen -- -- -especially if he has anything to say upon it: not that by any analysis -- or that from any table of interest or genealogy, there appears much more ground of alliance betwixt them, than betwixt light and darkness, or any two of the most unfriendly opposites in nature -- -- -only 'tis an undercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words, as politicians do amongst men -- not knowing how near they may be under a necessity of placing them to each other -- -- -which point being now gain'd, and that I may place mine exactly to my mind, I write it down here --