The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

I am glad of it, said I, settling the account with myself, as I walk'd into Lyons -- -- -my chaise being all laid higgledy-piggledy with my baggage in a cart, which was moving slowly before me -- -- -I am heartily glad, said I, that 'tis all broke to pieces; for now I can go directly by water to Avignon, which will carry me on a hundred and twenty miles of my journey, and not cost me seven livres -- -- -and from thence, continued I, bringing forwards the account, I can hire a couple of mules -- or asses, if I like (for nobody knows me) and cross the plains of Languedoc for almost nothing -- -- -I shall gain four hundred livres by the misfortune clear into my purse: and pleasure! worth -- worth double the money by it. With what velocity, continued I, clapping my two hands together, shall I fly down the rapid Rhone, with the Vivares on my right hand, and Dauphiny on my left, scarce seeing the ancient cities of Vienne, Valence, and Vivieres. What a flame will it rekindle in the lamp, to snatch a blushing grape from the Hermitage and Côte roti, as I shoot by the foot of them! and what a fresh spring in the blood! to behold upon the banks advancing and retiring, the castles of romance, whence courteous knights have whilome rescued the distress'd -- -- -and see vertiginous, the rocks, the mountains, the cataracts, and all the hurry which Nature is in with all her great works about her.

As I went on thus, methought my chaise, the wreck of which look'd stately enough at the first, insensibly grew less and less in its size; the freshness of the painting was no more -- the gilding lost its lustre -- and the whole affair appeared so poor in my eyes -- so sorry! -- so contemptible! and, in a word, so much worse than the abbess of Andoüillets' itself -- that I was just opening my mouth to give it to the devil -- when a pert vamping chaise-undertaker, stepping nimbly across the street, demanded if Monsieur would have his chaise refitted -- -- -No, no, said I, shaking my head sideways -- Would Monsieur choose to sell it? rejoined the undertaker.