The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

And now for Lippius's clock! said I, with the air of a man, who had got thro' all his difficulties -- -- -nothing can prevent us seeing that, and the Chinese history, etc., except the time, said Francois -- -- -for 'tis almost eleven -- Then we must speed the faster, said I, striding it away to the cathedral.

I cannot say, in my heart, that it gave me any concern in being told by one of the minor canons, as I was entering the west door, -- That Lippius's great clock was all out of joints, and had not gone for some years -- -- -It will give me the more time, thought I, to peruse the Chinese history; and besides I shall be able to give the world a better account of the clock in its decay, than I could have done in its flourishing condition -- -- -