hree words of
inscription, serving both for his epitaph and elegy. Alas, poor Yorick!

Ten times a day has Yorick's ghost the consolation to hear his
monumental inscription read over with such a variety of plaintive tones,
as denote a general pity and esteem for him;--a foot-way crossing the
church-yard close by the side of his grave,--not a passenger goes by
without stopping to cast a look upon it,--and sighing as he walks on,
Alas, poor Yorick!

Chapter 1.XIII.

It is so long since the reader of this rhapsodical work has been parted
from the midwife, that it is high time to mention her again to him,
merely to put him in mind that there is such a body still in the world,
and whom, upon the best judgment I can form upon my own plan at present,
I am going to introduce to him for good and all: But as fresh matter may
be started, and much unexpected business fall out betwixt the reader and
myself, which may require immediate dispatch;--'twas right to take care
that the poor woman should not be lost in the mean time;--because when
she is wanted, we can no way do without her.

I think I told you that this good woman was a person of no small note
and consequence throughout our whole village and township;--that her
fame had spread itself to the very out-edge and circumference of that
circle of importance, of which kind every soul living, whether he has a
shirt to his back or no,--has one surrounding him;--which said circle,
by the way, whenever 'tis said that such a one is of great weight and
importance in the world,--I desire may be enlarged or contracted in
your worship's fancy, in a compound ratio of the station, profession,
knowledge, abilities, height and depth (measuring both ways) of the
personage brought before you.

In the present case, if I remember, I fixed it about four or five miles,
which not only comprehended the whole parish, but extended itself to two
or three of the adjacent hamlets in the skirts of the next parish; which
made a considerable thing of it. I must add, That she was, moreover,
very well looked on at one large grange-house, and some other odd houses
and farms within two or three miles, as I said, from the smoke of her
own chimney:--But I must here, once for all, inform you, that all this
will be more exactly delineated and explain'd in a map, now in the hands
of the engraver, which, with many other pieces and developements of this
work, will be added to the end of the twentieth volume,--n