Comments on- Sterne. 83 
This is little varied from the original: There is 
no fmall cruelty in the picking out of a time for mifchief; 
that word would fearce gall at one feafon, which at another 
killeth. The fame fhaft flying with the wind pierces deep, which 
againft it, can hurdly find ftrength tu flick upright.* 
In Ste ne’s fifth Se:mon, the Contemplation of 
Elijah with the Sareptan,’ is clufey followed, 
Witnefs this paffage out of others: ** The Prophet 
*¢ follows the call of his God:—the fame hand 
** wh ch brought him to the gate of the city, had 
** led alfo the poor widow out of her doors, op- 
** preffed with forrow.’"f 
The Prophet follows the call of kis God; the fame 
hand that brouzht him to the gate of Sarepta, led alfo this’ 
poor widow out of her doors.§ 
The fucceeding paffages which correfpond are 
too 1 ng for infertior. 
Sterne has acknowledged his acquaintance with 
this book, by the difingenuity of two ludicrous quo- 
tations in Triftram Shandy. || 
What affiftance the writings of Voltaire and 
Rouffeau afforded Sterne, I omit to enquire. ‘The 
former was the firft author of this age, who intro- 
duced the terms and operations of the modern 
art of war nto works of entertainment; but 
Sterne’s military ardour feems to have been infpired 
by the prolix details of honeft Tindal. Voltaire 
himfelf reviewed the firft volumes of Triftram 
| OF) Shandy, 
* Hall’s Shimei Curfing. + Sterne. 
tBp. Hall, P. 1323. | Vol.1. Chap. 22. and Vol. 7. Chap. 13 
