Shakespear.
For there is not through all nature, another so callous and insensible a member as the world’s posteriors, whether you apply to it the toe or the birch.
Preface to a Tale of a tub.
The war hath introduced abundance of polysyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns. Speculations, operations, preliminaries, ambassadors, palisadoes, communication, circumvallation, battalions, as numerous as they are, if they attack us too frequently in our coffeehouses, we shall certainly put them to flight, and cut off the rear.
Tatler, Nº 230.
Speaking of Discord, “She never went abroad, but she brought home such a bundle of monstrous lies, as would have amazed any mortal, but such as knew her; of a whale that had swallowed a fleet of ships; of the lions being let out of the tower to destroy the Protestant religion; of the Pope’s being seen in a brandy-shop at Wapping,” &c.
History of John Bull, part. 1. ch. 16.
The other branch of wit in the thought, viz. ludicrous combinations and oppositions, may be traced through various ramifications. And, first, fanciful causes assigned that have no natural relation to the effects produced.
Lancaster. Fare you well, Falstaff; I, in my condition, Shall better speak of you than you deserve. [Exit.