And now that you have just got to the end of these[4.14] four volumes----the thing I have to _ask_ is, how you feel your heads? my own akes dismally! ------as for your healths, I know, they are much better. --True _Shandeism_, think what you will against it, opens the heart and lungs, and like all those affections which partake of its nature, it forces the blood and other vital fluids of the body to run freely through its channels, makes the wheel of life run long and chearfully round.
Was I left, like _Sancho Panca_, to choose my kingdom, it should not be maritime--or a kingdom of blacks to make a penny of; --no, it should be a kingdom of hearty laughing subjects: And as the bilious and more saturnine passions, by creating disorders in the blood and humours, have as bad an influence, I see, upon the body politick as body natural----and as nothing but a habit of virtue can fully govern those passions, and subject them to reason ------I should add to my prayer--that God would give my subjects grace to be as WISE as they were MERRY; and then should I be the happiest monarch, and they the happiest people under heaven.
And so, with this moral for the present, may it please your worships and your reverences, I take my leave of you till this time twelve-month, when, (unless this vile cough kills me in the meantime) I'll have another pluck at your beards, and lay open a story to the world you little dream of.
[Footnote 4.14: According to the original Editions.]
THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF TRISTRAM SHANDY GENTLEMAN
Dixero si quid fort jocosius, hoc mihi juris Cum venia dabis. ---- HOR.

And now that you have got to the end of these four volumes - the thing I have to ask is, how do your heads feel? My own aches dismally! As for your healths, I know they are better. True Shandeism opens the heart and lungs, and forces the blood to run freely through its channels, making the wheel of life run long and cheerfully round.
If I was allowed, like Sancho Panza, to choose my kingdom, it should be a kingdom of hearty laughing subjects. And as the bilious passions, by creating disorders in the blood, have as bad an influence upon the body politic as the body natural - and as nothing but a habit of virtue can fully govern those passions - I would add to my prayer that God would make my subjects as Wise as they were Merry; and then should I be the happiest monarch, and they the happiest people under heaven.
And so, with this moral, I take my leave of your worships till this time twelve-month, when, (unless this vile cough kills me in the meantime) I'll lay open to the world a story you little dream of.