----He will be cautious of doing it even to a friend, --lest he may suffer in his esteem: ----But if his heart is overcharged, and a secret sigh for arms must have its vent, he will reserve it for the ear of a brother, who knows his character to the bottom, and what his true notions, dispositions, and principles of honour are: What, I _hope_, I have been in all these, brother _Shandy_, would be unbecoming in me to say: ----much worse, I know, have I been than I ought, --and something worse, perhaps, than I think: But such as I am, you, my dear brother _Shandy_, who have sucked the same breasts with me, --and with whom I have been brought up from my cradle, --and from whose knowledge, from the first hours of our boyish pastimes, down to this, I have concealed no one action of my life, and scarce a thought in it ----Such as I am, brother, you must by this time know me, with all my vices, and with all my weaknesses too, whether of my age, my temper, my passions, or my understanding.

He will be cautious of doing it even to a friend, lest he may suffer in his esteem.
But if his heart is overcharged, and a secret sigh for arms must have its vent, he will reserve it for the ear of a brother, who knows his character, and what his true principles of honour are: what I hope mine are, brother Shandy, would be unbecoming in me to say - I have been much worse, I know, than I ought, and somewhat worse, perhaps, than I think.
But such as I am, you, my dear brother, who sucked the same breast as me, and with whom I have been brought up from my cradle, and from whom I have concealed no action of my life - such as I am, you must by this time know me, with all my vices and weaknesses of age, temper and understanding.
