of strict morality and close reasoning, such as I am engaged
in--the neglect is inexcusable; and Heaven is witness, how the world
has revenged itself upon me for leaving so many openings to equivocal
strictures--and for depending so much as I have done, all along, upon
the cleanliness of my readers imaginations.

--Here are two senses, cried Eugenius, as we walk'd along, pointing
with the fore finger of his right hand to the word Crevice, in the one
hundred and seventy-eighth page of the first volume of this book of
books,--here are two senses--quoth he.--And here are two roads, replied
I, turning short upon him--a dirty and a clean one--which shall we
take?--The clean, by all means, replied Eugenius. Eugenius, said I,
stepping before him, and laying my hand upon his breast--to define--is
to distrust.--Thus I triumph'd over Eugenius; but I triumph'd over him
as I always do, like a fool.--'Tis my comfort, however, I am not an
obstinate one: therefore

I define a nose as follows--intreating only beforehand, and beseeching
my readers, both male and female, of what age, complexion, and condition
soever, for the love of God and their own souls, to guard against the
temptations and suggestions of the devil, and suffer him by no art or
wile to put any other ideas into their minds, than what I put into my
definition--For by the word Nose, throughout all this long chapter of
noses, and in every other part of my work, where the word Nose occurs--I
declare, by that word I mean a nose, and nothing more, or less.

Chapter 2.XXV.

--'Because,' quoth my great grandmother, repeating the words again--'you
have little or no nose, Sir.'--

S'death! cried my great-grandfather, clapping his hand upon his
nose,--'tis not so small as that comes to;--'tis a full inch longer than
my father's.--Now, my great-grandfather's nose was for all the world
like unto the noses of all the men, women, and children, whom Pantagruel
found dwelling upon the island of Ennasin.--By the way, if you
would know the strange way of getting a-kin amongst so flat-nosed a
people--you must read the book;--find it out yourself, you never can.--

--'Twas shaped, Sir, like an ace of clubs.

--'Tis a full inch, continued my grandfather, pressing up the ridge of
his nose with his finger and thumb; and repeating his assertion--'tis a
full inch longer, madam, than my father's--You must mean your uncle's,
replied my great-grandmother.

--My great-grandfather was c