Sterne, Laurence (1713-1768)

A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.

London

Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt

1768

"But there is no nation under heaven abounding with more variety of learning--where the sciences may be more fitly woo'd, or more surely won than here--where art is encouraged, and will so soon rise high--where Nature (take her all together) has so little to answer for--and, to close all, where there is more wit and variety of character to feed the mind with."

Knowledge and improvements are to be got by sailing and posting for that purpose; but whether useful knowledge and real improvements, is all a lottery--and even where the adventurer is successful, the acquired stock must be used with caution and sobriety to turn to any profit--but as the chances run prodigiously the other way both as to the acquisition and application, I am of opinion, That a man would act as wisely, if he could prevail upon himself, to live contented without foreign knowledge or foreign improvements, especially if he lives in a country that has no absolute want of either--and indeed, much grief of heart has it oft and many a time cost me, when I have observed how many a foul step the inquisitive Traveller has measured to see sights and look into discoveries; all which, as Sancho Pança said to Don Quixote, they might have seen dry-shod at home. It is an age so full of light, that there is scarce a country or corner of Europe whose beams are not crossed and interchanged with others-- Knowledge in most of its branches, and in most affairs, is like music in an Italian street, whereof those may partake, who pay nothing--But there is no nation under heaven--and God is my record, (before whose tribunal I must one day come and give an account of this work)-- that I do not speak it vauntingly-- But there is no nation under heaven abounding with more variety of learning--where the sciences may be more fitly woo'd, or more surely won than here--where art is encouraged, and will so soon rise high--where Nature (take her all together) has so little to answer for--and, to close all, where there is more wit and variety of character to feed the mind with--Where then, my dear countrymen, are you going--
(I, pp. 31-33)

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First edition published February 27, 1768, in two issues (standard paper and large "imperial" paper issue).

See A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. By Mr. Yorick., 2 vols. 2nd ed. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1768). <Link to ESTC>

Reading Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey, ed. Paul Goring (New York and London: Penguin, 2001)

10/26/2013