"When Agrippina was told of her son's death," says Sterne, "Tacitus
informs us that, not being able to moderate her passions, she abruptly
broke off her work." Tacitus does, it is true, inform us of this. But
it was undoubtedly Burton (_Anat. Mel._, p. 213) who informed Sterne
of it. So, too, when Mr. Shandy goes on to remark upon death that
"'Tis an inevitable chance--the first statute in Magna Charta--it is
an everlasting Act of Parliament, my dear brother--all must die," the
agreement of his views with those of Burton, who had himself said
of death, "'Tis an inevitable chance--the first statute in Magna
Charta--an everlasting Act of Parliament--all must die,[2]" is even
textually exact.
[Footnote 2: _Ibid._, p. 215.]
In the next passage, however, the humourist gets the better of the
plagiarist, and we are ready to forgive the theft for the happily
comic turn which he gives to it.
Burton:
"Tully was much grieved for his daughter Tulliola's death at first,
until such time that he had confirmed his mind by philosophical precepts;
then he began to triumph over fortune and grief, and for her
reception into heaven to be much more joyed than before he was
troubled for her loss.
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