Laurence Sterne - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Chap. 4.31) lyrics

 —But for heaven's sake, let us not talk of quarts or gallons—let us take the story straight before us; it is so nice and intricate a one, it will scarce bear the transposition of a single tittle; and, somehow or other, you have got me thrust almost into the middle of it—  —I beg we may take more care.