Laurence Sterne — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman Chap. 4.51

       &nbspThe world is ashamed of being virtuous—my uncle Toby knew little of the world; and therefore when he felt he was in love with widow Wadman, he had no conception that the thing was any more to be made a mystery of, than if Mrs. Wadman had given him a cut with a gap'd knife across his finger: Had it been otherwise—yet as he ever look'd upon Trim as a humble friend; and saw fresh reasons every day of his life, to treat him as such—it would have made no variation in the manner in which he informed him of the affair.        &nbsp'I am in love, corporal!' quoth my uncle Toby.