How we cite our quotes:
Quote #7
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation: (2.11.1)
Tristram sees his book as a conversation with his readers. He might be sitting alone in a room, but he imagines that he's directly communicating with others—and this was 250 years before Facebook.
Quote #8
O ye POWERS! (for powers ye are, and great ones too)—which enable mortal man to tell a story worth the hearing,—that kindly show him where he is to begin it,—and where he is to end it,—what he is to put into it,—and what he is to leave out,—how much of it he is to cast into shade,—and whereabouts he is to throw his light!—Ye, who preside over this vast empire of biographical freebooters, and see how many scrapes and plunges your subjects hourly fall into;—will you do one thing? (3.23.5)
Poets traditionally began a long work by politely requesting help from any available god or goddess, usually a muse, and here Tristram is doing the same thing. Not only is he following in a long tradition, he's suggesting again that he's not really in control. Tristram, take the wheel!