- Now Tristram wants to talk some nonsense (as if he hasn't all along).
- A little background: Momus was the Greek god of mockery and blame. According to Lucian, Momus wanted humans to be created with a window that would look into their souls, so everybody could see exactly what they were thinking and feeling.
- Yeah, let's all be grateful that advice was ignored.
- Tristram thinks that would have had two ridiculous consequences. First, people would have had to pay tax on their windows (windows were taxed in England until 1851). Second, writing a man's character would have been too easy. All you'd have to do is peep in the window and write down exactly what you saw. Instead, writers have to approach character indirectly.
- Tristram's preferred method is to talk about his uncle's hobby-horse. Aha, the pieces are coming together.