`` all the soldiers which were there, di-
`` vers of them being inwardly terrified,
`` did shrink back and make room for
`` the assailant : all this did Gymnast very
`` well remark and consider ; and there-
`` fore, making as if he would have
`` alighted from off his horse, as he was
`` poising himself on the mounting side,
`` he most nimbly (with his short sword
`` by his thigh) shifting his feet in the
H 4 `` stirrup
`` stirrup and performing the stirrup-lea-
`` ther feat, whereby, after the inclining
`` of his body downwards, he forthwith
`` launched himself aloft into the air, and
`` placed both his feet together upon the
`` saddle, standing upright, with his
`` back turned towards his horse's head,
`` -- Now (said he) my case goes forward.
`` Then suddenly in the same posture
`` wherein he was, he fetched a gambol
`` upon one foot, and turning to the left-
`` hand, failed not to carry his body per-
`` fectly round, just into his former po-
`` sition, without missing one jot. ----
`` Ha ! said Tripet, I will not do that
`` at this time, -- and not without cause.
`` Well, said Gymnast, I have failed, --
`` I will undo this leap ; then with a
`` marvellous strength and agility, turn-
`` ing towards the right-hand, he fetched
`` another frisking gambol as before ;
`` which done, he set his right-hand
`` thumb upon the bow of the saddle,
`` raised
`` raised himself up, and sprung into the
`` air, poising and upholding his whole
`` weight upon the muscle and nerve of
`` the said thumb, and so turned and
`` whirled himself about three times : at
`` the fourth, reversing his body and o-
`` verturning it upside-down, and fore-
`` side back, without touching any thing,
`` he brought himself betwixt the horse's
`` two ears, and then giving himself a
`` jerking swing, he seated himself upon
`` the crupper ---- ''
(This can't be fighting, said my uncle
Toby. ---- The corporal shook his head
at it. ---- Have patience, said Yorick.)
`` Then (Tripet) pass'd his right leg
`` over his saddle, and placed himself en
`` croup. -- But, said he, 'twere better for
`` me to get into the saddle ; then put-
`` ting the thumbs of both hands upon
`` the crupper before him, and thereup-
`` on
`` on leaning himself, as upon the only
`` supporters of his body, he incontinent-
`` ly turned heels over head in the air,
`` and straight found himself betwixt the
`` bow of the saddle in a tolerable seat ;
`` then springing into the air with a sum-
`` merset, he turned him about like a
`` wind mill, and made above a hundred
`` frisks, turns, and demi-pommadas.'' --
Good God ! cried Trim, losing all pa-
tience, -- one home thrust of a bayonet
is worth it all. ---- I think so too, replied
Yorick. ----
-- I am of a contrary opinion, quoth
my father.
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