nothing, replied my father, making
answer to a question which Yorick had
taken the liberty to put to him, -- I have
ad-
advanced nothing in the Tristrapædia,
but what is as clear as any one proposi-
tion in Euclid. -- Reach me, Trim, that
book from off the scrutoir : ---- it has
oft times been in my mind, continued my
father, to have read it over both to you,
Yorick, and to my brother Toby, and I
think it a little unfriendly in myself, in
not having done it long ago : ---- shall
we have a short chapter or two now, --
and a chapter or two hereafter, as occa-
sions serve ; and so on, till we get through
the whole ? My uncle Toby and Yorick
made the obeisance which was proper ;
and the corporal, though he was not in-
cluded in the compliment, laid his hand
upon his breast, and made his bow at
the same time. ---- The company smiled.
Trim, quoth my father, has paid the
full price for staying out the entertain-
ment. ---- He did not seem to relish the
play, replied Yorick. ---- 'Twas a Tom-
fool-battle, an' please your reverence, of
3 captain
captain Tripet's and that other officer,
making so many summersets, as they ad-
vanced ; ---- the French come on caper-
ing now and then in that way, -- but not
quite so much.
My uncle Toby never felt the consci-
ousness of his existence with more com-
placency than what the corporal's, and
his own reflections, made him do at that
moment ; ---- he lighted his pipe, ----
Yorick drew his chair closer to the table,
-- Trim snuff'd the candle, -- my father
stirred up the fire, -- took up the book, --
cough'd twice, and begun.
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