My uncle Toby loved the man in return, and what attached him more to him still, was the similitude of their knowledge.⸺For Corporal Trim (for so, for the future, I shall call him), by four years occasional attention to his Master’s discourse upon fortified towns, and the advantage of prying and peeping continually into his Master’s plans, etc. , exclusive and besides what he gained Hobbyhorsically , as a body-servant, Non Hobbyhorsical per se ;⸺had become no mean proficient in the science; and was thought, by the cook and chambermaid, to know as much of the nature of strongholds as my uncle Toby himself.
I have but one more stroke to give to finish Corporal Trim’s character,⸺and it is the only dark line in it.—The fellow loved to advise,—or rather to hear himself talk; his carriage, however, was so perfectly respectful, ’twas easy to keep him silent when you had him so; but set his tongue a-going,—you had no hold of him—he was voluble;—the eternal interlardings of your Honour , with the respectfulness of Corporal Trim’s manner, interceding so strong in behalf of his elocution,—that though you might have been incommoded,⸺you could not well be angry. My uncle Toby was seldom either the one or the other with him,—or, at least, this fault, in Trim , broke no squares with them. My uncle Toby , as I said, loved the man;⸺and besides, as he ever looked upon a faithful servant,—but as an humble friend,—he could not bear to stop his mouth.⸺Such was Corporal Trim .
If I durst presume, continued Trim , to give your Honour my advice, and speak my opinion in this matter.—Thou art welcome, Trim , quoth my uncle Toby —speak,⸺speak what thou thinkest upon the subject, man, without fear. Why then, replied Trim (not hanging his ears and scratching his head like a country-lout, but) stroking his hair back from his forehead, and standing erect as before his division,—I think, quoth Trim , advancing his left, which was his lame leg, a little forwards,—and pointing with his right hand open towards a map of Dunkirk , which was pinned against the hangings,⸺I think, quoth Corporal Trim ,