X

is at his leisure) fit forms of swearing suitable to all cases, from the lowest to the highest provocation which could possibly happen to him⁠⸺⁠which forms being well considered by him, and such moreover as he could stand to, he kept them ever by him on the chimneypiece, within his reach, ready for use.⁠—I never apprehended, replied Dr. Slop , that such a thing was ever thought of⁠⸺⁠much less executed. I beg your pardon, answered my father; I was reading, though not using, one of them to my brother Toby this morning, whilst he pour’d out the tea⁠—’tis here upon the shelf over my head;⁠—but if I remember right, ’tis too violent for a cut of the thumb.⁠—Not at all, quoth Dr. Slop ⁠—the devil take the fellow.⁠⸺⁠Then, answered my father, ’Tis much at your service, Dr. Slop ⁠—on condition you will read it aloud;⁠⸺⁠so rising up and reaching down a form of excommunication of the church of Rome , a copy of which, my father (who was curious in his collections) had procured out of the leger-book of the church of Rochester , writ by Ernulphus the bishop⁠⸺⁠with a most affected seriousness of look and voice, which might have cajoled Ernulphus himself⁠—he put it into Dr. Slop’s hands.⁠⸺⁠ Dr. Slop wrapt his thumb up in the corner of his handkerchief, and with a wry face, though without any suspicion, read aloud, as follows⁠⸻my uncle Toby whistling Lillabullero as loud as he could all the time.