But in the case cited, continued Kysarcius , where patriae is put for patris , filia for filii , and so on⸺as it is a fault only in the declension, and the roots of the words continue untouch’d, the inflections of their branches either this way or that, does not in any sort hinder the baptism, inasmuch as the same sense continues in the words as before.⸺But then, said Didius , the intention of the priest’s pronouncing them grammatically must have been proved to have gone along with it.⸻⸻Right, answered Kysarcius ; and of this, brother Didius , we have an instance in a decree of the decretals of Pope Leo the III ⸺But my brother’s child, cried my uncle Toby , has nothing to do with the Pope⸻’tis the plain child of a Protestant gentleman, christen’d Tristram against the wills and wishes both of his father and mother, and all who are akin to it.⸺
If the wills and wishes, said Kysarcius , interrupting my uncle Toby , of those only who stand related to Mr. Shandy’s child, were to have weight in this matter, Mrs. Shandy , of all people, has the least to do in it.⸺My uncle Toby lay’d down his pipe, and my father drew his chair still closer to the table, to hear the conclusion of so strange an introduction.
⸺It has not only been a question, Captain Shandy , amongst the best lawyers and civilians in this land, continued Kysarcius , “ Whether the mother be of kin to her child ,”—but, after much dispassionate enquiry and jactitation of the arguments on all sides—it has been abjudged for the negative—namely, “ That the mother is not of kin to her child. ” My father instantly clapp’d his hand upon my uncle Toby’s mouth, under colour of whispering in his ear;—the truth was, he was alarmed for Lillabullero —and having a great desire to hear more of so curious an argument—he begg’d my uncle Toby , for Heaven’s sake, not to disappoint him in it.—My uncle Toby gave a nod—resumed his pipe, and contenting himself with whistling Lillabullero inwardly⸺ Kysarcius , Didius , and Triptolemus went on with the discourse as follows.