Trim can repeat every word of it by heart, quoth my uncle Toby .—Pugh! said my father, not caring to be interrupted with Trim’s saying his Catechism. He can, upon my honour, replied my uncle Toby .—Ask him, Mr. Yorick , any question you please.⸺
—The fifth Commandment, Trim —said Yorick , speaking mildly, and with a gentle nod, as to a modest Catechumen. The corporal stood silent.—You don’t ask him right, said my uncle Toby , raising his voice, and giving it rapidly like the word of command:⸺The fifth⸺⸺cried my uncle Toby .—I must begin with the first, an’ please your honour, said the corporal.⸺
— Yorick could not forbear smiling.—Your reverence does not consider, said the corporal, shouldering his stick like a musket, and marching into the middle of the room, to illustrate his position,—that ’tis exactly the same thing, as doing one’s exercise in the field.—
“ Join your right-hand to your firelock ,” cried the corporal, giving the word of command, and performing the motion.—
“ Poise your firelock ,” cried the corporal, doing the duty still both of adjutant and private man.
“ Rest your firelock ;”—one motion, an’ please your reverence, you see leads into another.—If his honour will begin but with the first —
The first —cried my uncle Toby , setting his hand upon his side— * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The second —cried my uncle Toby , waving his tobacco-pipe, as he would have done his sword at the head of a regiment.—The corporal