XXVII
My father put on his spectaclesвБ†вАФlooked,вБ†вАФtook them off,вБ†вАФput them into the caseвБ†вАФall in less than a statutable minute; and without opening his lips, turned about and walked precipitately downstairs: my mother imagined he had stepped down for lint and basilicon; but seeing him return with a couple of folios under his arm, and Obadiah following him with a large reading-desk, she took it for granted вАЩtwas an herbal, and so drew him a chair to the bedside, that he might consult upon the case at his ease.
вЄЇвБ†If it be but right done,вБ†вАФsaid my father, turning to the SectionвБ†вАФde sede vel subjecto circumcisionis,вБ†вЄЇвБ†for he had brought up Spenser de Legibus Hebraeorum RitualibusвБ†вАФand Maimonides, in order to confront and examine us altogether.вБ†вАФ
вЄЇвБ†If it be but right done, quoth he:вБ†вАФonly tell us, cried my mother, interrupting him, what herbs?вБ†вЄЇвБ†For that, replied my father, you must send for Dr.¬†Slop.
My mother went down, and my father went on, reading the section as follows,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * вЄїVery well,вБ†вАФsaid my father, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *вБ†вАФnay, if it has that convenienceвБ†вЄЇвБ†and so without stopping a moment to settle it first in his mind, whether the Jews had it from the Egyptians, or the Egyptians from the Jews,вБ†вАФhe rose up, and rubbing his forehead two or three times across with the palm of his hand, in the manner we rub out the footsteps of care, when evil has trod lighter upon us than we foreboded,вБ†вАФhe shut the book, and walked downstairs.вБ†вАФNay, said he, mentioning the name of a different great nation upon every step as he set his foot upon itвБ†вАФif the Egyptians,вБ†вАФthe Syrians,вБ†вАФthe Phoenicians,вБ†вАФthe Arabians,вБ†вАФthe Cappadocians,вБ†вЄЇвБ†if the Colchi, and Troglodytes did itвБ†вЄЇвБ†if Solon and Pythagoras submitted,вБ†вАФwhat is Tristram?вБ†вЄЇвБ†Who am I, that I should fret or fume one moment about the matter?