XIII + 

вЄЇвБ†Now my father had a way, a little like that of JobвАЩs (in case there ever was such a manвБ†вЄЇвБ†if not, thereвАЩs an end of the matter.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Though, by the by, because your learned men find some difficulty in fixing the precise √¶ra in which so great a man lived;вБ†вАФwhether, for instance, before or after the patriarchs, etc.вБ†вЄЇвБ†to vote, therefore, that he never lived at all, is a little cruel,вБ†вАФвАЩtis not doing as they would be done by,вБ†вАФhappen that as it may)вБ†вЄЇвБ†My father, I say, had a way, when things went extremely wrong with him, especially upon the first sally of his impatience,вБ†вАФof wondering why he was begot,вБ†вАФwishing himself dead;вБ†вАФsometimes worse:вБ†вЄЇвБ†And when the provocation ran high, and grief touched his lips with more than ordinary powersвБ†вАФSir, you scarce could have distinguished him from Socrates himself.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Every word would breathe the sentiments of a soul disdaining life, and careless about all its issues; for which reason, though my mother was a woman of no deep reading, yet the abstract of SocratesвАЩs oration, which my father was giving my uncle Toby, was not altogether new to her.вБ†вАФShe listened to it with composed intelligence, and would have done so to the end of the chapter, had not my father plunged (which he had no occasion to have done) into that part of the pleading where the great philosopher reckons up his connections, his alliances, and children; but renounces a security to be so won by working upon the passions of his judges.вБ†вАФвАЬI have friendsвБ†вАФI have relations,вБ†вАФI have three desolate children,вАЭвБ†вАФsays Socrates.вБ†вАФ + 

вЄЇвБ†Then, cried my mother, opening the door,вБ†вЄЇвБ†you have one more, Mr.¬†Shandy, than I know of. + 

By heaven! I have one less,вБ†вАФsaid my father, getting up and walking out of the room. + 