XXXI
The first thirty pages, said my father, turning over the leaves,вБ†вАФare a little dry; and as they are not closely connected with the subject,вБ†вЄЇвБ†for the present weвАЩll pass them by: вАЩtis a prefatory introduction, continued my father, or an introductory preface (for I am not determined which name to give it) upon political or civil government; the foundation of which being laid in the first conjunction betwixt male and female, for procreation of the speciesвБ†вЄЇвБ†I was insensibly led into it.вБ†вЄЇвАЩTwas natural, said Yorick.
The original of society, continued my father, IвАЩm satisfied is, what Politian tells us, i.e., merely conjugal; and nothing more than the getting together of one man and one woman;вБ†вАФto which, (according to Hesiod) the philosopher adds a servant:вБ†вЄЇвБ†but supposing in the first beginning there were no men servants bornвБ†вЄЇвБ†he lays the foundation of it, in a man,вБ†вАФa womanвБ†вАФand a bull.вБ†вЄЇвБ†I believe вАЩtis an ox, quoth Yorick, quoting the passage (ќњбЉґќЇќњќљ ќЉбљ≤ќљ ѕАѕБѕОѕДќєѕГѕДќ±, ќ≥ѕЕќљќ±бњЦќЇќ± ѕДќµ, ќ≤ќњбњ¶ќљ ѕДвАЩ бЉАѕБќњѕДбњЖѕБќ±).вБ†вЄЇвБ†A bull must have given more trouble than his head was worth.вБ†вЄЇвБ†But there is a better reason still, said my father (dipping his pen into his ink); for the ox being the most patient of animals, and the most useful withal in tilling the ground for their nourishment,вБ†вАФwas the properest instrument, and emblem too, for the new joined couple, that the creation could have associated with them.вБ†вАФAnd there is a stronger reason, added my uncle Toby, than them all for the ox.вБ†вАФMy father had not power to take his pen out of his ink-horn, till he had heard my uncle TobyвАЩs reason.вБ†вАФFor when the ground was tilled, said my uncle Toby, and made worth enclosing, then they began to secure it by walls and ditches, which was the origin of fortification.вБ†вЄЇвБ†True, true, dear Toby, cried my father, striking out the bull, and putting the ox in his place.
My father gave Trim a nod, to snuff the candle, and resumed his discourse.
вЄЇвБ†I enter upon this speculation, said my father carelessly, and half shutting the book, as he went on, merely to show the foundation of the natural relation between a father and his child; the right and jurisdiction over whom he acquires these several waysвБ†вАФ
1st, by marriage.
2nd, by adoption.
3rd, by legitimation.
And 4th, by procreation; all which I consider in their order.
I lay a slight stress upon one of them, replied YorickвБ†вЄЇвБ†the act, especially where it ends there, in my opinion lays as little obligation upon the child, as it conveys power to the father.вБ†вАФYou are wrong,вБ†вАФsaid my father argutely, and for this plain reason* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * вАФI own, added my father, that the offspring, upon this account, is not so under the power and jurisdiction of the mother.вБ†вАФBut the reason, replied Yorick, equally holds good for her.вБ†вЄЇвБ†She is under authority herself, said my father:вБ†вАФand besides, continued my father, nodding his head, and laying his finger upon the side of his nose, as he assigned his reason,вБ†вАФshe is not the principal agent, Yorick.вБ†вАФIn what, quoth my uncle Toby? stopping his pipe.вБ†вАФThough by all means, added my father (not attending to my uncle Toby) вАЬThe son ought to pay her respect,вАЭ as you may read, Yorick, at large in the first book of the Institutes of Justinian, at the eleventh title and the tenth section,вБ†вАФI can read it as well, replied Yorick, in the Catechism.