XXIX
вЄЇвБ†I wonвАЩt go about to argue the point with youвБ†вАФвАЩtis soвБ†вЄЇвБ†and I am persuaded of it, madam, as much as can be, вАЬThat both man and woman bear pain or sorrow (and, for aught I know, pleasure too) best in a horizontal position.вАЭ
The moment my father got up into his chamber, he threw himself prostrate across the bed in the wildest disorder imaginable, but at the same time in the most lamentable attitude of a man borne down with sorrows, that ever the eye of pity droppвАЩd a tear for.вБ†вЄЇвБ†The palm of his right hand, as he fell upon the bed, receiving his forehead, and covering the greatest part of both his eyes, gently sunk down with his head (his elbow giving way backwards) till his nose touchвАЩd the quilt;вБ†вЄЇвБ†his left arm hung insensible over the side of the bed, his knuckles reclining upon the handle of the chamberpot, which peepвАЩd out beyond the valanceвБ†вАФhis right leg (his left being drawn up towards his body) hung half over the side of the bed, the edge of it pressing upon his shinboneвБ†вАФHe felt it not. A fixвАЩd, inflexible sorrow took possession of every line of his face.вБ†вАФHe sighвАЩd onceвБ†вЄЇвБ†heaved his breast oftenвБ†вАФbut uttered not a word.
An old set-stitchвАЩd chair, valanced and fringed around with particoloured worsted bobs, stood at the bedвАЩs head, opposite to the side where my fatherвАЩs head reclined.вБ†вАФMy uncle Toby sat him down in it.
Before an affliction is digestedвБ†вАФconsolation ever comes too soon;вБ†вАФand after it is digestedвБ†вАФit comes too late: so that you see, madam, there is but a mark between these two, as fine almost as a hair, for a comforter to take aim at: my uncle Toby was always either on this side, or on that of it, and would often say, he believed in his heart he could as soon hit the longitude; for this reason, when he sat down in the chair, he drew the curtain a little forwards, and having a tear at everyoneвАЩs serviceвБ†вЄЇвБ†he pullвАЩd out a cambrick handkerchiefвБ†вЄЇвБ†gave a low sighвБ†вЄЇвБ†but held his peace.