XXXIV
I told the Christian reader in the beginning of the chapter which preceded my uncle TobyвАЩs apologetical oration,вБ†вАФthough in a different trope from what I should make use of now, That the peace of Utrecht was within an ace of creating the same shyness betwixt my uncle Toby and his hobbyhorse, as it did betwixt the queen and the rest of the confederating powers.
There is an indignant way in which a man sometimes dismounts his horse, which as good as says to him, вАЬIвАЩll go afoot, Sir, all the days of my life, before I would ride a single mile upon your back again.вАЭ Now my uncle Toby could not be said to dismount his horse in this manner; for in strictness of language, he could not be said to dismount his horse at allвБ†вЄЇвБ†his horse rather flung himвБ†вЄЇвБ†and somewhat viciously, which made my uncle Toby take it ten times more unkindly. Let this matter be settled by state-jockies as they like.вБ†вЄЇвБ†It created, I say, a sort of shyness betwixt my uncle Toby and his hobbyhorse.вБ†вЄЇвБ†He had no occasion for him from the month of March to November, which was the summer after the articles were signed, except it was now and then to take a short ride out, just to see that the fortifications and harbour of Dunkirk were demolished, according to stipulation.
The French were so backwards all that summer in setting about that affair, and Monsieur Tugghe, the Deputy from the magistrates of Dunkirk, presented so many affecting petitions to the queen,вБ†вАФbeseeching her majesty to cause only her thunderbolts to fall upon the martial works, which might have incurred her displeasure,вБ†вАФbut to spareвБ†вАФto spare the mole, for the moleвАЩs sake; which, in its naked situation, could be no more than an object of pityвБ†вЄЇвБ†and the queen (who was but a woman) being of a pitiful disposition,вБ†вАФand her ministers also, they not wishing in their hearts to have the town dismantled, for these private reasons, * * * * * * * * * * * *вБ†вЄЇвБ†
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *; so that the whole went heavily on with my uncle Toby; insomuch, that it was not within three full months, after he and the corporal had constructed the town, and put it in a condition to be destroyed, that the several commandants, commissaries, deputies, negociators, and intendants, would permit him to set about it.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Fatal interval of inactivity!
The corporal was for beginning the demolition, by making a breach in the ramparts, or main fortifications of the townвБ†вЄЇвБ†No,вБ†вАФthat will never do, corporal, said my uncle Toby, for in going that way to work with the town, the English garrison will not be safe in it an hour; because if the French are treacherousвБ†вЄЇвБ†They are as treacherous as devils, anвАЩ please your honour, said the corporalвБ†вЄЇвБ†It gives me concern always when I hear it, Trim, said my uncle Toby,вБ†вАФfor they donвАЩt want personal bravery; and if a breach is made in the ramparts, they may enter it, and make themselves masters of the place when they please:вБ†вЄЇвБ†Let them enter it, said the corporal, lifting up his pioneerвАЩs spade in both his hands, as if he was going to lay about him with it,вБ†вАФlet them enter, anвАЩ please your honour, if they dare.вБ†вЄЇвБ†In cases like this, corporal, said my uncle Toby, slipping his right hand down to the middle of his cane, and holding it afterwards truncheon-wise with his forefinger extended,вБ†вЄЇвАЩtis no part of the consideration of a commandant, what the enemy dare,вБ†вАФor what they dare not do; he must act with prudence. We will begin with the outworks both towards the sea and the land, and particularly with fort Louis, the most distant of them all, and demolish it first,вБ†вАФand the rest, one by one, both on our right and left, as we retreat towards the town;вБ†вЄЇвБ†then weвАЩll demolish the mole,вБ†вАФnext fill up the harbour,вБ†вАФthen retire into the citadel, and blow it up into the air: and having done that, corporal, weвАЩll embark for England.вБ†вЄЇвБ†We are there, quoth the corporal, recollecting himselfвБ†вЄЇвБ†Very true, said my uncle TobyвБ†вАФlooking at the church.