XXI
вЄЇвБ†I would be picquetted to death, cried the corporal, as he concluded SusannahвАЩs story, before I would suffer the woman to come to any harm,вБ†вАФвАЩtwas my fault, anвАЩ please your honour,вБ†вАФnot hers.
Corporal Trim, replied my uncle Toby, putting on his hat which lay upon the table,вБ†вЄЇвБ†if anything can be said to be a fault, when the service absolutely requires it should be done,вБ†вАФвАЩtis I certainly who deserve the blame,вБ†вЄЇвБ†you obeyed your orders.
Had count Solmes, Trim, done the same at the battle of Steenkirk, said Yorick, drolling a little upon the corporal, who had been run over by a dragoon in the retreat,вБ†вЄЇвБ†he had saved thee;вБ†вЄЇвБ†Saved! cried Trim, interrupting Yorick, and finishing the sentence for him after his own fashion,вБ†вЄЇвБ†he had saved five battalions, anвАЩ please your reverence, every soul of them:вБ†вЄЇвБ†there was CuttsвАЩsвБ†вАФcontinued the corporal, clapping the forefinger of his right hand upon the thumb of his left, and counting round his hand,вБ†вЄЇвБ†there was CuttsвАЩs,вБ†вЄЇвБ†MackayвАЩs,вБ†вЄЇвБ†AngusвАЩs,вБ†вЄЇвБ†GrahamвАЩs,вБ†вЄЇвБ†and LevenвАЩs, all cut to pieces;вБ†вЄЇвБ†and so had the English lifeguards too, had it not been for some regiments upon the right, who marched up boldly to their relief, and received the enemyвАЩs fire in their faces, before any one of their own platoons discharged a musket,вБ†вЄЇвБ†theyвАЩll go to heaven for it,вБ†вАФadded Trim.вБ†вАФTrim is right, said my uncle Toby, nodding to Yorick,вБ†вЄЇвБ†heвАЩs perfectly right. What signified his marching the horse, continued the corporal, where the ground was so straight, that the French had such a nation of hedges, and copses, and ditches, and fellвАЩd trees laid this way and that to cover them; (as they always have).вБ†вЄЇвБ†Count Solmes should have sent us,вБ†вЄЇвБ†we would have fired muzzle to muzzle with them for their lives.вБ†вЄЇвБ†There was nothing to be done for the horse:вБ†вЄЇвБ†he had his foot shot off however for his pains, continued the corporal, the very next campaign at Landen.вБ†вАФPoor Trim got his wound there, quoth my uncle Toby.вБ†вЄЇвАЩTwas owing, anвАЩ please your honour, entirely to count Solmes,вБ†вЄЇвБ†had he drubbвАЩd them soundly at Steenkirk, they would not have fought us at Landen.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Possibly not,вБ†вЄЇвБ†Trim, said my uncle Toby;вБ†вЄЇвБ†though if they have the advantage of a wood, or you give them a momentвАЩs time to intrench themselves, they are a nation which will pop and pop forever at you.вБ†вЄЇвБ†There is no way but to march coolly up to them,вБ†вЄЇвБ†receive their fire, and fall in upon them, pell-mellвБ†вЄЇвБ†Ding dong, added Trim.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Horse and foot, said my uncle Toby.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Helter skelter, said Trim.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Right and left, cried my uncle Toby.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Blood anвАЩ ounds, shouted the corporal;вБ†вЄЇвБ†the battle raged,вБ†вЄЇвБ†Yorick drew his chair a little to one side for safety, and after a momentвАЩs pause, my uncle Toby sinking his voice a note,вБ†вАФresumed the discourse as follows.