XXXII
Trim can repeat every word of it by heart, quoth my uncle Toby.вБ†вАФPugh! said my father, not caring to be interrupted with TrimвАЩs saying his Catechism. He can, upon my honour, replied my uncle Toby.вБ†вАФAsk him, Mr.¬†Yorick, any question you please.вБ†вЄЇвБ†
вАФThe fifth Commandment, TrimвБ†вАФsaid Yorick, speaking mildly, and with a gentle nod, as to a modest Catechumen. The corporal stood silent.вБ†вАФYou donвАЩt ask him right, said my uncle Toby, raising his voice, and giving it rapidly like the word of command:вБ†вЄЇвБ†The fifthвБ†вЄЇвЄЇвБ†cried my uncle Toby.вБ†вАФI must begin with the first, anвАЩ please your honour, said the corporal.вБ†вЄЇвБ†
вАФYorick could not forbear smiling.вБ†вАФYour reverence does not consider, said the corporal, shouldering his stick like a musket, and marching into the middle of the room, to illustrate his position,вБ†вАФthat вАЩtis exactly the same thing, as doing oneвАЩs exercise in the field.вБ†вАФ
вАЬJoin your right-hand to your firelock,вАЭ cried the corporal, giving the word of command, and performing the motion.вБ†вАФ
вАЬPoise your firelock,вАЭ cried the corporal, doing the duty still both of adjutant and private man.
вАЬRest your firelock;вАЭвБ†вАФone motion, anвАЩ please your reverence, you see leads into another.вБ†вАФIf his honour will begin but with the firstвБ†вАФ
The firstвБ†вАФcried my uncle Toby, setting his hand upon his sideвБ†вАФ* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ¬†
The secondвБ†вАФcried my uncle Toby, waving his tobacco-pipe, as he would have done his sword at the head of a regiment.вБ†вАФThe corporal went through his manual with exactness! and having honoured his father and mother, made a low bow, and fell back to the side of the room.
Everything in this world, said my father, is big with jest,вБ†вАФand has wit in it, and instruction too,вБ†вАФif we can but find it out.
вАФHere is the scaffold work of Instruction, its true point of folly, without the building behind it.
вАФHere is the glass for pedagogues, preceptors, tutors, governors, gerund-grinders, and bear-leaders, to view themselves in, in their true dimensions.вБ†вАФ
Oh! there is a husk and shell, Yorick, which grows up with learning, which their unskilfulness knows not how to fling away!
вАФSciences may be learned by rote, but Wisdom not.
Yorick thought my father inspired.вБ†вАФI will enter into obligations this moment, said my father, to lay out all my aunt DinahвАЩs legacy in charitable uses (of which, by the by, my father had no high opinion), if the corporal has any one determinate idea annexed to any one word he has repeated.вБ†вАФPrithee, Trim, quoth my father, turning round to him,вБ†вАФWhat dost thou mean, by вАЬhonouring thy father and mother?вАЭ
Allowing them, anвАЩ please your honour, three halfpence a day out of my pay, when they grow old.вБ†вАФAnd didst thou do that, Trim? said Yorick.вБ†вАФHe did indeed, replied my uncle Toby.вБ†вАФThen, Trim, said Yorick, springing out of his chair, and taking the corporal by the hand, thou art the best commentator upon that part of the Decalogue; and I honour thee more for it, corporal Trim, than if thou hadst had a hand in the Talmud itself.