indeed,
said my father--you may go with my aunt Dinah to a visitation with a
bend-sinister, if you think fit--My poor uncle Toby blush'd. My father
was vexed at himself.--No--my dear brother Toby, said my father,
changing his tone--but the damp of the coach-lining about my loins, may
give me the sciatica again, as it did December, January, and February
last winter--so if you please you shall ride my wife's pad--and as
you are to preach, Yorick, you had better make the best of your way
before--and leave me to take care of my brother Toby, and to follow at
our own rates.

Now the chapter I was obliged to tear out, was the description of this
cavalcade, in which Corporal Trim and Obadiah, upon two coach-horses
a-breast, led the way as slow as a patrole--whilst my uncle Toby, in
his laced regimentals and tye-wig, kept his rank with my father, in deep
roads and dissertations alternately upon the advantage of learning and
arms, as each could get the start.

--But the painting of this journey, upon reviewing it, appears to be so
much above the stile and manner of any thing else I have been able
to paint in this book, that it could not have remained in it, without
depreciating every other scene; and destroying at the same time that
necessary equipoise and balance, (whether of good or bad) betwixt
chapter and chapter, from whence the just proportions and harmony of
the whole work results. For my own part, I am but just set up in the
business, so know little about it--but, in my opinion, to write a book
is for all the world like humming a song--be but in tune with yourself,
madam, 'tis no matter how high or how low you take it.

--This is the reason, may it please your reverences, that some of the
lowest and flattest compositions pass off very well--(as Yorick told my
uncle Toby one night) by siege.--My uncle Toby looked brisk at the sound
of the word siege, but could make neither head or tail of it.

I'm to preach at court next Sunday, said Homenas--run over my notes--so
I humm'd over doctor Homenas's notes--the modulation's very well--'twill
do, Homenas, if it holds on at this rate--so on I humm'd--and a
tolerable tune I thought it was; and to this hour, may it please your
reverences, had never found out how low, how flat, how spiritless and
jejune it was, but that all of a sudden, up started an air in the middle
of it, so fine, so rich, so heavenly,--it carried my soul up with it
into the other world; now had I (as Montai