t a court martial?
cried my uncle Toby.--Though the learned, continued he, taking no notice
of my uncle Toby's remark, but turning to Yorick,--are greatly divided
still who Ilus was;--some say Saturn;--some the Supreme Being;--others,
no more than a brigadier general under Pharaoh-neco.--Let him be who
he will, said my uncle Toby, I know not by what article of war he could
justify it.

The controvertists, answered my father, assign two-and-twenty different
reasons for it:--others, indeed, who have drawn their pens on the
opposite side of the question, have shewn the world the futility of the
greatest part of them.--But then again, our best polemic divines--I wish
there was not a polemic divine, said Yorick, in the kingdom;--one
ounce of practical divinity--is worth a painted ship-load of all their
reverences have imported these fifty years.--Pray, Mr. Yorick, quoth my
uncle Toby,--do tell me what a polemic divine is?--The best description,
captain Shandy, I have ever read, is of a couple of 'em, replied Yorick,
in the account of the battle fought single hands betwixt Gymnast and
captain Tripet; which I have in my pocket.--I beg I may hear it, quoth
my uncle Toby earnestly.--You shall, said Yorick.--And as the corporal
is waiting for me at the door,--and I know the description of a battle
will do the poor fellow more good than his supper,--I beg, brother,
you'll give him leave to come in.--With all my soul, said my
father.--Trim came in, erect and happy as an emperor; and having shut
the door, Yorick took a book from his right-hand coat-pocket, and read,
or pretended to read, as follows.

Chapter 3.XXIX.

--'which words being heard by all the soldiers which were there, divers
of them being inwardly terrified, did shrink back and make room for
the assailant: all this did Gymnast very well remark and consider; and
therefore, making as if he would have alighted from off his horse, as he
was poising himself on the mounting side, he most nimbly (with his short
sword by this thigh) shifting his feet in the stirrup, and performing
the stirrup-leather feat, whereby, after the inclining of his body
downwards, he forthwith launched himself aloft into the air, and placed
both his feet together upon the saddle, standing upright, with his back
turned towards his horse's head,--Now, (said he) my case goes forward.
Then suddenly in the same posture wherein he was, he fetched a gambol
upon one foot, and turning to the left-hand,