d if she is not
conquered by that, and thy Asse continues still kicking, which there is
great reason to suppose--Thou must begin, with first losing a few
ounces of blood below the ears, according to the practice of the ancient
Scythians, who cured the most intemperate fits of the appetite by that
means.

Avicenna, after this, is for having the part anointed with the syrup of
hellebore, using proper evacuations and purges--and I believe rightly.
But thou must eat little or no goat's flesh, nor red deer--nor even
foal's flesh by any means; and carefully abstain--that is, as much as
thou canst, from peacocks, cranes, coots, didappers, and water-hens--

As for thy drink--I need not tell thee, it must be the infusion of
Vervain and the herb Hanea, of which Aelian relates such effects--but
if thy stomach palls with it--discontinue it from time to time, taking
cucumbers, melons, purslane, water-lillies, woodbine, and lettice, in
the stead of them.

There is nothing further for thee, which occurs to me at present--

--Unless the breaking out of a fresh war--So wishing every thing, dear
Toby, for best,

I rest thy affectionate brother,

Walter Shandy.

Chapter 4.LIX.

Whilst my father was writing his letter of instructions, my uncle Toby
and the corporal were busy in preparing every thing for the attack. As
the turning of the thin scarlet breeches was laid aside (at least for
the present), there was nothing which should put it off beyond the next
morning; so accordingly it was resolv'd upon, for eleven o'clock.

Come, my dear, said my father to my mother--'twill be but like a brother
and sister, if you and I take a walk down to my brother Toby's--to
countenance him in this attack of his.

My uncle Toby and the corporal had been accoutred both some time, when
my father and mother enter'd, and the clock striking eleven, were that
moment in motion to sally forth--but the account of this is worth more
than to be wove into the fag end of the eighth (Alluding to the first
edition.) volume of such a work as this.--My father had no time but to
put the letter of instructions into my uncle Toby's coat-pocket--and
join with my mother in wishing his attack prosperous.

I could like, said my mother, to look through the key-hole out of
curiosity--Call it by its right name, my dear, quoth my father--

And look through the key-hole as long as you will.

Chapter 4.LX.

I call all the powers of time and chance, which sev