——“I _WISH_, Dr. _Slop_,” quoth my uncle _Toby_, (repeating his wish
for Dr. _Slop_ a second time, and with a degree of more zeal and
earnestness in his manner of wishing, than he had wished at
first[5])——“_I wish, Dr. Slop,”_ quoth my uncle _Toby_, “_you had seen
what prodigious armies we had in_ Flanders.”
My uncle _Toby_’s wish did Dr. _Slop_ a disservice which his heart
never intended any man,—Sir, it confounded him——and thereby putting his
ideas first into confusion, and then to flight, he could not rally them
again for the soul of him.
In all disputes,——male or female, —whether for honour, for profit, or
for love,—it makes no difference in the case;—nothing is more
dangerous, Madam, than a wish coming sideways in this unexpected manner
upon a man: the safest way in general to take off the force of the
wish, is for the party wish’d at, instantly to get upon his legs—and
wish the _wisher_ something in return, of pretty near the same
value,——so balancing the account upon the spot, you stand as you
were—nay sometimes gain the advantage of the attack by it.