——I would be picquetted to death, cried the corporal, as he concluded
_Susannah_’s story, before I would suffer the woman to come to any
harm,—’twas my fault, an’ please your honour,—not her’s.
Corporal _Trim_, replied my uncle _Toby_, putting on his hat which lay
upon the table,——if any thing can be said to be a fault, when the
service absolutely requires it should be done,—’tis I certainly who
deserve the blame,—you obeyed your orders.
Had count _Solmes_, _Trim_, done the same at the battle of _Steenkirk_,
said _Yorick_, drolling a little upon the corporal, who had been run
over by a dragoon in the retreat,——he had saved thee;——Saved! cried
_Trim_, interrupting _Yorick_, and finishing the sentence for him after
his own fashion,——he had saved five battalions, an’ please your
reverence, every soul of them:——there was _Cutt_ ’s,—continued the
corporal, clapping the forefinger of his right hand upon the thumb of
his left, and counting round his hand,——there was _Cutt _’s,——_Mackay
_’s,——_Angus _’s,——_Graham _’s,——and _Leven _’s, all cut to
pieces;——and so had the _English_ life-guards too, had it not been for
some regiments upon the right, who marched up boldly to their relief,
and received the enemy’s fire in their faces, before any one of their
own platoons discharged a musket,——they’ll go to heaven for it,—added
_Trim._—_Trim_ is right, said my uncle _Toby_, nodding to
_Yorick_,——he’s perfectly right. What signified his marching the horse,
continued the corporal, where the ground was so strait, that the
_French_ had such a nation of hedges, and copses, and ditches, and
fell’d trees laid this way and that to cover them (as they always
have).——Count _Solmes_ should have sent us,——we would have fired muzzle
to muzzle with them for their lives.——There was nothing to be done for
the horse:——he had his foot shot off however for his pains, continued
the corporal, the very next campaign at _Landen._—Poor _Trim_ got his
wound there, quoth my uncle _Toby._——’Twas owing, an’ please your
honour, entirely to count _Solmes_,——had he drubbed them soundly at
_Steenkirk_, they would not have fought us at _Landen._——Possibly
not,——_Trim_, said my uncle _Toby;_——though if they have the advantage
of a wood, or you give them a moment’s time to intrench themselves,
they are a nation which will pop and pop for ever at you.——There is no
way but to march coolly up to them,——receive their fire, and fall in
upon them, pell-mell——Ding dong, added _Trim._——Horse and foot, said my
uncle _Toby._——Helter Skelter, said _Trim._——Right and left, cried my
uncle _Toby._——Blood an’ ounds, shouted the corporal;——the battle
raged,——_Yorick_ drew his chair a little to one side for safety, and
after a moment’s pause, my uncle _Toby_ sinking his voice a
note,—resumed the discourse as follows.