f the two brothers, in this view of them, reflected
light upon each other, and appeared with great advantage in this affair
which arose about Stevinus.

I need not tell the reader, if he keeps a Hobby-Horse,--that a man's
Hobby-Horse is as tender a part as he has about him; and that
these unprovoked strokes at my uncle Toby's could not be unfelt by
him.--No:--as I said above, my uncle Toby did feel them, and very
sensibly too.

Pray, Sir, what said he?--How did he behave?--O, Sir!--it was great: For
as soon as my father had done insulting his Hobby-Horse,--he turned his
head without the least emotion, from Dr. Slop, to whom he was addressing
his discourse, and looking up into my father's face, with a countenance
spread over with so much good-nature;--so placid;--so fraternal;--so
inexpressibly tender towards him:--it penetrated my father to his heart:
He rose up hastily from his chair, and seizing hold of both my
uncle Toby's hands as he spoke:--Brother Toby, said he:--I beg thy
pardon;--forgive, I pray thee, this rash humour which my mother gave
me.--My dear, dear brother, answered my uncle Toby, rising up by my
father's help, say no more about it;--you are heartily welcome, had it
been ten times as much, brother. But 'tis ungenerous, replied my father,
to hurt any man;--a brother worse;--but to hurt a brother of such gentle
manners,--so unprovoking,--and so unresenting;--'tis base:--By Heaven,
'tis cowardly.--You are heartily welcome, brother, quoth my uncle
Toby,--had it been fifty times as much.--Besides, what have I to do,
my dear Toby, cried my father, either with your amusements or your
pleasures, unless it was in my power (which it is not) to increase their
measure?

--Brother Shandy, answered my uncle Toby, looking wistfully in his
face,--you are much mistaken in this point:--for you do increase my
pleasure very much, in begetting children for the Shandy family at your
time of life.--But, by that, Sir, quoth Dr. Slop, Mr. Shandy increases
his own.--Not a jot, quoth my father.

Chapter 1.XXXVIII.

My brother does it, quoth my uncle Toby, out of principle.--In a family
way, I suppose, quoth Dr. Slop.--Pshaw!--said my father,--'tis not worth
talking of.

Chapter 1.XXXIX.

At the end of the last chapter, my father and my uncle Toby were left
both standing, like Brutus and Cassius, at the close of the scene,
making up their accounts.

As my father spoke the three last words,--he sat down;--my uncl