r, it had one eighth part of his body to bear up;--so
that in this case the position of the leg is determined,--because the
foot could be no farther advanced, or the knee more bent, than what
would allow him, mechanically to receive an eighth part of his whole
weight under it, and to carry it too.

>This I recommend to painters;--need I add,--to orators!--I think not;
for unless they practise it,--they must fall upon their noses.

So much for Corporal Trim's body and legs.--He held the sermon loosely,
not carelessly, in his left hand, raised something above his stomach,
and detached a little from his breast;--his right arm falling
negligently by his side, as nature and the laws of gravity ordered
it,--but with the palm of it open and turned towards his audience, ready
to aid the sentiment in case it stood in need.

Corporal Trim's eyes and the muscles of his face were in full harmony
with the other parts of him;--he looked frank,--unconstrained,--
something assured,--but not bordering upon assurance.

Let not the critic ask how Corporal Trim could come by all this.--I've
told him it should be explained;--but so he stood before my father, my
uncle Toby, and Dr. Slop,--so swayed his body, so contrasted his limbs,
and with such an oratorical sweep throughout the whole figure,--a
statuary might have modelled from it;--nay, I doubt whether the oldest
Fellow of a College,--or the Hebrew Professor himself, could have much
mended it.

Trim made a bow, and read as follows:

The Sermon.

Hebrews xiii. 18.

--For we trust we have a good Conscience.

'Trust!--Trust we have a good conscience!'

(Certainly, Trim, quoth my father, interrupting him, you give that
sentence a very improper accent; for you curl up your nose, man, and
read it with such a sneering tone, as if the Parson was going to abuse
the Apostle.

He is, an' please your Honour, replied Trim. Pugh! said my father,
smiling.

Sir, quoth Dr. Slop, Trim is certainly in the right; for the writer (who
I perceive is a Protestant) by the snappish manner in which he takes up
the apostle, is certainly going to abuse him;--if this treatment of him
has not done it already. But from whence, replied my father, have you
concluded so soon, Dr. Slop, that the writer is of our church?--for
aught I can see yet,--he may be of any church.--Because, answered Dr.
Slop, if he was of ours,--he durst no more take such a licence,--than
a bear by his beard:--If, in our communion, S