, 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 further 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
detach'd a little from his breast; -- his right arm falling negligently by his
side, as nature and the laws of gravity order'd 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 look'd frank, - unconstrained, - something assured,
-- but not bordering upon assurance.
    Let not the critick ask how Corporal Trim could come by all this; I've told
him it shall 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 modell'd
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,
