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tion of Pope enabled him to condense his sentiments, to multiply his images, and to accumulate all that study might produce, or chance might supply. If the flights of Dryden therefore are higher, Pope continues longer on the wing. If of Dryden's fire the blaze is brighter: of Pope's the heat is more regular and constant. Dryden often surpasses expectation, and Pope never falls below it. Dryden is read with frequent astonishment, and Pope with perpetual delight.

XIII. Story of Le Fever.-STERNE.

It was sometime in the summer of that year in which Dendermond was taken by the allies, when my uncle Toby was one evening getting his supper, with Trim sitting behind him, at a small sideboard-1 say sittingfor in consideration of the corporal's lame knee (which sometimes gave him exquisite pain)-when my uncle Toby dined or supped alone, he would never suffer the corporal to stand: And the poor fellow's veneration for his master was such, that, with a proper artillery, my uncle Toby could have taken Dendermond itself, with less trouble than he was able to gain this point over him; for many a time when my uncle Toby supposed the corporal's leg was at rest, he would look back, and detect hira standing behind him, with the most dutiful respect; this bred more little squabbles betwixt them, than all other causes, for five and twenty years together.

He was one evening sitting thus at his supper, when the landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlor, with an empty phial in his hand, tobeg a glass or two of sack: 'Tis for a poor gentleman-I think of the army, said the landlord, who has been taken ill at my house four days ago, and has never held up his head since, or had a desire to taste any thing till just now, that he has a fancy for a glass of sack, and a thin toast. -" 1 think," says he, taking his hand from his forehead

"It would comfort me.".

--If I could neither beg, borrow, nor buy such a thing-added the landlord) would almost steal it for the poor gentleman, he is so ill--, hope he will still mend,continued he-we are all of us concerned for him.

Thou art a good natured soul, I will answer for thee, eried my uncle Toby; and thou shalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of sack thyself and take a couple of bottles with my service, and tell him he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more, if they will do him good.

Though I am persuaded, said my uncle Toby, as the landlord shut the door, he is a very compassionate fellow, Trim-yet I cannot help entertaining a high opinion of his guest too; there must be something more than common in him, that, in so short a time, should win so much upon the affections of his host. And of his whole family, added the corporal, for they are all concerned for him. Step after him, said my uncle Toby-do Trim, and ask if he knows his name.

I have quite forgot it, truly, said the landlord, coming back into the parlor with the corporal-but I can ask his son again -Has he a son with him, then? said my uncle Toby. A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age; but the poor creature has tasted almost as littleas his father; he does nothing but mourn and lament for him night and day. He has not stirred from the bed side these two days.

My uncle Toby laid down his knife and fork, and thrust his plate from before him, as the landlord gave him the account: And Trim, without being ordered, took them away, without saying one word, and in a few minutes after, brought him his pipe and tobacco.

Trim! said my uncle Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myself up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a visit to this poor gentleman. Your honor's roquelaure, replied the corporal, has not once been had on since the night before your honor received your wound, when we mounted guard in the trenches before the gate of St. Nicholas ;-and besides, it is so cold and rainy a night, that, what with the roquelaure, and what with the weather, it will be enough to give your honor your death. I fear so, replied my uncle Toby; but I am not at rest in my mind, Trim, since the account the landlord has given me I wish I had not known so much of this affair-added my uncle Tos

by-or that I had known more of it:---How shall we manage it? Leave it, an't please your honor, to me, quoth the corporal; -I'll take my hat and stick, and go to the house, and reconnoitre, and act accordingly; and I will bring your honor a full account in an hour. Thou shalt go, Trim, said my uncle Toby, and here's a shilling for thee to drink with his servant. I shall get it all out of him, said the corporal, shutting the door.

It was not till my uncle Toby had knocked the ashes out of his third pipe, that corporal Trim returned from the inn, and gave him the following account:

I dispaired at first, said the corporal, of being able to bring back your honor any kind of intelligence concerning the poor sick lieutenant-is he of the army, then ? said my uncle Toby. - He is, said the corporal-And in what regiment? said my uncle Toby-i'll tell your honor replied the corporal, every thing straight forward, as I learnt it. Then, Trim, I'll fill another pipe, said my uncle Toby, and not interrupt thee; so sit down at thy ease, Trim, in the window seat, and begin thy story again. The corporal made his old bow, which generally spoke as plain as a bow could speak it, "Your honor is good;" and having done that, he sat down as he was ordered-and began the story to my uncle Toby over again, in pretty near the same words.

I despaired at first, said the corporal, of being able to bring back any intelligence to your honor, about the lieutenant and his son; for when I asked where the ser vant was, from whom I made myselfsure of knowing every thing that was proper to be asked That's a right distinction, Trim, said my uncle Toby- was answered, an't please your homor, that he had no servant with him. -That he had come to the inn with hired horses; which, upon finding himself unable to proceed (to join, I suppose, the regiment) he had dismissed the morning after he came. f I get better, my dear, said he, as he gave his purse to his son to pay the man-we can hire horses from hence. But alas! The poor gentleman will never get from hence, said the landlady to me, for I heard the deathwatch all night long;-and when he dies, the youth, his son will certainly die with hi m; for he is broken hearted already.

I was hearing this account, continued the corporal, when the youth came into the kitchen, to order the thin toast the landlord spoke of; but I will do it for my father myself, said the youth. Prey let me save you the trouble, young gentleman, said 1, taking up a fork for the purpose, and offering him my chair to sit down upon by the fire, whilst i did it. I believe, Sir, said he, very modestly, I can please him best myself-I am sure, said I, his honor will not like the toast the worse for being toasted by an old soldier. The youth took hold of my hand, and instantly burst into tears. Poor youth! said my uncle Toby-he has been bred up from an infant in the army, and the name of a soldier, Trim, sounded in his ears, like the name of a friend. I wish I had him here.

--1 never, in the longest march, said the corporal, had so great a mind to my dinner, as I had to cry with him for company :- What could be the matter with me, an't please your honor? Nothing in the world, Trim, said my uncle Toby, blowing his nose-but that thou art a goodnatured fellow.

When I gave him the toast, continued the corporal-I thoughtit was proper to tell him I was captain Shandy's servant, and that your honor (though a stranger) was extremely concerned for his father; and that if there was any thing in your house or cellar--(and thou mightest have added my purse too, said my uncle Toby)--he was heartily welcome to it: He made a very low bow (which was meant to your honor)--but no answer--for his heart was full-so he went up stairs with the toast; I warrant you, my dear, said 1, as I opened the kitchen door, your father will be well again. Mr. Yorick's curate was smoking a pipe by the kitchen fire, but said not a word, good or bad, to comfort the youth. I thought it wrong, added the corporal-I think so too, said my uncle Toby.

When the Lieutenant had taken his glass of sack and toast, he felt himself a little revived, and sent down into the kitchen, to let me know, that in about ten minutes,

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