Sterne prided himself vastly upon the
incident of Le Fevre's death; but I dare say that there is many a
modern reader who would rather have lost this highly-wrought piece of
domestic drama, than that other exquisite little scene in the kitchen
of the inn, when Corporal Trim toasts the bread which the sick
lieutenant's son is preparing for his father's posset, while "Mr.
Yorick's curate was smoking a pipe by the fire, but said not a word,
good or bad, to comfort the youth." The whole scene is absolute life;
and the dialogue between the Corporal and the parson, as related by
the former to his master, with Captain Shandy's comments thereon, is
almost Shakspearian in its excellence. Says the Corporal:
"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 he should be glad if I would step
upstairs, I believe, said the landlord, he is going to say his prayers,
for there was a book laid on the chair by the bed-side, and as I
shut the door I saw him take up a cushion. I thought, said the curate,
that you gentlemen of the army, Mr.
Pages:
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255