Though it was the most serious despair in nature to the corporal--he could not forbear smiling.
The young _Beguine_, continued the corporal, perceiving it was of great service to me--from rubbing for some time, with two fingers--proceeded to rub at length, with three--till by little and little she brought down the fourth, and then rubb'd with her whole hand: I will never say another word, an' please your honour, upon hands again--but it was softer than sattin--
----Prithee, _Trim_, commend it as much as thou wilt, said my uncle _Toby_; I shall hear thy story with the more delight ----The corporal thank'd his master most unfeignedly; but having nothing to say upon the _Beguine's_ hand but the same over again----he proceeded to the effects of it.
The fair _Beguine_, said the corporal, continued rubbing with her whole hand under my knee--till I fear'd her zeal would weary her---- "I would do a thousand times more," said she, "for the love of Christ" ----In saying which, she pass'd her hand across the flannel, to the part above my knee, which I had equally complain'd of, and rubb'd it also.
I perceived, then, I was beginning to be in love----
As she continued rub-rub-rubbing --I felt it spread from under her hand, an' please your honour, to every part of my frame.----
The more she rubb'd, and the longer strokes she took----the more the fire kindled in my veins----till at length, by two or three strokes longer than the rest----my passion rose to the highest pitch ----I seiz'd her hand----
----And then thou clapped'st it to thy lips, _Trim_, said my uncle _Toby_----and madest a speech.
Whether the corporal's amour terminated precisely in the way my uncle _Toby_ described it, is not material; it is enough that it contained in it the essence of all the love romances which ever have been wrote since the beginning of the world.
Though he was serious, the corporal could not help smiling.
'The young Beguine,' he continued, 'seeing the rubbing helped me greatly, proceeded to rub with three fingers - till by little and little she brought down the fourth, and rubbed with her whole hand: I will never say another word upon hands again - but it was softer than satin-'
'Prithee, Trim, commend it as much as thou wilt,' said my uncle Toby; 'I shall hear thy story with the more delight.'
The corporal thanked his master.
'The fair Beguine,' said he, 'continued rubbing with her whole hand under my knee, till I feared her zeal would weary her. "I would do a thousand times more," said she, "for the love of Christ" - In saying which, she moved her hand to the part above my knee, and rubbed it also.
'I perceived, then, I was beginning to be in love-
'As she continued rub-rub-rubbing - I felt it spread from under her hand, your honour, to every part of my frame.
'The more she rubbed, and the longer strokes she took - the more the fire kindled in my veins - till at length, by two or three strokes longer than the rest - my passion rose to the highest pitch - I seized her hand-'
'- And then thou clapped it to thy lips, Trim,' said my uncle Toby, 'and made a speech.'
Whether the corporal's amour ended precisely in that way, is not important; it is enough that it contained the essence of all the love romances which have ever been wrote since the beginning of the world.