There is no terrour, brother _Toby_, in its looks, but what it borrows from groans and convulsions--and the blowing of noses and the wiping away of tears with the bottoms of curtains, in a dying man's room. --Strip it of these, what is it? --'Tis better in battle than in bed, said my uncle _Toby_. --Take away its herses, its mutes, and its mourning, --its plumes, scutcheons, and other mechanic aids --What is it? ----_Better in battle!_ continued my father, smiling, for he had absolutely forgot my brother _Bobby_--'tis terrible no way--for consider, brother _Toby_, --when we _are_--death is _not_; --and when death _is_--we are _not_. My uncle _Toby_ laid down his pipe to consider the proposition; my father's eloquence was too rapid to stay for any man--away it went, --and hurried my uncle _Toby's_ ideas along with it.----
For this reason, continued my father, 'tis worthy to recollect how little alteration, in great men, the approaches of death have made. --_Vespasian_ died in a jest upon his close-stool--_Galba_ with a sentence--_Septimus Severus_ in a dispatch--_Tiberius_ in dissimulation, and _Csar Augustus_ in a compliment. --I hope 'twas a sincere one--quoth my uncle _Toby_.
--'Twas to his wife, --said my father.
'There is no terror, brother Toby, in death's looks, except what it borrows from groans and convulsions, and the wiping away of tears with the bottoms of curtains, in a dying man's room. Strip it of these, and what is it?'
''Tis better in battle than in bed,' said my uncle Toby.
'Better in battle!' continued my father, smiling, for he had absolutely forgot my brother Bobby. ''Tis not terrible - for when we are, death is not; and when death is, we are not.'
My uncle Toby laid down his pipe to consider this.
'For this reason,' continued my father, ''tis worthy to recollect how little change, in great men, the approaches of death have made. Vespasian died in a jest; Galba with a sentence - Tiberius in concealment, and Augustus in a compliment.'
'I hope 'twas a sincere one,' quoth my uncle Toby.
''Twas to his wife,' said my father.