It was owing to the neglect of that very precaution, said my uncle _Toby_, laying his hand upon _Trim's_ shoulder, that Count _De la Motte_ lost the battle of _Wynendale_: he pressed too speedily into the wood; which if he had not done, _Lisle_ had not fallen into our hands, nor _Ghent_ and _Bruges_, which both followed her example; it was so late in the year, continued my uncle _Toby_, and so terrible a season came on, that if things had not fallen out as they did, our troops must have perish'd in the open field.----

'It was owing to the neglect of that very precaution,' said my uncle Toby, laying his hand upon Trim's shoulder, 'that Count De la Motte lost the battle of Wynnendale: he pressed too speedily into the wood, and let Lisle fall into our hands, and then Ghent and Bruges; it was so late in the year, and so terrible a season came on, that otherwise our troops might have perished-'
