I think there must certainly have been a mixture of ill-luck in it, that the reasons on both sides should happen to be so equally balanced by each other; for though my father weigh'd them in all humours and conditions------spent many an anxious hour in the most profound and abstracted meditation upon what was best to be done--reading books of farming one day------books of travels another----laying aside all passion whatever--viewing the arguments on both sides in all their lights and circumstances--communing every day with my uncle _Toby_--arguing with _Yorick_, and talking over the whole affair of the _Ox-moor_ with _Obadiah_------yet nothing in all that time appeared so strongly in behalf of the one, which was not either strictly applicable to the other, or at least so far counterbalanced by some consideration of equal weight, as to keep the scales even.

I think it was ill-luck that the reasons on both sides were so equally balanced; for though my father weighed them anxiously - reading books of farming one day - books of travels another - arguing with my uncle and Yorick, and talking over the affair of the Ox-moor with Obadiah - yet nothing appeared so strongly in behalf of the one, which was not counterbalanced by some consideration of equal weight in the other.
