"By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and of the holy canons, and of the undefiled Virgin _Mary_, mother and patroness of our Saviour." I think there is no necessity, quoth Dr. _Slop_, dropping the paper down to his knee, and addressing himself to my father----as you have read it over, Sir, so lately, to read it aloud----and as Captain _Shandy_ seems to have no great inclination to hear it ------I may as well read it to myself. That's contrary to treaty, replied my father: ------besides, there is something so whimsical, especially in the latter part of it, I should grieve to lose the pleasure of a second reading. Dr. _Slop_ did not altogether like it, ------but my uncle _Toby_ offering at that instant to give over whistling, and read it himself to them; ------Dr. _Slop_ thought he might as well read it under the cover of my uncle _Toby's_ whistling------as suffer my uncle _Toby_ to read it alone; ----so raising up the paper to his face, and holding it quite parallel to it, in order to hide his chagrin------he read it aloud as follows--------my uncle _Toby_ whistling _Lillabullero_, though not quite so loud as before.

'"By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and of the holy canons, and of the undefiled Virgin Mary, mother of our Saviour." I think there is no need to read aloud,' quoth Dr. Slop to my father, dropping the paper to his knee, 'as you have read it so lately, Sir. I may as well read it to myself.'
'No,' replied my father; 'there is something so whimsical, especially in the latter part of it, I should enjoy a second reading.'
Dr. Slop did not altogether like it; but when my uncle Toby offered to give over whistling, and read it himself, Dr. Slop thought he might as well read it under the cover of my uncle's whistling; so raising the paper to his face to hide his chagrin, he read it aloud as follows, - my uncle Toby whistling Lillabullero, though not quite so loud as before.
