The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Chapters

Chapters explained

Chapter companions for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne.

Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph presents a Greek maxim from Epictetus, stating that it is not events themselves that disturb people, but their judgments about those events.
Chapter 2
To the Right Honourable Mr. Pitt
The author dedicates his work to Mr. Pitt, expressing modest hopes for the dedication and explaining that he writes in a retired thatched house, using mirth to fend against ill health and life's evils. He asks only that the book may make Mr. Pitt smile or beguile a moment's pain, which would make him as happy as a minister of state.
Chapter 3
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
The opening chapter introduces Tristram Shandy as the narrator, who humorously laments the circumstances of his conception and birth, setting the stage for a digressive and self-reflective narrative that explores the absurdities of life, family, and storytelling.
Chapter 4
Book I
The narrator, Tristram Shandy, begins his life story but is immediately sidetracked by digressions on conception, the influence of parents' thoughts at the moment of procreation, and the hobbyhorses of his father Walter and Uncle Toby. The chapter introduces the Shandy family's eccentricities, including Walter's obsession with noses and names, and Toby's preoccupation with military fortifications stemming from his wound at the Siege of Namur.
Chapter 5
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 6
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 7
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 8
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 9
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 10
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 11
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 12
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 13
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 14
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 15
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 16
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 17
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 18
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 19
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 20
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 21
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 22
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 23
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 24
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 26
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 27
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 28
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 29
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 30
Book II
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, exploring the hobbyhorses of his father Walter and Uncle Toby, particularly Toby's obsession with military fortifications and his wound at the Siege of Namur. The chapter delves into the complexities of time, narrative structure, and the absurdity of systematic thinking.
Chapter 31
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 32
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 33
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 34
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 35
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 36
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 37
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 38
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 39
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 40
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 41
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 42
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 43
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 44
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 45
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 46
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 47
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 48
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 49
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 50
Book III
The narrator continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of writing and the interplay between jest and earnest, as signaled by the epigraph from John of Salisbury.
Chapter 51
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 52
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 53
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 54
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 55
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 56
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 57
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 58
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 59
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 60
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 61
XI: Excommunicatio
This chapter presents the full Latin text of the excommunication formula attributed to Ernulfus, Bishop of Rochester, a comprehensive and elaborate curse against a thief or malefactor. The curse invokes the authority of God, the Virgin Mary, angels, patriarchs, apostles, martyrs, and all saints, and proceeds to curse the individual in every conceivable part of the body and circumstance of life, from head to foot, in action and in rest, until repentance.
Chapter 62
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 63
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 64
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 65
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 66
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 67
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 68
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 69
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 70
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 71
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 72
The Author's Preface
Tristram Shandy presents a playful preface on the relationship between wit and judgment, using the metaphor of two knobs on a chair to argue that they are meant to go together. He critiques those who claim that men of least wit have most judgment, lampooning various professions and philosophers, including John Locke, for perpetuating this fallacy.
Chapter 73
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 74
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 75
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 76
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 77
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 78
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 79
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 80
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 81
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 82
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 83
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 84
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 85
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 86
Chapter XXXIV
After a heated debate, the company disperses, leaving Walter Shandy alone to write a letter of instructions to his brother Toby on the nature of women and courtship, offering a mix of practical and absurd advice. The chapter also includes a discussion of Toby's courtship of Widow Wadman and Trim's wager on its outcome.
Chapter 87
Chapter XXXV
Walter Shandy writes a letter of instructions while Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim prepare for an attack. The family plans to visit Toby to support him, and Mrs. Shandy expresses a desire to look through the keyhole, which Walter reinterprets as a proper curiosity.
Chapter 88
Chapter XXXVI
Tristram discovers that his remarks have been stolen and makes a great commotion, questioning the commissary and the inn staff, and comparing his distress to Sancho Panza's loss of his ass's furniture.
Chapter 89
Chapter XXXVII
Tristram realizes he has accidentally sold his travel notes along with his post-chaise to a chaise-vamper, and he angrily sets out to retrieve them.
Chapter 90
XXXVIII
Tristram arrives at the chaise-vamper's house on the eighth of September, the nativity of the Virgin Mary, only to find it closed as everyone is out celebrating with Maypoles. He waits philosophically until the mistress returns to remove her hair curlers, which turn out to be his own written remarks. She returns them to him, and he reflects that they will be even more twisted when published.
Chapter 91
Chapter XXXIX
Tristram hurries to see Lippius's clock and the Chinese history, but finds the clock broken and loses interest in the Chinese history as his thoughts turn to the Tomb of the Lovers. He wishes the library key were lost, and it happens that all the Jesuits are indisposed with colic.
Chapter 92
Chapter XL
Tristram visits the Tomb of the Lovers in Lyons, only to find it gone, and wishes for Uncle Toby's comforting whistle.
Chapter 93
Chapter XLI
Tristram describes his departure from the tomb of the lovers and his voyage down the Rhône and Saône rivers to Avignon. He reflects on the windiness of Avignon and recounts a humorous incident where he mistakes a marquis for a stable hand.
Chapter 94
XLII
Tristram describes his leisurely journey through the south of France on his mule, having fled from Death. He reflects on the monotony of large plains for travel writers and his own approach to managing such landscapes.
Chapter 95
Book IV
Book IV continues Tristram's digressive narrative, focusing on Walter Shandy's philosophical systems and the absurdities surrounding Tristram's birth and naming. The chapter explores themes of knowledge, family heredity, and the folly of rigid systems, as Walter's theories clash with reality.
Chapter 96
Slawkenbergii Fabella
A stranger arrives in Strasbourg on a dark mule, with a remarkable nose that sparks debate among the townspeople, including a soldier, a drummer, a trumpeter and his wife, and the innkeeper's wife. The stranger, claiming to have acquired his nose at the Promontory of Noses, fends off all attempts to touch it, citing a vow to Saint Nicholas, and departs for Frankfurt, promising to return in four weeks.
Chapter 97
Slawkenbergius's Tale
A stranger with an enormous nose arrives in Strasburg, causing a city-wide uproar of curiosity, debate, and obsession. The townspeople, from sentinels to scholars, argue over the nature and reality of the nose, leading to theological and philosophical disputes that consume the city for weeks.
Chapter 98
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 99
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 100
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 101
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 102
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 103
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 104
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 105
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 106
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 107
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 108
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 109
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 110
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 111
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 112
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 113
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 114
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 115
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 116
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 117
My Father's Lamentation
Walter Shandy laments the misfortunes that have befallen his son Tristram, blaming the Shandy family's sins, his wife's anxieties, and the physical trauma of Tristram's birth for the child's perceived deficiencies. He expresses despair over the failure of his systems and the irreparable damage done to Tristram's potential.
Chapter 118
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 119
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 120
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 121
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 122
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 123
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 124
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 125
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 126
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 127
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 128
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 129
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 130
Book V
The chapter opens with epigraphs from Horace and Erasmus, and a citation from the Second Council of Carthage, setting a tone of playful defiance against those who might criticize the author's jocularity or theological lightness. The narrator invokes Democritus and defends the right to jest, even in serious contexts.
Chapter 131
To the Right Honourable John, Lord Viscount Spencer
Laurence Sterne dedicates the two volumes to Lord Viscount Spencer, apologizing for their imperfection due to his poor health, and also inscribes the story of Le Fever to Lady Spencer, citing its humane nature as his only motive.
Chapter 132
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 133
Upon Whiskers
The narrator reflects on the imprudence of promising a chapter upon whiskers, acknowledging the world's delicacy and his own ignorance of its temperament, which he would have avoided had he seen the fragment that follows.
Chapter 134
The Fragment
The chapter presents a fragmentary tale from the court of Queen Margaret of Navarre, centered on the word 'whiskers' and its shifting connotations. La Fosseuse's utterance of the word triggers a cascade of reactions among the ladies of the court, leading to a moral panic about accessory ideas and indecency. The narrative includes the Lady Baussiere's indifferent ride past pleas for charity, and concludes with an old gentleman and lady discussing the subject, as the word 'whiskers' becomes a source of both gallantry and devotion, ultimately falling into disrepute.
Chapter 135
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 136
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 137
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 138
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 139
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 140
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 141
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 142
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 143
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 144
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 145
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 146
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 147
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 148
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 149
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 150
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 151
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 152
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 153
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 154
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 155
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 156
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 157
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 158
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 159
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 160
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 161
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 162
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 163
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 164
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 165
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 166
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 167
Chapter XXXIV
After a heated debate, the company disperses, leaving Walter Shandy alone to write a letter of instructions to his brother Toby on the nature of women and courtship, offering a mix of practical and absurd advice. The chapter also includes a discussion of Toby's courtship of Widow Wadman and Trim's wager on its outcome.
Chapter 168
Chapter XXXV
Walter Shandy writes a letter of instructions while Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim prepare for an attack. The family plans to visit Toby to support him, and Mrs. Shandy expresses a desire to look through the keyhole, which Walter reinterprets as a proper curiosity.
Chapter 169
Chapter XXXVI
Tristram discovers that his remarks have been stolen and makes a great commotion, questioning the commissary and the inn staff, and comparing his distress to Sancho Panza's loss of his ass's furniture.
Chapter 170
Chapter XXXVII
Tristram realizes he has accidentally sold his travel notes along with his post-chaise to a chaise-vamper, and he angrily sets out to retrieve them.
Chapter 171
XXXVIII
Tristram arrives at the chaise-vamper's house on the eighth of September, the nativity of the Virgin Mary, only to find it closed as everyone is out celebrating with Maypoles. He waits philosophically until the mistress returns to remove her hair curlers, which turn out to be his own written remarks. She returns them to him, and he reflects that they will be even more twisted when published.
Chapter 172
Chapter XXXIX
Tristram hurries to see Lippius's clock and the Chinese history, but finds the clock broken and loses interest in the Chinese history as his thoughts turn to the Tomb of the Lovers. He wishes the library key were lost, and it happens that all the Jesuits are indisposed with colic.
Chapter 173
Chapter XL
Tristram visits the Tomb of the Lovers in Lyons, only to find it gone, and wishes for Uncle Toby's comforting whistle.
Chapter 174
Chapter XLI
Tristram describes his departure from the tomb of the lovers and his voyage down the Rhône and Saône rivers to Avignon. He reflects on the windiness of Avignon and recounts a humorous incident where he mistakes a marquis for a stable hand.
Chapter 175
XLII
Tristram describes his leisurely journey through the south of France on his mule, having fled from Death. He reflects on the monotony of large plains for travel writers and his own approach to managing such landscapes.
Chapter 176
XLIII
Tristram recounts his leisurely journey through Languedoc, describing his many digressions and encounters along the way, including a dispute over figs and eggs, a dance with a peasant girl named Nannette, and his eventual arrival at Montpellier, all while promising to return to the story of Uncle Toby's amours.
Chapter 177
Book VI
Tristram continues his narrative, reflecting on the complexities of storytelling and the nature of time. He recounts the story of Le Fever, a dying lieutenant, and the compassionate response of Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim. The chapter also explores Walter Shandy's philosophical musings and the ongoing domestic dynamics of the Shandy household.
Chapter 178
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 179
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 180
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 181
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 182
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 183
The Story of Le Fever
My uncle Toby, while at supper with Corporal Trim, learns from the landlord of a nearby inn about a poor, gravely ill army officer who has taken a sudden fancy for a glass of sack and a thin toast. The landlord's compassion moves Toby, and he sends Trim to gather more information. Upon learning the sick man has a young son who has not left his bedside, Toby resolves to visit him despite the cold and rainy night, and despite Trim's warnings about his own health.
Chapter 184
VII: The Story of Le Fever Continued
Corporal Trim returns from the inn and recounts to Uncle Toby the plight of Lieutenant Le Fever and his son. The lieutenant is gravely ill, and his devoted son cares for him. Trim describes the son's grief, the lieutenant's prayer, and his poignant recollection of his wife's death. Uncle Toby is deeply moved and expresses concern for the boy's future.
Chapter 185
VIII: The Story of Le Fever Continued
Uncle Toby abandons his military siege games to focus on the plight of the dying Lieutenant Le Fever and his son. He instructs Corporal Trim on the proper conduct of charity, insisting that Le Fever should be brought into his home and cared for. Despite Trim's grim prognosis, Toby vehemently insists Le Fever will not die, and the narrative ends with a recording angel blotting out Toby's oath with a tear.
Chapter 186
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 187
X: The Story of Le Fever Continued
Uncle Toby visits the dying Le Fever, offering him and his son a home and care. The emotional bond between father and son is highlighted as Le Fever briefly rallies before his life fades.
Chapter 188
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 189
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 190
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 191
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 192
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 193
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 194
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 195
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 196
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 197
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 198
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 199
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 200
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 201
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 202
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 203
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 204
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 205
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 206
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 207
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 208
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 209
My Uncle Toby’s Apologetical Oration
Uncle Toby delivers a passionate defense of his love for war and military sieges, arguing that his enthusiasm stems from nature and a sense of honor, not cruelty. He appeals to his brother Walter and to Yorick, recounting his childhood sensitivity to tales of war and his deep distress at its miseries, and justifies his hobbyhorse as serving the great ends of creation.
Chapter 210
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 211
Chapter XXXIV
After a heated debate, the company disperses, leaving Walter Shandy alone to write a letter of instructions to his brother Toby on the nature of women and courtship, offering a mix of practical and absurd advice. The chapter also includes a discussion of Toby's courtship of Widow Wadman and Trim's wager on its outcome.
Chapter 212
Chapter XXXV
Walter Shandy writes a letter of instructions while Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim prepare for an attack. The family plans to visit Toby to support him, and Mrs. Shandy expresses a desire to look through the keyhole, which Walter reinterprets as a proper curiosity.
Chapter 213
Chapter XXXVI
Tristram discovers that his remarks have been stolen and makes a great commotion, questioning the commissary and the inn staff, and comparing his distress to Sancho Panza's loss of his ass's furniture.
Chapter 214
Chapter XXXVII
Tristram realizes he has accidentally sold his travel notes along with his post-chaise to a chaise-vamper, and he angrily sets out to retrieve them.
Chapter 215
XXXVIII
Tristram arrives at the chaise-vamper's house on the eighth of September, the nativity of the Virgin Mary, only to find it closed as everyone is out celebrating with Maypoles. He waits philosophically until the mistress returns to remove her hair curlers, which turn out to be his own written remarks. She returns them to him, and he reflects that they will be even more twisted when published.
Chapter 216
Chapter XXXIX
Tristram hurries to see Lippius's clock and the Chinese history, but finds the clock broken and loses interest in the Chinese history as his thoughts turn to the Tomb of the Lovers. He wishes the library key were lost, and it happens that all the Jesuits are indisposed with colic.
Chapter 217
Chapter XL
Tristram visits the Tomb of the Lovers in Lyons, only to find it gone, and wishes for Uncle Toby's comforting whistle.
Chapter 218
Book VII
Tristram Shandy embarks on a journey through France, fleeing death and encountering a series of comical and philosophical adventures. The narrative is marked by digressions, reflections on travel, and encounters with various characters, all while maintaining the novel's characteristic wit and metafictional play.
Chapter 219
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 220
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 221
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 222
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 223
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 224
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 225
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 226
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 227
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 228
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 229
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 230
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 231
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 232
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 233
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 234
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 235
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 236
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 237
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 238
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 239
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 240
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 241
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 242
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 243
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 244
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 245
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 246
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 247
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 248
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 249
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 250
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 251
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 252
Chapter XXXIV
After a heated debate, the company disperses, leaving Walter Shandy alone to write a letter of instructions to his brother Toby on the nature of women and courtship, offering a mix of practical and absurd advice. The chapter also includes a discussion of Toby's courtship of Widow Wadman and Trim's wager on its outcome.
Chapter 253
Chapter XXXV
Walter Shandy writes a letter of instructions while Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim prepare for an attack. The family plans to visit Toby to support him, and Mrs. Shandy expresses a desire to look through the keyhole, which Walter reinterprets as a proper curiosity.
Chapter 254
Chapter XXXVI
Tristram discovers that his remarks have been stolen and makes a great commotion, questioning the commissary and the inn staff, and comparing his distress to Sancho Panza's loss of his ass's furniture.
Chapter 255
Chapter XXXVII
Tristram realizes he has accidentally sold his travel notes along with his post-chaise to a chaise-vamper, and he angrily sets out to retrieve them.
Chapter 256
XXXVIII
Tristram arrives at the chaise-vamper's house on the eighth of September, the nativity of the Virgin Mary, only to find it closed as everyone is out celebrating with Maypoles. He waits philosophically until the mistress returns to remove her hair curlers, which turn out to be his own written remarks. She returns them to him, and he reflects that they will be even more twisted when published.
Chapter 257
Chapter XXXIX
Tristram hurries to see Lippius's clock and the Chinese history, but finds the clock broken and loses interest in the Chinese history as his thoughts turn to the Tomb of the Lovers. He wishes the library key were lost, and it happens that all the Jesuits are indisposed with colic.
Chapter 258
Chapter XL
Tristram visits the Tomb of the Lovers in Lyons, only to find it gone, and wishes for Uncle Toby's comforting whistle.
Chapter 259
Chapter XLI
Tristram describes his departure from the tomb of the lovers and his voyage down the Rhône and Saône rivers to Avignon. He reflects on the windiness of Avignon and recounts a humorous incident where he mistakes a marquis for a stable hand.
Chapter 260
XLII
Tristram describes his leisurely journey through the south of France on his mule, having fled from Death. He reflects on the monotony of large plains for travel writers and his own approach to managing such landscapes.
Chapter 261
XLIII
Tristram recounts his leisurely journey through Languedoc, describing his many digressions and encounters along the way, including a dispute over figs and eggs, a dance with a peasant girl named Nannette, and his eventual arrival at Montpellier, all while promising to return to the story of Uncle Toby's amours.
Chapter 262
Book VIII
Book VIII continues the digressive narrative of Tristram Shandy, focusing heavily on Uncle Toby's amours with the Widow Wadman, the military campaigns of the Allies, and the philosophical musings of Walter Shandy. The chapter explores the absurdities of love, war, and systems of knowledge through a series of comic episodes and learned digressions.
Chapter 263
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 264
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 265
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 266
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 267
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 268
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 269
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 270
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 271
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 272
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 273
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 274
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 275
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 276
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 277
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 278
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 279
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 280
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 281
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 282
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 283
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 284
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 285
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 286
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 287
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 288
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 289
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 290
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 291
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 292
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 293
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 294
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 295
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 296
Chapter XXXIV
After a heated debate, the company disperses, leaving Walter Shandy alone to write a letter of instructions to his brother Toby on the nature of women and courtship, offering a mix of practical and absurd advice. The chapter also includes a discussion of Toby's courtship of Widow Wadman and Trim's wager on its outcome.
Chapter 297
Chapter XXXV
Walter Shandy writes a letter of instructions while Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim prepare for an attack. The family plans to visit Toby to support him, and Mrs. Shandy expresses a desire to look through the keyhole, which Walter reinterprets as a proper curiosity.
Chapter 298
Book IX
The narrator continues his digressive narrative, emphasizing that the apparent excursions are the very substance of the work, and playfully invokes the Muses and Graces to ensure his playful style is not misunderstood.
Chapter 299
A Dedication to a Great Man
The author playfully dedicates a volume on Uncle Toby's amours to a noble lord, reflecting on the nature of honors and the value of amusement, and proposing to dedicate a future volume on statesmen to a simple shepherd.
Chapter 300
Chapter I
The narrator reflects on his inability to reach the story of Uncle Toby's amours until now, when his mother's curiosity leads her to peek through a keyhole. This triggers a philosophical and humorous dispute between his parents about motives and propriety, culminating in a reflection on keyholes and sin.
Chapter 301
Chapter II
The corporal prepares Uncle Toby's old uniform and wig for an occasion, though the wig is stubborn and the blue and gold coat is too tight from years of inactivity. Despite the worn and ill-fitting attire, Uncle Toby's natural goodness and gentlemanly bearing make even his tarnished hat and flimsy cockade appear dignified. The corporal wears Le Fever's regimental coat and marches behind his master, while Walter Shandy observes that it looks well.
Chapter 302
Chapter III
Uncle Toby, anxious and uncertain around women, is supported by Corporal Trim as he reflects on his discomfort. He admits to his father that looking a woman in the eye feels nearly as bad as talking bawdy, except for a rare instance with Mrs. Wadman.
Chapter 303
Chapter IV
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss Mrs. Wadman's potential reaction to Toby's courtship, with Trim recounting his brother Tom's tragic marriage to a Jewish widow in Lisbon, leading to reflections on confinement and liberty.
Chapter 304
V
Corporal Trim recounts the story of his brother Tom, who, after finding himself at ease in Lisbon, decides to court a Jewish widow who owns a sausage shop. Trim describes Tom's hopeful demeanor and the family's support, but the tale takes a sorrowful turn as Trim reveals Tom's eventual misfortune. Uncle Toby offers a heartfelt response, drawing a parallel between Tom and Trim, which moves both men to tears.
Chapter 305
Chapter VI
Corporal Trim recounts the story of Tom, pausing to reflect on a poor negro girl he encountered at a shop. This leads to a tender philosophical exchange between Trim and Uncle Toby about mercy, the soul, and the unjust treatment of the vulnerable, before Trim struggles to regain his narrative composure.
Chapter 306
Chapter VII
Tom courts a Jewish widow while she makes sausages, using the task as a pretext for flirtation. Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim discuss military strategy, comparing it to the art of courtship. The widow, seeking a husband unlike her first, quickly capitulates to Tom's advances.
Chapter 307
Chapter VIII
Corporal Trim comments on women's love of jokes, comparing it to adjusting artillery. Uncle Toby responds, expressing his love for mankind and the peaceful aims of military knowledge. Walter Shandy observes them marching around Mrs. Wadman's house, interpreting it as a siege. The narrator then reflects on time's passage and mortality, addressing Jenny.
Chapter 308
Chapter IX
The narrator dismisses the world's opinion of a certain ejaculation, valuing it at less than a groat.
Chapter 309
Chapter X
Tristram's parents pause at the garden wall where Dr. Slop was thrown, watching Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim approach Mrs. Wadman's house. Trim tells a long story about his brother Tom and the Jew's widow, which frustrates Walter Shandy, who grows impatient as Toby and Trim unexpectedly march away from the door.
Chapter 310
Chapter XI
Walter Shandy expresses frustration over Uncle Toby's preoccupation with fortifications, particularly on Mrs. Wadman's premises. Mrs. Shandy's habit of agreeing without understanding leads to a tense dialogue about Toby's courtship and the possibility of a child. The chapter ends with Walter's embarrassment upon realizing it is a sacrament day.
Chapter 311
Chapter XII
Tristram reflects on the necessity of inserting heterogeneous matter to balance wisdom and folly in his narrative, and discusses the difficulty of summoning wit and pleasantry. He considers various moral and mechanical methods to improve his writing, ultimately concluding that his lack of envy and willingness to share his inventions are signs of true genius.
Chapter 312
Chapter XIII
Tristram describes his method for overcoming writer's block, which involves shaving his beard and dressing in his finest clothes. He argues that this physical transformation also refines his ideas, making them more genteel and fit for writing. He humorously suggests that the cleanliness of his writing can be judged by his laundress's bill, noting that one month of prolific writing dirtied thirty-one shirts.
Chapter 313
Chapter XIV
Tristram playfully announces that he has no intention of beginning the digression he has been preparing for until the 15th chapter, leaving this chapter free for whatever use he pleases. He considers writing chapters on Buttonholes, Pishes, or Knots, but decides the safest course is to follow the learned and raise objections against his own writing, though he admits he has no idea how to answer them. He anticipates accusations of employing a coarse, Thersitical satire, and counters with the example of the Archbishop of Benevento, who wrote his scandalous romance while dressed in purple. He also acknowledges that his proposed remedy (shaving) is not universal, as it excludes half the species, but notes that female writers must simply do without it.
Chapter 314
XV
The narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of pleasure, noting that his digression has already been made. A brief exchange with a female interlocutor leads to a resolution to set aside such thoughts and return to the story of Uncle Toby.
Chapter 315
Chapter XVI
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim march to Mrs. Wadman's door, but Toby hesitates and Trim knocks, ending any chance for a private conference.
Chapter 316
Chapter XVII
The narrator reflects on debt and economy, contrasting his own frugal habits with the apparent fatality of the Shandy family's finances, before being interrupted by Uncle Toby's whistling.
Chapter 317
Chapter XVIII
Tristram reflects on the nature of writing and digression, comparing his narrative style to the winding paths of a garden. He defends his method of storytelling, asserting that digressions are the true essence of his work.
Chapter 318
Chapter XIX
Tristram continues his digressive narrative, reflecting on the nature of storytelling and the challenges of writing a life story. He muses on the interconnectedness of events and the impossibility of linear narration, touching upon themes of time, memory, and the absurdity of systematic order.
Chapter 319
Chapter XX
Uncle Toby offers to show Mrs. Wadman the exact place of his wound, leading to a series of blushes and internal reflections from her. He sends Corporal Trim to fetch a map from the garret, and the narrator addresses the reader directly, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying meaning through words alone.
Chapter 320
Chapter XXI
Tristram, drawing on Slawkenbergius, humorously describes the elaborate process by which a woman determines her true end in taking a husband, using the absurd metaphor of searching through an ass's panniers. The passage ends with Slawkenbergius refusing to reveal the object of the search.
Chapter 321
Chapter XXII
The narrator reflects on the mysterious imperfections of married men, contrasting Nature's general skill with her bungling in making husbands. He then praises Uncle Toby's natural fitness for marriage, describing his gentle and generous character, and notes that his wound did not defeat the donation. However, the Devil has raised scruples in Mrs. Wadman's mind, turning Uncle Toby's virtue into empty trifles.
Chapter 322
Chapter XXIII
Mrs. Bridget wagers she can uncover the truth about Uncle Toby's wound within ten days, planning to exploit Corporal Trim's affections for her. The narrative uses a metaphor of friendship's two garments and a card game to describe the dynamics of courtship and deception, with Mrs. Wadman resolved to play her own hand against Toby's innocent simplicity.
Chapter 323
Chapter XXIV
Tristram hesitates at the threshold of a crucial part of his story, confessing his inadequacy for the descriptions ahead. He mentions losing blood in a fever at the chapter's start and resorts to an invocation for inspiration.
Chapter 324
The Invocation
Tristram invokes the spirit of Cervantes and recounts his travels through France and Italy, including an encounter with a mentally disturbed young woman named Maria, who plays a pipe by the roadside.
Chapter 325
XXV
Tristram defends his decision to leave two blank chapters earlier in the book, insisting it was not a deliberate satire but a casual necessity. He throws his slipper in frustration and argues that people should be allowed to tell their stories in their own way.
Chapter 326
The Eighteenth Chapter
Uncle Toby declares his love to Mrs. Wadman in a blunt, straightforward manner, then falls silent. Mrs. Wadman, expecting more, steers the conversation toward the burdens of marriage and child-rearing, but Toby's simple, pious responses frustrate her.
Chapter 327
Chapter the Nineteenth
Tristram reflects on the myriad ways the word 'fiddlestick' can be pronounced, each carrying a different moral implication according to casuists. Mrs. Wadman uses the word to fluster Uncle Toby, who then offers to share the pains and pleasures of matrimony with her. He quickly retreats into reading the biblical account of the siege of Jericho, leaving his proposal to work on its own. However, it has no effect on Mrs. Wadman because something else is already working within her.
Chapter 328
Chapter XXVI
Mrs. Wadman, curious about the exact location of Uncle Toby's wound, attempts to extract information from him by feigning tender concern. She leads him through a military reenactment of the siege of Namur, but when she asks him to point to where he was hit, he misunderstands and points to a spot on a map, leaving her frustrated and the narrator lamenting her plight.
Chapter 329
Chapter XXVII
Uncle Toby's map is brought down into the kitchen, indicating his ongoing military preoccupations and the domestic space becoming a site for his hobbyhorse.
Chapter 330
Chapter XXVIII
Corporal Trim demonstrates the geography of the siege of Namur to Mrs. Bridget, recounting how Uncle Toby received his wound. Bridget questions the location of the wound, and a playful argument ensues, culminating in a kiss and a suggestive manual gesture.
Chapter 331
Chapter XXIX
Corporal Trim comforts and interrogates Bridget, who is torn between laughter and tears. He kisses her, reassures her of her good nature, and persuades her to reveal who has been spreading suspicions about Uncle Toby.
Chapter 332
Chapter XXX
Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim have been conducting separate operations during the campaign, with Toby unknowingly enduring attacks in his regalia and Trim gaining advantages through Bridget. Trim, however, refrains from sharing his exploits out of respect for Toby's modesty, prompting a heartfelt apostrophe from the narrator.
Chapter 333
Chapter XXXI
Uncle Toby, counting Mrs. Wadman's perfections on his fingers, asks Corporal Trim to write them down. He praises her compassionate nature, contrasting her concern for his wound with Bridget's indifference to Trim's knee injury. Trim bluntly explains that the groin is closer to the 'main body' than the knee, prompting Toby to whistle softly and suggest they visit Walter Shandy.
Chapter 334
Chapter XXXII
As Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim walk to Walter Shandy's house, the narrator reveals that Mrs. Wadman had confided in Mrs. Shandy about her interest in Toby, and the secret quickly spreads through the household and village via servants. Walter, upon hearing the rumor, erupts into a tirade blaming all worldly evils on lust, and begins to argue his hypothesis to Yorick, even as Toby enters the room with benevolence.
Chapter 335
Chapter XXXIII
Walter Shandy delivers a philosophical discourse on the passion of procreation, arguing that it debases human faculties and contrasts it with the honor of killing. His speech is interrupted by Obadiah, who complains that the parish bull has failed to impregnate his cow. A discussion ensues about the bull's potency, with Dr. Slop suggesting the cow might be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely. The chapter ends with Yorick dismissing the tale as a 'cock and a bull' story.
Chapter 336
Endnotes
The endnotes provide scholarly references, corrections, and digressive commentary on various topics including baptism by injection, the works of Hafen Slawkenbergius, astrological predictions, and a remarkable account of a fetus raised to adulthood through artificial incubation. They also include legal citations, textual clarifications, and notes on the Shandy family manuscripts.
Chapter 337
List of Illustrations
A catalog of the visual elements included in the book, featuring a black tombstone, a marbled page, various squiggly lines, and a straight line, with captions referencing T. S. and the corporal's flourish.

Epigraph

To the Right Honourable Mr. Pitt

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Book I

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

XXV

Book II

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Book III

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

XI: Excommunicatio

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

The Author's Preface

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

XXV

Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVII

Chapter XXVIII