CHAPTER XXXI

The first thirty pages, said my father, turning over the leaves, --are a little dry; and as they are not closely connected with the subject, ----for the present we’ll pass them by: ’tis a prefatory introduction, continued my father, or an introductory preface (for I am not determined which name to give it) upon political or civil government; the foundation of which being laid in the first conjunction betwixt male and female, for procreation of the species ----I was insensibly led into it. ----’Twas natural, said _Yorick_.

The original of society, continued my father, I’m satisfied is, what _Politian_ tells us, _i.e._, merely conjugal; and nothing more than the getting together of one man and one woman; --to which, (according to _Hesiod_) the philosopher adds a servant: ----but supposing in the first beginning there were no men servants born----he lays the foundation of it, in a man, --a woman--and a bull. ----I believe ’tis an ox, quoth _Yorick_, quoting the passage (οἶκον μὲν πρώτιστα, γυναῖκα τε, βοῦν τ’ ἀροτῆρα). ----A bull must have given more trouble than his head was worth. ----But there is a better reason still, said my father (dipping his pen into his ink); for the ox being the most patient of animals, and the most useful withal in tilling the ground for their nourishment, --was the properest instrument, and emblem too, for the new joined couple, that the creation could have associated with them. --And there is a stronger reason, added my uncle _Toby_, than them all for the ox. --My father had not power to take his pen out of his ink-horn, till he had heard my uncle _Toby’s_ reason. --For when the ground was tilled, said my uncle _Toby_, and made worth inclosing, then they began to secure it by walls and ditches, which was the origin of fortification. ----True, true, dear _Toby_, cried my father, striking out the bull, and putting the ox in his place.

My father gave _Trim_ a nod, to snuff the candle, and resumed his discourse.

----I enter upon this speculation, said my father carelessly, and half shutting the book, as he went on, merely to shew the foundation of the natural relation between a father and his child; the right and jurisdiction over whom he acquires these several ways--

1st, by marriage.

2d, by adoption.

3d, by legitimation.

And 4th, by procreation; all which I consider in their order.

I lay a slight stress upon one of them, replied _Yorick_----the act, especially where it ends there, in my opinion lays as little obligation upon the child, as it conveys power to the father. --You are wrong, --said my father argutely, and for this plain reason * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --I own, added my father, that the offspring, upon this account, is not so under the power and jurisdiction of the mother. --But the reason, replied _Yorick_, equally holds good for her. ----She is under authority herself, said my father: --and besides, continued my father, nodding his head, and laying his finger upon the side of his nose, as he assigned his reason, --_she is not the principal agent, _Yorick_._ --In what, quoth my uncle _Toby?_ stopping his pipe. --Though by all means, added my father (not attending to my uncle _Toby_) “_The son ought to pay her respect_,” as you may read, _Yorick_, at large in the first book of the Institutes of _Justinian_, at the eleventh title and the tenth section, --I can read it as well, replied _Yorick_, in the Catechism.

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