the history of john bull-第24章

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that　could　provoke　you　to　it；　but　upon　a　narrow　inspection　into　my　conduct；　I　can　find　nothing　to　reproach　myself　with　but　too　partial　a　concern　for　your　interest。　You　no　sooner　set　this　composition　afoot　but　I　was　ready　to　comply；　and　prevented　your　very　wishes；　and　the　affair　might　have　been　ended　before　now；　had　it　not　been　for　the　greater　concerns　of　Esquire　South　and　the　other　poor　creatures　embarked　in　the　same　common　cause；　whose　safety　touches　me　to　the　quick。　　You　seemed　a　little　jealous　that　I　had　dealt　unfairly　with　you　in　money…matters；　till　it　appeared　by　your　own　accounts　that　there　was　something　due　to　me　upon　the　balance。　　Having　nothing　to　answer　to　so　plain　a　demonstration；　you　began　to　complain　as　if　I　had　been　familiar　with　your　reputation；　when　it　is　well　known　not　only　I；　but　the　meanest　servants　in　my　family；　talk　of　you　with　the　utmost　respect。　　I　have　always；　as　far　as　in　me　lies；　exhorted　your　servants　and　tenants　to　be　dutiful；　not　that　I　any　way　meddle　in　your　domestic　affairs；　which　were　very　unbecoming　for　me　to　do。　　If　some　of　your　servants　express　their　great　concern　for　you　in　a　manner　that　is　not　so　very　polite；　you　ought　to　impute　it　to　their　extraordinary　zeal；　which　deserves　a　reward　rather　than　a　reproof。　　You　cannot　reproach　me　for　want　of　success　at　the　'Salutation；'　since　I　am　not　master　of　the　passions　and　interests　of　other　folks。　　I　have　beggared　myself　with　this　lawsuit；　undertaken　merely　in　complaisance　to　you；　and　if　you　would　have　had　but　a　little　patience；　I　had　still　greater　things　in　reserve；　that　I　intended　to　have　done　for　you。　　I　hope　what　I　have　said　will　prevail　with　you　to　lay　aside　your　unreasonable　jealousies；　and　that　we　may　have　no　more　meetings　at　the　'Salutation；'　spending　our　time　and　money　to　no　purpose。　My　concern　for　your　welfare　and　prosperity　almost　makes　me　mad。　　You　may　be　assured　I　will　continue　to　be　　　　　　〃Your　affectionate　　　　　　　　　　　〃Friend　and　Servant；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Nic。　Frog。〃*

*　Substance　of　the　States　letter。

John　received　this　with　a　good　deal　of　sang…froid；　〃Transeat；〃　quoth　John；　〃cum　caeteris　erroribus。〃　　He　was　now　at　his　ease；　he　saw　he　could　now　make　a　very　good　bargain　for　himself；　and　a　very　safe　one　for　other　folks。　　〃My　shirt；〃　quoth　he；　〃is　near　me；　but　my　skin　is　nearer。　　Whilst　I　take　care　of　the　welfare　of　other　folks；　nobody　can　blame　me　to　apply　a　little　balsam　to　my　own　sores。　　It's　a　pretty　thing；　after　all；　for　a　man　to　do　his　own　business；　a　man　has　such　a　tender　concern　for　himself；　there's　nothing　like　it。　　This　is　somewhat　better；　I　trow；　than　for　John　Bull　to　be　standing　in　the　market；　like　a　great　dray…horse；　with　Frog's　paws　upon　his　head。　What　will　you　give　me　for　this　beast？　　Serviteur　Nic。　Frog；　though　John　Bull　has　not　read　your　Aristotles；　Platos；　and　Machiavels；　he　can　see　as　far　into　a　mill…stone　as　another。〃　　With　that　John　began　to　chuckle　and　laugh　till　he　was　like　to　have　burst　his　sides。



CHAPTER　XX。　　The　discourse　that　passed　between　Nic。　Frog　and　Esquire　South；　which　John　Bull　overheard。*

*　Negotiations　between　the　Emperor　and　the　Dutch　for　continuing　the　war；　and　getting　the　property　of　Flanders。

John　thought　every　minute　a　year　till　he　got　into　Ecclesdown　Castle；　he　repairs　to　the　〃Salutation〃　with　a　design　to　break　the　matter　gently　to　his　partners。　　Before　he　entered　he　overheard　Nic。　and　the　Esquire　in　a　very　pleasant　conference。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。Oh；　the　ingratitude　and　injustice　of　mankind！　　That　John　Bull；　whom　I　have　honoured　with　my　friendship　and　protection　so　long；　should　flinch　at　last；　and　pretend　that　he　can　disburse　no　more　money　for　me！　that　the　family　of　the　Souths；　by　his　sneaking　temper；　should　be　kept　out　of　their　own！

NIC。　FROG。An't　like　your　worship；　I　am　in　amaze　at　it；　I　think　the　rogue　should　be　compelled　to　his　duty。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。That　he　should　prefer　his　scandalous　pelf；　the　dust　and　dregs　of　the　earth；　to　the　prosperity　and　grandeur　of　my　family！

NIC。　FROG。Nay；　he　is　mistaken　there；　too；　for　he　would　quickly　lick　himself　whole　again　by　his　vails。　　It's　strange　he　should　prefer　Philip　Baboon's　custom　to　Esquire　South's。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。As　you　say；　that　my　clothier；　that　is　to　get　so　much　by　the　purchase；　should　refuse　to　put　me　in　possession；　did　you　ever　know　any　man's　tradesman　serve　him　so　before？

NIC。　FROG。No；　indeed；　an't　please　your　worship；　it　is　a　very　unusual　proceeding；　and　I　would　not　have　been　guilty　of　it　for　the　world。　　If　your　honour　had　not　a　great　stock　of　moderation　and　patience；　you　would　not　bear　it　so　well　as　you　do。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。It　is　most　intolerable；　that's　certain；　Nic。；　and　I　will　be　revenged。

NIC。　FROG。Methinks　it　is　strange　that　Philip　Baboon's　tenants　do　not　all　take　your　honour's　part；　considering　how　good　and　gentle　a　master　you　are。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。True；　Nic。；　but　few　are　sensible　of　merit　in　this　world。　　It　is　a　great　comfort　to　have　so　faithful　a　friend　as　thyself　in　so　critical　a　juncture。

NIC。　FROG。If　all　the　world　should　forsake　you；　be　assured　Nic。　Frog　never　will；　let　us　stick　to　our　point；　and　we'll　manage　Bull；　I'll　warrant　ye。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。Let　me　kiss　thee；　dear　Nic。；　I　have　found　one　honest　man　among　a　thousand　at　last。

NIC。　FROG。If　it　were　possible；　your　honour　has　it　in　your　power　to　wed　me　still　closer　to　your　interest。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。Tell　me　quickly；　dear　Nic。

NIC。　FROG。You　know　I　am　your　tenant；　the　difference　between　my　lease　and　an　inheritance　is　such　a　trifle　as　I　am　sure　you　will　not　grudge　your　poor　friend。　　That　will　be　an　encouragement　to　go　on；　besides；　it　will　make　Bull　as　mad　as　the　devil：　　you　and　I　shall　be　able　to　manage　him　then　to　some　purpose。

ESQUIRE　SOUTH。Say　no　more；　it　shall　be　done；　Nic。；　to　thy　heart's　content。

John　all　this　while　was　listening　to　this　comical　dialogue；　and　laughed　heartily　in　his　sleeve　at　the　pride　and　simplicity　of　the　Esquire；　and　the　sly　roguery　of　his　friend　Nic。　Then　of　a　sudden　bolting　into　the　room；　he　began　to　tell　them　that　he　believed　he　had　brought　Lewis　to　reasonable　terms；　if　they　would　please　to　hear　them。

Then　they　all　bawled　out　aloud；　〃No　composition：　　long　live　Esquire　South　and　the　Law！〃　　As　John　was　going　to　proceed；　some　roared；　some　stamped　with　their　feet；　others　stopped　their　ears　with　their　fingers。

〃Nay；　gentlemen；〃　quoth　John；　〃if　you　will　but　stop　proceeding　for　a　while；　you　shall　judge　yourselves　whether　Lewis's　proposals*　are　reasonable。〃

*　Proposals　for　cessation　of　arms　and　delivery　of　Dunkirk。

ALL。Very　fine；　indeed；　stop　proceeding；　and　so　lose　a　term。

JOHN　BULL。Not　so　neither；　we　have　something　by　way　of　advance：　　he　will　put　us　in　possession　of　his　Manor　and　Castle　of　Ecclesdown。

NIC。　FROG。What　dost　talk　of　us？　thou　meanest　thyself。

JOHN　BULL。When　Frog　took　possession　of　anything；　it　was　always　said　to　be　for　us；　and　why　may　not　John　Bull　be　us　as　well　as　Nic。　Frog　was　us？　　I　hope　John　Bull　is　no　more　confined　to　singularity　than　Nic。　Frog；　or；　take　it　so；　the　constant　doctrine　that　thou　hast　preached　up　for　many　years　was　that　thou　and　I　are　one；　and　why　must　we　be　supposed　two　in　this　case；　that　were　always　one　before？　　It's　impossible　that　thou　and　I　can　fall　out；　Nic。；　we　must　trust　one　another。　　I　have　trusted　thee　with　a　great　many　thingsprithee　trust　me　with　this　one　trifle。

NIC。　FROG。That　principle　is　true　in　the　main；　but　there　is　some　speciality　in　this　case　that　makes　it　highly　inconvenient　for　us　both。

JOHN　BULL。Those　are　your　jealousies；　that　the　common　enemies　sow　between　us：　　how　often　hast　thou　warned　me　of　those　rogues；　Nic。；　that　would　make　us　mistrustful　of　one　another！

NIC。　FROG。This　Ecclesdown　Castle　is　only　a　bone　of　contention。

JOHN　BULL。It　depends　upon　you　to　make　it　so；　for　my　part；　I　am　as　peaceable　as　a　lamb。

NIC。　FROG。But　do　you　consider　the　unwholesomeness　of　the　air　and　soil；　the　expenses　of　reparations　and　servants？　　I　would　scorn　to　accept　of　such　a　quagmire。

JOHN　BULL。You　are　a　great　man；　Nic。；　but　in　my　circumstances　I　must　be　e'en　content　to　take　it　as　it　is。

NIC。　FROG。And　you　are　really　so　silly　as　to　believe　the　old　cheating　rogue　will　give　it　you？

JOHN　BULL。I　believe　nothing　but　matter　of　fact；　I　stand　and　fall　by　that。　　I　am