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"fervants in my family, talk of you with the utmoft.respect. I have always, as far as in me lies, exhorted your fervants and tenants to be dutiful; not that I 66 any way meddle in your domestic affairs, which were very unbecoming for me to do. If fome of your fer"vants exprefs their great concern for you in a manner "that is not fo very polite, you ought to impute it to "their extraordinary zeal, which deferves a reward, ra"ther than a reproof. You cannot reproach me for "want of fuccefs at the Salutation, fince I am not "mafter of the paffions and interefts of other folks.

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I

have beggared myfelf with this law-fuit, undertaken merely in complaifance to you; and if you would have had but a little patience, I had ftill greater things «in referve, that I intended to have done for you. I hope, what I have faid will prevail with you to lay a"fide your unreasonable jealoufies, and that we may have no more meetings at the falutation, fpending our "time and money to no purpose. My concern for your "welfare and profperity almoft makes me mad. You 6.6 may be affured I will continue to be

"Your affectionate

"Friend and servant; NIC, FROG."

John received this with a good deal of fang froid: Tranfeat, quoth John, cum cæteris erroribus. He was now at his eafe; he faw he could now make a very good bargain for himself, and a very fafe one for other folks. My fhirt, quoth he, is near me, but my fkin is nearer: whilft I, take care of the welfare of other folks, no-. body can blame me to apply a little balfam to my own "fores. It is a pretty thing, after all, for a man to do "his own bufinefs; a man has fuch a tender concern for "himself, there's nothing like it. This is fomething "better, I trow, than for John Bull to be ftanding in the market, like a great dray-horfe, with Frog's paws "upon his head. What will you giveme for this beaf? « Serviteur Nic. Frog, you may kifs my backfide, if you "pleafe. Though John Bull has not read your Ariftotles, Platos,, and Machiavels, he can fec as far into a mill

"stone

"ftone as another." With that John began to chuckle and laugh, till he was like to have burst his fides.

*

CHA P. XX.

The difcourfe that paffed between Nic. Frog and Efquire South, which John Bull overheard.

OHN thought every minute a year, till he got into

a defign to break the matter gently to his partners: before he entered, he overheard Nic. and the Efquire in a very pleasant conference.

Efq. South. Oh the ingratitude and injuftice of mankind! that John Bull, whom I have honoured with my friendship and protection fo 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, fhould be kept out of their own!

Nic. Frog. An't like your Worship, I am in amaze at it; I think the rogue fhould be compelled to his duty. Efq. South. That he fhould prefer his fcandalous pelf, the duft and dregs of the earth, to the profperity and grandeur of my family!

Nic. Frog. Nay, he is miftaken there too; for he would quickly lick himself whole again by his vails. It is ftrange he should prefer Philip Baboon's cuftom to Efquire South's.

Efq. South. As you fay, that my clothier, that is to get fo much by the purchase, should refufe to put me in poffeffion; did you ever know any man's tradefman ferve

him fo before?

Nic. Frog. No, indeed, an't pleafe your Worfhip, 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 flock of moderation and P ence, you would not bear it fo well as you do

Efq. South. It is moft intolerable, that's certain, Nic. and I will be revenged.

• Negotiations between the Emperor and the Dutch for continuing the war, and getting the property of Flanders.

Nic. Frog. Methinks it is ftrange, that Philip Baboon's tenants do not all take your Honour's part, confidering how good and gentle a mafter you are.

Efq. South. True, Nic. but few are fenfible of merit in this world: it is a great comfort, to have so faithful a friend as thyfelf in fo critical a juncture.

Nic. Frog. If all the world fhould forfake you, be affured Nic. Frog never will; let us flick to our point, and we'll manage Bull, I'll warrant ye.

Efq. South. Let me kifs thee, dear Nic. I have found one honeft man among a thoufand at last.

Nic. Frog. If it were poffible, your Honour has it in your power to wed me ftill clofer to your your intereft. Efq. South. Tell me quickly, dear Nic. Nic. Frog. You know I am your tenant; the difference between my leafe and an inheritance is fuch a trifle, as I am fure you will not grudge your poor friend; that will be an encouragement to go on; befides, it will make Bull as mad as the devil: you and Ishall be able to manage him then to fome purpose.

Efq. South. Say no more, it fhall be done, Nic. to thy heart's content.

JOHN all this while was liftening to this comical dialogue, and laughed heartily in his fleeve at the pride and fimplicity of the Efquire, and the fly roguery of his friend Nic. Then of a fudden, bolting into the room, he began to tell them, that he believed he had brought Lewis to reasonable terms, if they would pleafe to hear them. Then they all bawled out aloud, "No compofition, "long live Efquire South and the law!" As John was going to proceed, fome roared, fome ftamped with their , feet, others ftopt their ears with their fingers.

Nay, Gentlemen, quoth John, if you will but ftop proceeding for a while, you fhall judge yourselves whether Lewis's proposals are reasonable *.

All. Very fine indeed, ftop proceeding, and fo lofe a

term.

J. Bull. Not fo neither; we have fomething by way of advance, he will put us in poffeffion of his manour and caftle of Ecclefdown.

Propofals for ceflation of arms, and delivery of Dunkirk.

Nic. Frog. What doft thou talk of us, thou meanest thy felf.

7. Bull. When Frog took poffeffion of any thing, it was always faid 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 fingularity than Nic. Frog; or, take it fo, the conftant doctrine that thou haft preached up for many years, was, that thou and I are one; and why muft we be fuppofed two in this cafe, that were always one before? it is impoffible that thou and I can fall out, Nic. we must trust one another; I have trufted thee with a great many things, prithee truft me with this one trifle.

Nic. Frog. That principle is true in the main, but there is fome Specialty in this cafe, that makes it highly

inconvenient for us both.

J. Bull. Thofe are your jealoufies, that the common enemies fow between us; how often haft thou warned me of thofe rogues, Nic. that would make us mistrustful of one another!

Nic. Frog. This Ecclefdown-cafte is only a bone of contention.

J. Bull. It depends upon you to make it fo, for my part I am as peaceable as a lamb.

Nic. Frog. But do you confider the unwholefomeness of the air and foil, the expenfes of reparations and fervants? I would fcorn to accept of fuch a quagmire.

J. Bull. You are a great man, Nic. but in my circumftances, I must be even content to take it as it is. Nic. Frog. And you are really fo filly as to believe the old cheating rogue will give it you?

7. Bull. I believe nothing but matter of fact, I ftand and fall by that, I am refolved to put him to it.

Nic. Frog. And fo relinquish the hopefulleft cause in the world, a claim that will certainly in the end make thy fortune for ever

7. Bull. Wilt thou purchase it, Nic.? thou fhalt have a lumping pennyworth; nay, rather than that we should differ, I'll give thee fomething to take it off my hands.

Nic. Frog. If thou wouldft but moderate that hafty, impatient temper of thine, thou fhouldit quickly fee a better thing than all that. What shouldst thou think to find

old

old Lewis turned out of his paternal eftates, and the manfion-house of Clay-pool* Would not that do thy heart good, to fee thy old friend Nic. Frog, Lord of Clay-pool? then thou and thy wife and children fhould walk in my gardens, buy toys, drink lemonade, and now and then we should have a country-dance.

J. Bull. I love to be plain, I'd as lieve fee myself in Ecclefdown-caftle, as thee in Clay-pool. I tell you again, Lewis gives this as a pledge of his fincerity; if you won't flop proceeding to hear him, I will.

CHAP. XXI.

The rest of Nic's fetches to keep John out of Ecclef

W

doron-cafle.

HEN Nic. could not diffuade John by argument, he tried to move his pity; he pretended to be fick and like to die, that he fhould leave his wife and children in a starving condition, if John did abandon him; that he was hardly able to crawl about the room, far lefs capable to look after fuch a troublesome bufinefs as this law-fuit, and therefore begged that his good friend would not leave him. When he faw that John was ftill inexorable, he pulled out a cafe-knife, with which he used to fnickerfnee, and threatened to cut his own throat. Thrice he aimed the knife to his wind-pipe with a most determined threatening air. "What fignifies life, quoth be, in this languishing condition? It will be fome pleasure, that my friends will revenge my death upon this barbarous man, that has been the cause of it." All this while John looked fedate and calm, neither offering in the least to fnatch the knife, nor ftop his blow, trufting to the ten'dernefs Nic. had for his own perfon: when he perceived, that John was immoveable in his purpose, he applied himfelf to Lewis.

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"Art thou, quoth he, turned bubble in thy old age,

Clay-pool, Paris. Lutetia

† Attempts to hinder the ceffation, and taking poffeffion of Dunkirk,

"from