the history of john bull-第12部分
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and then you would see him in the kitchen； weighing the beef and butter； paying ready money； that the maids might not run a tick at the market； and the butchers； by bribing of them； sell damaged and light meat。* Another time he would slip into the cellar and gauge the casks。 In his leisure minutes he was posting his books and gathering in his debts。 Such frugal methods were necessary where money was so scarce and duns so numerous。 All this while John kept his credit； could show his head both at 'Change and Westminster Hall； no man protested his bill nor refused his bond； only the sharpers and the scriveners； the lawyers and other clerks pelted Sir Roger as he went along。 The squirters were at it with their kennel water； for they were mad for the loss of their bubble； and that they could not get him to mortgage the manor of Bullock's Hatch。 Sir Roger shook his ears and nuzzled along； well satisfied within himself that he was doing a charitable work in rescuing an honest man from the claws of harpies and bloodsuckers。 Mrs。 Bull did all that an affectionate wife； and a good housewife； could do； yet the boundaries of virtues are indivisible lines。 It is impossible to march up close to the frontiers of frugality without entering the territories of parsimony。 Your good housewives are apt to look into the minutest things； therefore some blamed Mrs。 Bull for new heel…pieceing of her shoes； grudging a quarter of a pound of soap and sand to scour the rooms**； but； especially； that she would not allow her maids and apprentices the benefit of 〃John Bunyan；〃 the 〃London Apprentices；〃 or the 〃Seven Champions；〃 in the black letter。***
* Some regulations as to the purveyance in the Queen's family。 ** Too great savings in the House of Commons。 *** Restraining the liberty of the Press by Act of Parliament。
CHAPTER VIII。 A continuation of the conversation betwixt John Bull and his wife。
MRS。 BULL。It is a most sad life we lead； my dear； to be so teazed； paying interest for old debts； and still contracting new ones。 However； I don't blame you for vindicating your honour and chastising old Lewis。 To curb the insolent； protect the oppressed； recover one's own； and defend what one has； are good effects of the law。 The only thing I want to know is how you came to make an end of your money before you finished your suit。
JOHN BULL。I was told by the learned in the law that my suit stood upon three firm pillars： more money for more law； more law for more money； and no composition。 More money for more law was plain to a demonstration； for who can go to law without money？ and it was plain that any man that has money may have law for it。 The third was as evident as the other two； for what composition could be made with a rogue that never kept a word he said？
MRS。 BULL。I think you are most likely to get out of this labyrinth by the second door； by want of ready money to purchase this precious commodity。 But you seem not only to have bought too much of it； but have paid too dear for what you bought； else how was it possible to run so much in debt when at this very time the yearly income of what is mortgaged to those usurers would discharge Hocus's bills； and give you your bellyfull of law for all your life； without running one sixpence in debt？ You have been bred up to business； I suppose you can cypher； I wonder you never used your pen and ink。
JOHN BULL。Now you urge me too far； prithee； dear wife； hold thy tongue。 Suppose a young heir； heedless； raw； and inexperienced； full of spirit and vigour； with a favourite passion； in the hands of money scriveners。 Such fellows are like your wire…drawing mills： if they get hold of a man's finger they will pull in his whole body at last； till they squeeze the heart； blood； and guts out of him。 When I wanted money； half a dozen of these fellows were always waiting in my ante…chamber with their securities ready drawn。* I was tempted with the ready； some farm or other went to pot。 I received with one hand； and paid it away with the other to lawyers that； like so many hell hounds； were ready to devour me。 Then the rogues would plead poverty and scarcity of money； which always ended in receiving ninety for the hundred。 After they had got possession of my best rents they were able to supply me with my own money。 But； what was worse； when I looked into the securities there was no clause of redemption。
* Methods of preying upon the necessities of the Government。
MRS。 BULL。No clause of redemption； say you？ That's hard。
JOHN BULL。No great matter。 For I cannot pay them。 They had got a worse trick than that。 The same man bought and sold to himself； paid the money； and gave the acquittance； the same man was butcher and grazier； brewer and butler； cook and poulterer。 There is something still worse than all this。 There came twenty bills upon me at once； which I had given money to discharge。 I was like to be pulled to pieces by brewer； butcher； and baker； even my herb…woman dunned me as I went along the streets。 Thanks to my friend Sir Roger； else I must have gone to jail。 When I asked the meaning of this； I was told the money went to the lawyers。 〃Counsel won't tick； sir。〃 Hocus was urging； my book…keeper sat sotting all day； playing at Put and All…fours。 In short； by griping usurers； devouring lawyers； and negligent servants I am brought to this pass。
MRS。 BULL。This was hard usage。 But methinks the least reflection might have retrieved you。
JOHN BULL。'Tis true； yet consider my circumstancesmy honour was engaged； and I did not know how to get out。 Besides； I was for five years often drunk； always muddled； they carried me from tavern to tavern； to ale…houses and brandy…shops； and brought me acquainted with such strange dogs。 〃There goes the prettiest fellow in the world；〃 says one； 〃for managing a jury： make him yours。 There's another can pick you up witnesses。 Serjeant such…a…one has a silver tongue at the bar。〃* I believe； in time I should have retained every single person within the Inns of Court。 The night after a trial I treated the lawyers； their wives； and daughters； with fiddles； hautboys； drums； and trumpets。 I was always hot…headed。 Then they placed me in the middle； the attorneys and their clerks dancing about me； whooping and holloing； 〃Long live John Bull； the glory and support of the law！〃
* Hiring still more troops。
MRS。 BULL。Really； husband； you went through a very notable course。
JOHN BULL。One of the things that first alarmed me was that they showed a spite against my poor old mother。* 〃Lord；〃 quoth I； 〃what makes you so jealous of a poor； old； innocent gentlewoman； that minds only her prayers and her Practice of Piety？ She never meddles in any of your concerns。〃 〃Fob；〃 say they； 〃to see a handsome； brisk； genteel young fellow so much governed by a doting old woman！ Do you consider she keeps you out of a good jointure？ She has the best of your estate settled upon her for a rent…charge。 Hang her； old thief！ turn her out of doors； seize her lands； and let her go to law if she dares。〃 〃Soft and fair； gentlemen；〃 quoth I； 〃my mother's my mother； our family are not of an unnatural temper。 Though I don't take all her advice； I won't seize her jointure； long may she enjoy it； good woman； I don't grudge it her。 She allows me now and then a brace of hundreds for my lawsuit； that's pretty fair。〃 About this time the old gentlewoman fell ill of an odd sort of a distemper。**
* Railing against the Church。 ** Carelessness in forms and discipline。
It began with a coldness and numbness in her limbs； which by degrees affected the nerves （I think the physicians call them）； seized the brain； and at last ended in a lethargy。 It betrayed itself at first in a sort of indifference and carelessness in all her actions； coldness to her best friends； and an aversion to stir or go about the common offices of life。 She； that was the cleanliest creature in the world； never shrank now if you set a close…stool under her nose。 She that would sometimes rattle off her servants pretty sharply； now if she saw them drink； or heard them talk profanely； never took any notice of it。 Instead of her usual charities to deserving persons； she threw away her money upon roaring； swearing bullies and beggars； that went about the streets。* 〃What is the matter with the old gentlewoman？〃 said everybody； 〃she never used to do in this manner。〃 At last the distemper grew more violent； and threw her downright into raving fits； in which she shrieked out so loud that she disturbed the whole neighbourhood。** In her fits she called upon one Sir William。*** 〃Oh！ Sir William； thou hast betrayed me； killed me； stabbed me！ See； see！ Clum with his bloody knife！ Seize him！ seize him！ stop him！ Behold the fury with her hissing snakes！ Where's my son John？ Is he well； is he well？ Poor man！ I pity him！〃 And abundance more of such strange stuff； that nobody could make anything of。
* Disposing of some preferments to libertine and unprincipled persons。 ** The too violent clamour about the danger of the Church。 *** Sir William； a cant name of Sir Humphry's for Lord Treasurer Godolphin。
I knew little of the matter； for when I inquired about her health； the answer was that she was in a good moderate way。 Physicians were sent for in haste。 Sir Roger； with great difficulty； brought Ratcliff； Garth came upon the first message。 There were several others called in； but； as usual upon such occasions； they differed strangely at the consultation。 At last they divided into two parties； one sided with Garth； the other with Ratcliff。* Dr。 Garth said； 〃This case seems to me to be plainly hysterical； the old woman is whimsical； it is a common thing for your old women to be so； I'll pawn my life； blisters； with the steel diet； will recover her。〃 Others suggested strong purging and letting of blood； because she was plethoric。 Some went so far as to say the old woman was mad； and nothing would be better than a little corporal correction。 Ratcliff said； 〃Gentlemen； you are mistaken in this case； it is plainly an acute distemper； and she cannot hold out three days unless she is supported with strong cordials。〃 I came into the room with a good deal of concern； and asked them what they thought of m
