the history of john bull-第19部分
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you think fit。
JOHN BULL。Look you； Master Baboon； as to your usage of your neighbours； you had best not dwell too much upon that chapter。 Let it suffice at present that you have been met with。 You have been rolling a great stone up…hill all your life； and at last it has come tumbling down till it is like to crush you to pieces。 Plain…dealing is best。 If you have any particular mark； Mr。 Baboon； whereby one may know when you fib and when you speak truth； you had best tell it me； that one may proceed accordingly。 But since at present I know of none such； it is better that you should trust me than that I should trust you。
LEWIS BABOON。I know of no particular mark of veracity amongst us tradesmen but interest； and it is manifestly mine not to deceive you at this time。 You may safely trust me； I can assure you。
JOHN BULL。The trust I give is； in short； this： I must have something in hand before I make the bargain； and the rest before it is concluded。
LEWIS BABOON。To show you I deal fairly； name your something。
JOHN BULL。I need not tell thee； old boy； thou canst guess。
LEWIS BABOON。Ecclesdown Castle；* I'll warrant you； because it has been formerly in your family。 Say no more； you shall have it。
* Dunkirk。
JOHN BULL。I shall have it to my own self？
LEWIS BABOON。To thine own self。
JOHN BULL。Every wall； gate； room； and inch of Ecclesdown Castle； you say？
LEWIS BABOON。Just so。
JOHN BULL。Every single stone of Ecclesdown Castle； to my own self； speedily？
LEWIS BABOON。When you please； what needs more words？
JOHN BULL。But tell me； old boy； hast thou laid aside all thy equivocals and mentals in this case？
LEWIS BABOON。There's nothing like matter of fact； seeing is believing。
JOHN BULL。Now thou talkest to the purpose； let us shake hands； old boy。 Let me ask thee one question more； what hast thou to do to meddle with the affairs of my family？ to dispose of my estate； old boy？
LEWIS BABOON。Just as much as you have to do with the affairs of Lord Strutt。
JOHN BULL。Ay； but my trade； my very being was concerned in that。
LEWIS BABOON。And my interest was concerned in the other。 But let us drop both our pretences； for I believe it is a moot point； whether I am more likely to make a Master Bull； or you a Lord Strutt。
JOHN BULL。Agreed； old boy； but then I must have security that I shall carry my broadcloth to market； old boy。
LEWIS BABOON。That you shall： Ecclesdown Castle！ Ecclesdown！ Remember that。 Why wouldst thou not take it when it was offered thee some years ago？
JOHN BULL。I would not take it； because they told me thou wouldst not give it me。
LEWIS BABOON。How could Monsieur Bull be so grossly abused by downright nonsense？ they that advised you to refuse； must have believed I intended to give； else why would they not make the experiment？ But I can tell you more of that matter than perhaps you know at present。
JOHN BULL。But what say'st thou as to the Esquire； Nic。 Frog； and the rest of the tradesmen？ I must take care of them。
LEWIS BABOON。Thou hast but small obligations to Nic。 to my certain knowledge： he has not used me like a gentleman。
JOHN BULL。Nic。 indeed is not very nice in your punctilios of ceremony； he is clownish； as a man may say： belching and calling of names have been allowed him time out of mind； by prescription： but； however； we are engaged in one common cause； and I must look after him。
LEWIS BABOON。All matters that relate to him； and the rest of the plaintiff's in this lawsuit； I will refer to your justice。
CHAPTER XIX。 Nic。 Frog's letter to John Bull： wherein he endeavours to vindicate all his conduct； with relation to John Bull and the lawsuit。
Nic。 perceived now that his Cully had eloped； that John intended henceforth to deal without a broker； but he was resolved to leave no stone unturned to cover his bubble。 Amongst other artifices he wrote a most obliging letter； which he sent him printed in a fair character。
〃DEAR FRIEND；When I consider the late ill…usage I have met with from you； I was reflecting what it was 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 pro
