op
his blow, trusting to the tenderness Nic. had for his own person. When
he perceived that John was immovable in his purpose, he applied himself
to Lewis.

"Art thou," quoth he, "turned bubble in thy old age, from being a
sharper in thy youth? What occasion hast thou to give up Ecclesdown
Castle to John Bull? His friendship is not worth a rush. Give it me, and
I'll make it worth thy while. If thou dislikest that proposition, keep
it thyself; I'd rather thou shouldst have it than he. If thou hearkenest
not to my advice, take what follows; Esquire South and I will go on with
our lawsuit in spite of John Bull's teeth."

LEWIS BABOON.--Monsieur Bull has used me like a gentleman, and I am
resolved to make good my promise, and trust him for the consequences.

NIC. FROG.--Then I tell thee thou art an old doating fool.--With that
Nic. bounced up with a spring equal to that of one of your nimblest
tumblers or rope-dancers, and fell foul upon John Bull, to snatch the
cudgel* he had in his hand, that he might thwack Lewis with it: John
held it fast so that there was no wrenching it from him. At last Squire
South buckled to, to assist his friend Nic.: John hauled on one side,
and they two on the other. Sometimes they were like to pull John
over, then it went all of a sudden again on John's side, so they went
see-sawing up and down, from one end of the room to the other. Down
tumbled the tables, bottles, glasses, and tobacco-pipes; the wine and
the tobacco were all spilt about the room, and the little fellows were
almost trod under foot, till more of the tradesmen joining with Nic. and
the Squire, John was hardly able to pull against then all, yet would he
never quit hold of his trusty cudgel: which by the contrary force of two
so great powers broke short in his hands.** Nic. seized the longer end,
and with it began to bastinado old Lewis, who had slunk into a corner,
waiting the event of this squabble. Nic. came up to him with an insolent
menacing air, so that the old fellow was forced to scuttle out of the
room, and retire behind a dung-cart. He called to Nic., "Thou insolent
jackanapes, time was when thou durst not have used me so; thou now
takest me unprovided; but, old and infirm as I am, I shall find a weapon
by-and-by to chastise thy impudence."

* The army.

** The separation of the army.

When John Bull had recovered his breath, he began to parley with
Nic.: "Friend Nic., I am glad to find thee so strong a