way your
unconstitutional Constitutionalists take the advantage of our weak side,
and--
TRUEMAN. And the said weak side being easily discovered, as you have but
one side,--go on, sir.
LOVEYET. And cram their unconstitutional bolus down our throats, with
Latin;--you and your vile junto of perfidious politicians want to _Latin_
us out of our liberties.
HUMPHRY. Well, why don't they take the law of the pollikitchens then, eigh?
TRUEMAN. Mr. Loveyet, I never knew a man of your age and wisdom--
LOVEYET. Age, sir!--Wisdom!--Yes, wisdom, sir.--Age again, eigh? Ugh, ugh.
TRUEMAN. Was there ever such preposterous behaviour!--You are getting as
crazy as your favorite Constitution.
LOVEYET. You are crazier than either, you old blockhead, or you would not
make such a crazy speech: I say my constitution is a thousand per cent.
better than yours. Ugh, ugh, ugh.
TRUEMAN. A pretty figure for a good constitution! What a striking instance
of health, youth, and beauty! How emblematically grotesque! The very image
of deformity and infirmity! A perfect mirror for Milton's description of
Sin and Death.
_Not Yorick's skull, nor Hamlet's ghost,
Nor all the tragic, stage-made host;
With saucer eyes, and looks aghast,
Would make me run away so fast:
Not all who Milton's head inspire,--
"Gorgons and Hydras and Chimaeras dire!"
Nor haggard Death, nor snake-torn Sin,
Look half so ugly, old and thin;
No--all his hell-born, monstrous crew,
Are not so dire a sight as you!_
[_While TRUEMAN is saying this, LOVEYET appears to be in a violent
rage, and makes several attempts to interrupt the former, who shuns
LOVEYET, as if afraid._]
LOVEYET. Fire and murder!--Must I bear to be held up for such a monster?
Perdition!--What shall I do? What shall I say?--Oh! oh! oh!--Oh!
liberty! Oh, my country! Look how he ridicules me!--Did ever any poor
man suffer so much for the good of his country!--But I won't give up the
glorious cause yet;--sir,--Mr. Trueman--I insist upon it, the new
Constitution, sir,--I say, that the old--the new--that--that--'Zounds
and fury!--
[_Running towards him, and making an attempt to strike him._
TRUEMAN. My dear Mr. Loveyet, compose yourself a little;--for heaven's
sake, sir, consider;--your animal Constitution is not able to withstand the
formidable opposition of my political one;--the shock is too great;--let me
persuade you, sir; and as soon as ni
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