Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/266

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THE HISTORY OF

J. Bull. But what say'st thou as to the esquire, Nic. Frog, and the rest of the tradesmen? I must take care of them.

L. Baboon. Thou hast but small obligations to Nic. to my certain knowledge: he has not used thee like a gentleman.

J. 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.

L. Baboon. All matters that relate to him, and the rest of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit, I will refer to your justice.





CHAP. 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 recover his bubble: among other artifices, he wrote a most obliging letter, which he sent him printed in a fair character.


"DEAR FRIEND[1],

"WHEN I considered the late ill usage I have met with from you, I was reflecting what it was that could

  1. Substance of the States letter.
" provoke