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 bawl'd out aloud, "No composition, Long live esquire South and the law!" As John was going to proceed, some roared, some stamped with their feet, others stopped their ears with their fingers.
Nay, gentlemen, quoth John, if you will but stop proceeding for a while, you shall judge yourselves whether Lewis's[1] proposals are reasonable.
All. Very fine indeed, stop proceeding, and so lose a term.
J. Bull. Not so neither, we have something by way of advance, he will put us in possession of his manor and castle of Ecclesdown.
Nic. Frog. What dost thou talk of us, thou meanest thyself.
J. Bull. When Frog took possession of any thing, it was always said to be for us, and why may not John Bull be us, as well as Nic. Frog was us? I hope John Bull is no more confined to singularity than Nic. Frog; or, take it so, the constant doctrine, that thou hast preached up for many years, was, That Thou and I are One; and why must we be supposed Two in this case, that were always One before? It's impossible that Thou and I can fall out, Nic.; we must trust one another; I have trusted thee with
a great
