Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/186

180 industry in a lawsuit for him, only upon the hopes of being his clothier? And when the cause is over, I shall not have the benefit of my project for want of money to go to market. Look ye, gentlemen, John Bull is but a plain man; but John Bull knows when he is ill used. I know the infirmity of our family; we are apt to play the boon companion, and throw away our money in our cups: but it was an unfair thing in you, gentlemen, to take advantage of my weakness, to keep a parcel of roaring bullies about me day and night, with huzzas and huntinghorns, and ringing the changes on butchers cleavers, never let me cool, and make me set my hand to papers, when I could hardly hold my pen. There will come a day of reckoning for all that proceeding. In the mean time, gentlemen, I beg you will let me into my affairs a little, and that you would not grudge me the small remainder of a very great estate.

HE arguments used by Hocus and the rest of the guardians had hitherto proved insufficient : John and his wife could not be persuaded to bear the expense of esquire South's lawsuit. They thought it reasonable that since he was to have the honour and advantage, he should bear the greatest share of the charges;