Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/224

218

FRIEND JOHN.

"HAT Schellum is this, that makes thee jealous of thy old friend Nicholas? Hast thou forgot how some years ago he took thee out of the spunginghouse ?" ['Tis true my friend Nic. did so, and I thank him; but he made me pay a swingeing reckoning.] "Thou beginn'st now to repent thy bargain, that thou wast so fond of; and if thou durst, would'st forswear thy own hand and seal. Thou say'st, that thou hast purchased me too great an estate already; when, at the same time, thou know'st I have only a mortgage: 'tis true, I have possession, and the tenants own me for master; but has not esquire South the equity of redemption?" [No doubt, and will redeem it very speedily; poor Nic. has only possession, eleven points of the law.] As for the turnpikes I have set up, they are for other people, not for my friend John; I have ordered my servant constantly to attend, to let thy carriages through without paying any thing; only I hope thou wilt not come too heavy laden to spoil my ways. Certainly I have just cause of offence " against