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

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

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

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

IC. 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 ,

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