Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/274

268 saw that John was still inexorable, he pulled out a case-knife, with which he used to snick and snee, and threatened to cut his own throat. Thrice he aimed the knife to his windpipe with a most determined threatening air. "What signifies life," quoth he, "in this languishing condition? It will be some pleasure, that my friends will revenge my death upon this barbarous man, that has been the cause of it." All this while John looked sedate and calm, neither offering in the least to snatch the knife, nor stop his blow, trusting to the tenderness Nic. had for his own person: when he perceived, that John was immovable in his purpose, he applied himself to Lewis.

"Art thou," quoth he, "turned bubble in thy old age, from being a sharper in thy youth? What occasion hast thou to give up Ecclesdown castle to John Bull? his friendship is not worth a rush; give it me, and I'll make it worth thy while. If thou dislikest that proposition, keep it thyself; I'd rather thou should'st have it than he. If thou hearkenest not to my advice, take what follows; esquire South and I will go on with our lawsuit in spite of John Bull's teeth."

L. B. Monsieur Bull has used me like a gentleman, and I am resolved to make good my promise, and trust him for the consequences.

N. F. Then I tell thee thou art an old doting fool. —— With that, Nic. bounced up with a spring equal to that of one of your nimblest tumblers or ropedancers, and fell foul upon John Bull, to snatch the cudgel he had in his hand, that he might thwack Lewis with it: John held it fast, so that there was no wrenching it from him. At last 'squire South buckled