Phi. Well, and did Balbinus believe all this?

La. Believe it, yes, and pardon’d him too, and admonish’d him very religiously, not to be ungrateful to the blessed Virgin:  Nay, there was more Money laid down, upon his giving his Promise, that he would for the future carry on the Process with Purity.

Phi. Well, what was the End of all this?

La. The Story is very long; but I’ll cut it short.  When he had play’d upon Balbinus long enough with these Inventions, and wheedled him out of a considerable Sum of Money, a certain Gentleman happen’d to come there, that had known the Knave from a Child:  He easily imagining that he was acting the same Part with Balbinus, that he had been acting every where, admonishes Balbinus privately, and acquainted him what Sort of a Fellow he harbour’d, advising him to get rid of him as soon as possible, unless he had a Mind to have him sometime or other, to rifle his Coffers, and then run away.

Phi. Well, what did Balbinus do then?  Sure, he took Care to have him sent to Gaol?

La. To Gaol?  Nay, he gave him Money to bear his Charges, and conjur’d him by all that was sacred, not to speak a Word of what had happened between them.  And in my Opinion, it was his Wisdom so to do, rather than to be the common Laughing-stock, and Table-Talk, and run the Risk of the Confiscation of his Goods besides; for the Imposter was in no Danger; he knew no more of the Matter than an Ass, and cheating is a small Fault in these Sort of Cattle.  If he had charg’d him with Theft, his Ordination would have say’d him from the Gallows, and no Body would have been at the Charge of maintaining such a Fellow in Prison.

Phi. I should pity Balbinus; but that he took Pleasure in being gull’d.

La. I must now make haste to the Hall; at another Time I’ll tell you Stories more ridiculous than this.

Phi. When you shall be at Leisure, I shall be glad to hear them, and I’ll give you Story for Story.

The HORSE-CHEAT.

The ARGUMENT.

     The Horse-Cheat lays open the cheating Tricks of those
     that sell or let out Horses to hire; and shews how those
     Cheats themselves are sometimes cheated.

AULUS, PHAEDRUS.

Good God!  What a grave Countenance our Phaedrus has put on, gaping ever and anon into the Air.  I’ll attack him. Phaedrus, what News to Day?

Ph. Why do you ask me that Question, Aulus?

Aul. Because, of a Phaedrus, you seem to have become a Cato, there is so much Sourness in your Countenance.

Ph. That’s no Wonder, my Friend, I am just come from Confession.

Aul. Nay, then my Wonder’s over; but tell me upon your honest Word, did you confess all?