Sy. What an imperious Master have I gotten!  Ten of the nimblest Fellows in the World are scarce sufficient to perform his Orders.

Ra. What’s that you say you slow-Back?

Sy. Nothing at all, Sir.

Ra. No, Sirrah, did I not hear you mutter?

Sy. I was saying my Prayers.

Ra. Ay, I believe so, but it was the Lord’s-Prayer backwards then.  Pray, what was that you were chattering about Imperiousness?

Sy. I was wishing you might be an Emperor.

Ra. And I wish you may be made a Man of a Stump of a Tree.  Wait upon me to Church, and then run Home and make the Bed, and put every Thing in its Place; let the House be set to Rights from Top to Bottom, rub the Chamber-Pot, put these foul Things out of Sight, perhaps I may have some Gentry come to pay me a Visit; if I find any Thing out of Order I’ll thresh you soundly.

Sy. I know your good Humour well enough in that Matter.

Ra. Then it behoves you to look about you, if you are wise.

Sy. But all this while here is not one Word about Dinner.

Ra. Out you Villain, one may see what your Mind runs on.  I don’t dine at Home, therefore come to me a little before Ten a-Clock, that you may wait upon me where I am to go to Dinner.

Sy. You have taken Care of yourself, but there is not a Bit of Bread for me to put into my Head.

Ra. If you have nothing to eat, you have something to hunger after.

Sy. But Fasting won’t fill the Belly.

Ra. There is Bread for you.

Sy. There is so, but it is as black as my Hat, and as coarse as the Bran itself.

Ra. You dainty chap’d Fellow, you ought to be fed with Hay, if you had such Commons as you deserve.  What, I warrant you, Mr. Ass, you must be fed with Plumb Cakes, must you?  If you can’t eat dry Bread, take a Leek to eat with it, or an Onion, if you like that better.

* * * * *

2.  Of sending about various Businesses.

Ra. You must go to Market.

Sy. What, so far?

Ra. It is not a Stone’s Throw off, but it seems two Miles to such an idle Fellow as you; but however, I’ll save you as much Labour as I can, you shall dispatch several Businesses in one Errand; count ’em upon your Fingers, that mayn’t forget any of ’em:  First of all step to the Salesman, and bring my water’d Camblet Doublet if it be done; then go and enquire for Cornelius the Waggoner, he’s commonly at the Sign of the Roe-buck, he uses that House, ask him if he has any Letters for me, and what Day he sets out on his Journey; then go to the Woollen Draper, and tell him from me, not to be uneasy, that I have not sent him the Money at the Time appointed, for he shall have it in a very little Time.