He tells him a Lord offer’d him Five Hundred Pounds to carry off his young Lady, but that he refused it, and thought himself obliged to acquaint him with his Lordship’s Design.

“You are a Fool, replies the old Man; take the Money, I’ll consent, we’ll snack it—­Quit of another.  My Lord shan’t have a Groat with her.  What a Charge are Children!  This Lord is the best Friend I have, to take her off my Hands.  To be sure bring the Money, carry her to my Lord, and bring the Money; go take Time by the Fore-lock, he may recant, then so much Money’s lost.  Go, run to my Lord, tell him you’ll do it.”

Here he thrust the Fellow out, and appear’d with a smiling Countenance.  A Man comes in, and tells him the Exchequer is shut up, Stocks are fallen, a War declar’d, and a new Tax laid on Land; he beats his Breast, groans aloud, and vanishes.

“By this Wretch, said Abrahijo, you see the Care and Anxiety wait on the Miserable.  The Love of Gold in him has extinguish’d Nature; nay, it predominates over Self-love; for he hastens his End, by not allowing his Body either Rest, or sufficient Nourishment, only that he may encrease the Number of his Coffers.”

Another Shade appear’d with a great Crowd of People, huzzaing, a Venditor, a Venditor; he goes before them, steps into every Shop, enquires after the Health of each Family, kisses the Wives, and out of his thrusts Gold into their Mouths.  Here he bows to a Tinker, there embraces a Cobler, shakes a Scavinger by the Hand, stands bare-headed, and compliments an Ale-Wife, invites a Score of Shoemakers, Taylors, Pedlars, Weavers, and Hostlers, to do him the Honour of their Company to Dinner.

The Scene changes; he’s at Court, the Ministers repay him his servile Cringes by theirs; one comes up to him, and says, he hopes, when the Bill comes into the House, he will favour him with his Vote for its passing:  He answers, he shall discharge the Trust reposed in him, like a Man of Honour, in forwarding what is for the Good of his Country, and opposing the contrary, tho’ the Consequence were his own Ruin:  That he begg’d his Lordship’s Pardon, if he dissented from him in Opinion, and did not think what he required warrantable in a Man of Honour.

“You are not well inform’d, replied the Nobleman, but we’ll talk of that another Day, when I hope I shall convince you, that you did not well understand me; my present Business is to wish you Joy, Courvite’s Regiment is vacant, and tho’ you have never serv’d, your personal Bravery and good Conduct in the Senate have spoke so much in your behalf, that you will to morrow have the Commission sent you.”

“My Lord, replied the Patriot, this is an unexpected favour, and I am satisfied I owe it to your Lordship’s Goodness.  I hope an Opportunity to speak my Gratitude, will present it self; in the mean while count upon me, in whatever I can serve your Interest.”

At these Words, with a visible Joy in his Looks, he vanish’d.