got up a glass and drank to John, shaking him by the hand till he had like to have shook his shoulder out of joint.
JOHN BULL.--"I understand thee, Nic.; but I shall make thee speak before I go." Then Nic.

put his finger in his cheek and made it cry "buck!" which was as much as to say, "I care not a farthing for thee." JOHN BULL.--"I have done, Nic.; if thou wilt not speak, I'll make my own terms with old Lewis here." John, perceiving that Frog would not speak, turns to old Lewis: "Since we cannot make this obstinate fellow speak, Lewis, pray condescend a little to his humour, and set down thy meaning upon paper, that he may answer it in another scrap." "I am infinitely sorry," quoth Lewis, "that it happens so unfortunately; for, playing a little at cudgels t'other day, a fellow has given me such a rap over the right arm that I am quite lame.

I have lost the use of my forefinger and my thumb, so that I cannot hold my pen." JOHN BULL.--"That's all one; let me write for you." LEWIS.--"But I have a misfortune that I cannot read anybody's hand but my own." JOHN BULL.--"Try what you can do with your left hand." LEWIS.--"That's impossible; it will make such a scrawl that it will not be legible." As they were talking of this matter, in came Esquire South, all dressed up in feathers and ribbons, stark staring mad, brandishing his sword, as if he would have cut off their heads, crying "Room, room, boys, for the grand esquire of the world! the flower of esquires! What! covered in my presence?
I'll crush your souls, and crack you like lice!" With that he had like to have struck John Bull's hat into the fire; but John, who was pretty strong-fisted, gave him such a squeeze as made his eyes water.
He went on still in his mad pranks: "When I am lord of the universe, the sun shall prostrate and adore me! Thou, Frog, shalt be my bailiff; Lewis my tailor; and thou, John Bull, shalt be my fool!" All this while Frog laughed in his sleeve, gave the esquire the other noggan of brandy, and clapped him on the back, which made him ten times madder.
Poor John stood in amaze, talking thus to himself: "Well, John, thou art got into rare company! One has a dumb devil, the other a mad devil, and the third a spirit of infirmity.

An honest man has a fine time on it amongst such rogues.

What art thou asking of them after all?
Some mighty boon one would think! only to sit quietly at thy own fireside.