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Reynard," retorted Vortex, looking steadfastly towards Brush," the grapes are sour." "May be so," rejoined Brush, laughing, "for you monopolize all the black strap to yourself."

"Peace! peace!" cried Merryman, plenty of black strap!”

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"War! war! war!" now burst forth from all the household, like so many hounds opening upon a trail of rusty bacon; and it was observed that many of the opposition also joined the war-whoop, induced by the hopes of being employed as contractors, commissaries, com manders, and crumb-pickers. In short, it was carried by a vast majority, that the financial state of Freeland was so plethoric, as to require the application of war leeches to reduce the pride of the middle classes, whose bags were so full, that they began to despise the poorer gentry.

As opposition was useless, the debate broke up, like most others, that is to say, the majority were contented with having the best of it; the minority consoled themselves with having

the right of it; and every individual was perfectly delighted with the brilliant figure which he himself had cut in it.

The tenants-some of them, whistled Lillibullero; and others repeated the proverb"Needs must go, when the devil drives."

CHAPTER VII.

"TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO."

Three join'd in one !—the wit, the soldier, statesman ; Where? where?-In Y***? Look in some other place

man.

"You see here-(said the Stewards to the allied Lords, sitting in private council,)—you see here-upon this map-the relative situation of the coalesced powers and of the Gulls ; the latter are hemmed in by the former on all sides, and must fall, manacled, as it were, an easy prey to us. But, however easily obtained, the spoils will not be the less glorious. Gullia includes very many, and some of the finest enclosures in the world, which are so situated as to be readily divided between the

allies. Here are Alsatia Angolismensis, Andes, Armeniacus, Artasia, Aunis, Alvernia, Barrois, Basques, Benearnia, Biturricensis, Bigerrensis, Blazois, Boloniensis, Borbonensis, Bressia, Bretagne, Burgogne, Cameracensis, Campania, Causerans, Delphinatus, Forez, Fuxensis, Franche-Comté, Flandria, Gascogné, Gevaldenensis, Guyenne, Hannonia, Insula Franciæ, Languedocia, Limoricensis, Lotharingia, Lugdunensis, Marchia, Main, Marsalium, Navarra, Nivernois, Normandia, Orleanois, Perticensis, Petricoriensis, Picardia, Pietaviensis, Provincia, Quercy, Rutunensis, Ruscinonensis, Santonia, Suesiones, Torraine, Velaunia, and Vermandé ;-all as pretty spots as ever man stuck a ploughshare into. In the general partition, each ally will have for his share such of them as adjoin to his former possessions, and in proportion to his contribution towards the subjugation of the common enemy of the human race; so that there cannot be the least reasonable ground for grumbling. Then shall we have it in our power to reward those who shall have done the state some service." Barony, seignory, commandery, castles, dis

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tricts, posts, pensions, lands, goods, or chattels,-it will be only to ask and to have. Reason will have it so ;-it is but justice."

"Nay, Sir, not justice, but your bounteous goodness"-cries one of the courtiers.

"That, like the genial sun, invigorates and supports us poor worms,"-cries a second. "That distributes the gifts of Providence among his unworthy creatures," says a third. "That performs anew the miracle of the loaves and fishes,”—goes a fourth.

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-That feeds the full, and sends the fasting empty away,"-pops in a fifth. A blundering dog!

"That disposes of the skin before he has slain the bear,"-muttered a sixth to himself. A surly, honest dog!

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My modesty cannot bear all this,"-cried the premier-" you flatter me, gentlemen, indeed you do."

"By G-! we speak only the truth,"-exclaimed the first four spaniel dogs.

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They do, indeed-so far as their little experience of it goes," cries the blundering dog.

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