Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

of Parliament as a Trap for Wild, which he foon after fell into. By this Law it was made Capital in a Prig to fteal with the Hands of other People. A Law fo plainly calculated for the Deftruction of all Priggif GREATNESS, that it was indeed impoffible for our Hero to avoid it.

CHA P. II.

A Short Hint concerning popular Ingratitude, Mr. Wild's Arrival in the Caftle, with other Occurrences to be found in no other Hiftory.

F we had any Leifure, we would here

I digrefs a little on that Ingratitude, which

fo many Writers have obferved in all free Governments towards their GREAT MEN who, while they have been confulting the Good of the Public, by raifing their own GREATNESS, in which the whole Body (as the Kingdom of France thinks itself in the Glory of their Grand Monarch) was fo deeply concerned, have been fometimes facrificed

crificed by thofe very People for whofe Glory the faid GREAT MEN were so induftriously at work: And this from a foolith Zeal for a certain ridiculous imaginary Thing called Liberty, to which GREAT MEN are obferved to have a great Animofity.

THIS Law had been promulgated a very little Time, when Mr. Wild, having received from fome dutiful Members of the Gang, a valuable Piece of Goods, did, for a Con• fideration fomewhat fhort of its original Price, re-convey it to the right Owner; for which Fact being ungratefully informed against by the faid Owner, he was furprized in his own House, and being over-power'd by Numbers, was hurried before a Magiftrate, and by him committed to that Caftle, which, fuitable as it is to GREATNESS, we do not chufe to name too often in our History, and where many GREAT MEN, at this Time, happened to be affembled.

THE Governor, or as the Law more honourably calls him, Keeper of this Castle, having been Mr. Wild's old Friend and Acquaintance,

U 4

quaintance, made the latter greatly satisfied with the Place of his Confinement, as he promifed himself not only a kind Reception and handfome Accommodation there, but even to obtain his Liberty from him, if he thought it neceffary to defire it: But alafs! he was deceived, his old Friend knew him no lon ger, and refufing to fee him, ordered the Lieutenant Governor to infift on as high Garnish for Fetters, and as exorbitant a Price for Lodging, as if he had had a fine Gentleman in Cuftody for Murther, or as if he had received an Intimation from a certain Place to use all the Severity imaginable to his Prifoner.

To confefs a melancholy Truth, it is a Circumstance much to be lamented; that there is no abfolute Dependence on the Friendship of GREAT MEN. An Obfervation which hath been frequently made by those who have lived in Courts or in Newgate, or in any other Place fet apart for the Habitation of the faid GREAT MEN.

THE fecond Day of his Confinement he was greatly furprized at receiving a Vifit from

[ocr errors]

from his Wife; and much more fo, when, instead of a Countenance ready to infult him, the only Motive to which he could afcribe her Prefence, he faw the Tears trickling down her lovely Cheeks. He embraced her with the utmoft Marks of Affection, and declared he could hardly regret his Confinement, fince it had produced fuch an Inftance of the Happiness he enjoyed in her, whofe Fidelity to him on this Occafion, would, he believed, make him the Envy of moft Hufbands, even in Newgate, He then begged her to dry her Eyes, and be comforted; for that Matters might go better with him than she expected. No, no, (says she) I am cer". tain you will be found guilty Death. I "knew what it would always come to. I

[ocr errors]

told you it was impoffible to carry on "fuch a Trade long; but you would not "be advised, and now you fee the Confe"quence, now you repent when it is too "late. All the Comfort I fhall have when "you are nubbed, is that I gave you good Advice. If you had always gone out by yourself, as I would have had you, you

*

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Book IV. might have robbed on to the End of the Chapter; but you was wifer than all the "World, or rather lazier, and fee what "your Lazinefs is come to. -To the

Cheat, for thither you will go now, that's infallible. And a juft Judgment. " on you for following your headstrong "Will; I am the only Perfon to be pitied,

poor I, who shall be scandalized for your "Fault. There goes fhe whofe Husband "was hanged: Methinks I hear them cry

ing fo already". At which Words fhe.. burft into Tears. He could not then forbear chiding her for this unneceffary Concern on his Account, and begged her not to trouble him any more. She answered with fome Spirit, "On your Account, and

[ocr errors]

be dd to you! No, if the old Cull "of a Justice had not fent me here, I "believe it would have been long enough " before I should have come hither to see "after you: Dn me, I am commit«ted for the Filing Lay, Man, and we

fhall be both nubbed together. I faith, my dear, it almoft makes me Amends "for being nubbed myself, to have the *The Gallows. + Picking Pockets.

"Plea

« AnteriorContinuar »