make use of the advantage which the fortune of the pen
has now gained over thee, would be too much--No--! by that all-powerful
fire which warms the visionary brain, and lights the spirits through
unworldly tracts! ere I would force a helpless creature upon this hard
service, and make thee pay, poor soul! for fifty pages, which I have no
right to sell thee,--naked as I am, I would browse upon the mountains,
and smile that the north wind brought me neither my tent or my supper.

--So put on, my brave boy! and make the best of thy way to Boulogne.

Chapter 3.XC.

Boulogne!--hah!--so we are all got together--debtors and sinners before
heaven; a jolly set of us--but I can't stay and quaff it off with
you--I'm pursued myself like a hundred devils, and shall be overtaken,
before I can well change horses:--for heaven's sake, make haste--'Tis
for high-treason, quoth a very little man, whispering as low as he could
to a very tall man, that stood next him--Or else for murder; quoth
the tall man--Well thrown, Size-ace! quoth I. No; quoth a third, the
gentleman has been committing--

Ah! ma chere fille! said I, as she tripp'd by from her matins--you
look as rosy as the morning (for the sun was rising, and it made
the compliment the more gracious)--No; it can't be that, quoth a
fourth--(she made a curt'sy to me--I kiss'd my hand) 'tis debt,
continued he: 'Tis certainly for debt; quoth a fifth; I would not pay
that gentleman's debts, quoth Ace, for a thousand pounds; nor would I,
quoth Size, for six times the sum--Well thrown, Size-ace, again! quoth
I;--but I have no debt but the debt of Nature, and I want but patience
of her, and I will pay her every farthing I owe her--How can you be
so hard-hearted, Madam, to arrest a poor traveller going along
without molestation to any one upon his lawful occasions? do stop that
death-looking, long-striding scoundrel of a scare-sinner, who is posting
after me--he never would have followed me but for you--if it be but for
a stage or two, just to give me start of him, I beseech you, madam--do,
dear lady--

--Now, in troth, 'tis a great pity, quoth mine Irish host, that all this
good courtship should be lost; for the young gentlewoman has been after
going out of hearing of it all along.--

--Simpleton! quoth I.

--So you have nothing else in Boulogne worth seeing?

--By Jasus! there is the finest Seminary for the Humanities--

--There cannot be a finer; quoth I.

Chapter 3.XCI.