Eumolpus reply’d, that could not be effected, for not only the difficulty of guiding so great a ship to a port, but a suspicion he wou’d necessarily have, that his friend cou’d not be so suddenly very ill, conspir’d against it:  Then next perhaps, Lycas wou’d have a curiosity to visit his sick passenger:  “Can you propose to escape by a means that will discover ye to him ye’d avoid?  But presuming the ship cou’d be stopt in her rapid course, and that Lycas shou’d not visit his sick on board:  How can we get out, but all must see us?  With our heads muffled, or bare?  If cover’d, we move every one to lend a hand to sick persons; if bare, we discover our selves.”

“A desperate disease,” said I, “must have a desperate cure; I know no better expedient of our delivery, than to slide into the long boat, and cutting the cord, leave the rest to Fortune:  Nor do I desire Eumolpus to share the danger:  For what wou’d it signifie to involve an innocent person in other mens deserv’d misfortunes?  We shall think our selves happy, if Fortune be kind.”

“’Twas not ill advised,” said Eumolpus, “if it cou’d be done; for do you think to stir in the ship unobserved, when the distant motion of the stars themselves can’t escape the pilot’s diligence?  You must pass the only guarded part of the ship near which place the rope that holds the boat is tyed:  Besides, Encolpius, I wonder you did not remember that one seaman was upon constant duty night and day in the boat it self; nor will be mov’d from his post, without you cut his throat, or fling him overboard; which consider whether you can dare attempt; for my part, to go with you I would refuse no danger that could give me the least hopes of getting off; but to put so low a value on life, to throw it away as a useless thing, I believe even your selves are unwilling:  Hear whether you like my proposal; I’ll put ye into two mantles I have here, and making holes to breathe and eat through, will place you amongst my other goods for baggage, next morning I allarm the whole ship, crying out, my servants, fearing a greater punishment, in the night jump into the sea; that when the ship made to land, I might carry you off for baggage.”

“Very well,” said I, “but do you design to tye us as stocks, within which nature does not labour to be freed; or as those that use to sneeze and snore?  Or, because I once succeeded in a like deceit?  But suppose we cou’d hold out a day so ty’d up, what shall we do if we’re put to’t longer?  Will the thoughts of a quiet life without cares, or of our adverse fortune entertain us most? our very cloaths long bound up will rot upon our backs:  Can we, d’ye think, that are young, and not inur’d to labour, endure to be clad like statues, and wear our cords as insensibly?  Since we are yet to seek a way of escape, for no proposal has been made without an objection; see what I have thought on:  The studious Eumolpus, I presume, never goes unfurnisht with ink; is there a better expedient, than washing our hands, face, and hair, with that, to appear like AEthiopian slaves? when without wringing our limbs, we can’t but be merry, to act a cheat, that so nearly imposes on our enemies?”