“Gentlemen,” said he, “if you have designs of trading, you must go another way; but if you’re of the admir’d sort of men, that have the thriving qualifications of lying and cheating, you’re in the direct path to business; for in this city no learning flourisheth, eloquence has not a room here; temperance, good manners, nor any virtue can meet a reward; assure your selves of finding but two sorts of men, and they are the cheated, and those that cheat.  A father takes no care of his children, because the having of heirs is such a mark of infamy, that he who is known in that circumstance, dares not appear at any publick game or show, is deny’d all publick priviledges, and only herds among those that all men piss upon.  But single men, who have no tyes of nature that oblige the disposal of their wealth, are caress’d by all, and have the greatest honours confer’d on ’em; they are the only valorous, the only brave; nay, and only innocent too.  You’re going to a city,” added he, “like a field in a plague-time, where you can observe nothing but one man devouring another, as crows dead carcasses.”

The prudent Eumolpus, as a thing so surprizingly new, began to be thoughtful, and confest that way to riches did not displease him.  I believ’d it the effect of a poetick gaiety, that had not left his years.  When, “I wish,” continued he, “I cou’d maintain a greater figure, as well in habit as attendants, ’twou’d give a better colour to my pretences:  By Hercules, I’d throw by the wallet, and soon advance all our fortunes.”

Promising therefore to supply his wants, “we have with us,” said I, “the sacred vest of Isis, and all the booty we made at Lycurgus’s village; and you have given me such hopes, Eumolpus,” added I, “that were the goddess her self in my power, I’d pawn her for money to carry on the design.”

Upon which, said Eumolpus, “why delay we the bringing of our hands in use? and if you like the proposal let me be called your master.”

None e’re condemned a project that was no charge to him; therefore to be true to his interests, we engag’d in an oath before we wou’d discover the cheat to suffer ten thousand racks; and thus like free-born gladiators selling our liberty, we religiously devoted both soul and body to our new master.

After the solemn ceremonies of our oath were ended; like slaves, at a distance, we salute the master of our own making.  When beginning to exercise his authority, he commanded us to report that our ancient lord (meaning him) griev’d at the loss of a son, who was a great orator and comfort to his age, was unhappily forc’d to quit the place of his abode, lest the daily salutes of those that expected preferment under him, or visits of his companions, might be the continual occasions of tears; and the late shipwrack had added to his grief, having lost to the value of twenty thousand crowns; tho’ he was not so much concern’d at the loss of his money, as of his large retinue; that, he fear’d, would make them not proportion their thoughts to his greatness; and to add, that our lord had mortgages on half the estates in Africa, and mighty sums at use on personal security; and cou’d raise of his own gladiators, disperst about Numidia, a force able to plunder Carthage.