Besides, if it was to do any
good indeed; but, let the cause be what it will, what mighty matter of
good can two people do? and, for my part, I understand nothing of
it. I never fired off a gun above ten minutes in my life; and then
it was not charged with bullets. And for the sword, I never learned to
fence, and know nothing of the matter. And then there are those
cannons, which certainly it must be thought the highest presumption to
go in the way of; and nobody but a madman- I ask pardon; upon my soul
I meant no harm; I beg I may not throw your honor into another
passion."
"Be under no apprehension, Partridge," cries Jones; "I am now so
well convinced of thy cowardice, that thou couldst not provoke me on
any account." "Your honour," answered he, "may call me coward, or
anything else you please. If loving to sleep in a whole skin makes a
man a coward, non immunes ab illis malis sumus.* I never read in my
grammar that a man can't be a good man without fighting. Vir bonus est
quis? Qui consulta patrum, qui leges juraque servat.*(2) Not a word of
fighting; and I am sure the scripture is so much against it, that a
man shall never persuade me he is a good Christian while he sheds
Christian blood."
*We are not free from these ills.
*(2) Who is the good man? He who obeys the decrees of the conscript
fathers and the laws.
Chapter 4
The adventure of a beggar-man
Just as Partridge had uttered that good and pious doctrine, with
which the last chapter concluded, they arrived at another cross-way,
when a lame fellow in rags asked them for alms; upon which Partridge
gave him a severe rebuke, saying, "Every parish ought to keep their
own poor.
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