_Sy._ What makes you run so, _John?_
_Jo._ What makes a Hare run before the Dogs, as they use to say?
_Sy._ What Proverb is this?
_Jo._ Because unless I am there in Time, before the Bill is called over,
I am sure to be whipp'd.
_Sy._ You need not be afraid of that, it is but a little past five: Look
upon the Clock, the Hand is not come to the half Hour Point yet.
_Jo._ Ay, but I can scarce trust to Clocks, they go wrong sometimes.
_Sy._ But trust me then, I heard the Clock strike.
_Jo._ What did that strike?
_Sy._ Five.
_Jo._ But there is something else that I am more afraid of than that, I
must say by Heart a good long Lesson for Yesterday, and I am afraid I
can't say it.
_Sy._ I am in the same Case with you; for I myself have hardly got mine
as it should be.
_Jo._ And you know the Master's Severity. Every Fault is a Capital one
with him: He has no more Mercy of our Breeches, than if they were made
of a Bull's Hide.
_Sy._ But he won't be in the School.
_Jo._ Who has he appointed in his Place?
_Sy. Cornelius._
_Jo._ That squint-ey'd Fellow! Wo to our Back-Sides, he's a greater
Whip-Master than _Busby_ himself.
_Sy._ You say very true, and for that Reason I have often wish'd he had
a Palsy in his Arm.
_Jo._ It is not pious to wish ill to ones Master: it is our Business
rather to take Care not to fall under the Tyrant's Hands.
_Sy._ Let us say one to another, one repeating and the other looking in
the Book.
_Jo._ That's well thought on.
_Sy._ Come, be of good Heart; for Fear spoils the Memory.
_Jo._ I could easily lay aside Fear, if I were out of Danger; but who
can be at Ease in his Mind, that is in so much Danger.
_Sy._ I confess so; but we are not in Danger of our Heads, but of our
Tails.
* * * * *