Two _Soldiers_ go Halves.
The Humour took Two Country Fellows in the Head once to turn Soldiers,
and so away they went to try the Chance of War, upon an Agreement to go
Halves in the Adventure. The One fell Sick upon the way; t’other went
forward to the Army, where he got himself both Money and Credit. At his
Return a while after, he found his Friend upon the Mending Hand, and told
him how and how, which he was Extremely Glad to hear, because of the
Snip that he himself Expected upon the _Dividend_. As they were Talking
of this and that by the By; he took his time to put in a hint about
Sharing the Booty according to their Agreement. That’s all the Reason in
the World, says t’other; but then there are other things to be divided
too, which I han’t told you of, and when we come to reckon, we had e’en
as good make one work on’t, and count all together. This, says t’other
to himself, must be something of Plate, Jewels or Precious Plunder; and
so he came bluntly to the Question, what it was that his _Camrade_ had
gotten besides? Why look ye, says the Soldier, (shewing him his Naked
Body,) Here are Bruises, Wounds, Maims and Scars, that are to be divided
as well as the Money. Nay, says the other, you may e’en keep all y’ve got
to your own use then; for I’ll have no dividing upon those Terms.
The MORAL.
_Part’ners must go Half-Profit, Half-Loss, ’tis no Bargain else._