University of Virginia Library

Grogram—amongst ourselves I say't
I rather fear event that state
Will order bill for misdemeanour,
Against us taken in the mainour
Of BREAKING HOUSE. It may be said,
That run-away match we have made,
Is in despight of rule and order,
And doth on cort of treason border,
Dissolving government at once,
By such clandestine kind of sconce
And terg'versation.
—Bogram—I differ;
For has it not been argued ever
That constitution needs a check,
Of upper house, to take by th' neck
The lower; Now out a house may be,
Of the same use. Minority,
In any instance may withdraw,
And give a negative to the law.

Traddle—Just my opinion of the matter,
It is the speediest check in nature,
And leaves the government still simple,
Those therefore who would compel,
Our pers'nal presence when absconding,
By riotous assault and wounding,
Deserve the rigour of the law,
With every kind of clapper claw,
Of action and indictment hill,
And punishment against their will
For the misprision.
—Grogram to Traddle:
But when the juries come to meddle,
With time and place and where of the assault,
Whether in garret or in vault,
And how we hasten'd from the sergeant,
Dispatch'd to bring us message urgent,
The circumstance against us there,
May seem t' affect our character.
For instance it may come to our spouses
That we were found in bawdy houses,
Or that with wine being mellower,
Had fallen down the steps of a cellar.
It may be said by way of burlesque,
That Traddle while he lay at his risque,
In garret was of the UPPER HOUSE,
And other things ridiculous.
It may be said that skunks we are
And wage posterior kind of war:
For when we mean the most t' offend;
We turn about the other end.