Were I coin'd into money I could not
Half satisfy that craving greed of money.
Well, how much do you charge? I'll pay you now,
And take a bond from you that it be made
When it is needed. Come, calculate with reason--
Work's very cheap; and two good men will make
That grave at two days' work: and I can have
Men at a shilling each--_without_ the meat--
That's a great matter! Let them but to meat,
'Tis utter ruin. I'll give none their meat--
That I'll beware of. Men now-a-days are cheap,
Cheap, dogcheap, and beggarly fond of work.
One shilling each a-day, _without_ the meat.
Mind that, and ask in reason; for I wish
To have that matter settled to my mind."--
"Sir, there's no man alive will do't so cheap
As I shall do it for the ready cash,"
Says I, to put him from it with a joke.
"I'll charge you, then, one-fourth part of a farthing
For every cubic foot of work I do,
Doubling the charge each foot that I descend."
"Doubling as you descend! Why, that of course.
A quarter of a farthing each square foot--
No meat, remember! Not an inch of meat,
Nor drink, nor dram. You're not to trust to these.
Wilt stand that bargain, Gabriel?"--"I accept."
He struck it, quite o'erjoy'd. We sought the clerk,
Sign'd--seal'd. He drew his purse. The clerk went on
Figuring and figuring. "What a fuss you make!
'Tis plain," said he, "the sum is eighteen-pence"--