Part 16 (1/2)

_D_. How do I go about to betray you? Do I not give you an account how the king invites you to come on sh.o.r.e, and has ordered you to be treated courteously and a.s.sisted?

_W_. As thou art a Christian, though I doubt it much, dost thou believe the king or the general, as thou callest it, means one word of what he says?

_D_. He promises you by the mouth of his great general.

_W_. I don't ask thee what he promises, or by whom; but I ask thee this: Canst thou say that thou believest he intends to perform it?

_D_. How can I answer that? How can I tell what he intends?

_W_. Thou canst tell what thou believest.

_D_. I cannot say but he will perform it; I believe he may.

_W_. Thou art but a double-tongued Christian, I doubt. Come, I'll ask thee another question: Wilt thou say that thou believest it, and that thou wouldst advise me to believe it, and put our lives into their hands upon these promises?

_D_. I am not to be your adviser.

_W_. Thou art perhaps afraid to speak thy mind, because thou art in their power. Pray, do any of them understand what thou and I say? Can they speak Dutch?

_D_. No, not one of them; I have no apprehensions upon that account at all.

_W_. Why, then, answer me plainly, if thou art a Christian: Is it safe for us to venture upon their words, to put ourselves into their hands, and come on sh.o.r.e?

_D_. You put it very home to me. Pray let me ask you another question: Are you in any likelihood of getting your s.h.i.+p off, if you refuse it?

_W_. Yes, yes, we shall get off the s.h.i.+p; now the storm is over we don't fear it.

_D_. Then I cannot say it is best for you to trust them.

_W_. Well, it is honestly said.

_D_. But what shall I say to them?

_W_. Give them good words, as they give us.

_D_. What good words?

_W_. Why, let them tell the king that we are strangers, who were driven on his coast by a great storm; that we thank him very kindly for his offer of civility to us, which, if we are further distressed, we will accept thankfully; but that at present we have no occasion to come on sh.o.r.e; and besides, that we cannot safely leave the s.h.i.+p in the present condition she is in; but that we are obliged to take care of her, in order to get her off; and expect, in a tide or two more, to get her quite clear, and at an anchor.

_D_. But he will expect you to come on sh.o.r.e, then, to visit him, and make him some present for his civility.

_W_. When we have got our s.h.i.+p clear, and stopped the leaks, we will pay our respects to him.

_D_. Nay, you may as well come to him now as then.

_W_. Nay, hold, friend; I did not say we would come to him then: you talked of making him a present, that is to pay our respects to him, is it not?

_D_. Well, but I will tell him that you will come on sh.o.r.e to him when your s.h.i.+p is got off.

_W_. I have nothing to say to that; you may tell him what you think fit.