The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737) — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737)
John Stuart Mill · en
_Dick._ Talk no more of it. Here let us kneel, and thank the Goodness
which has made us blest.
_King._ May you be happy.
_Mil._ [_Kneels._] After I have seen so much of your Majesty's
Goodness, I cannot despair of Pardon, even for the rough Usage your
Majesty receiv'd from me.
[_The King draws his Sword, the Miller is frighted, and rises
up, thinking he was going to kill him._
What have I done that I should lose my Life?
_King._ Kneel without Fear. No, my good Host, so far are you from
having any thing to pardon, that I am much your Debtor. I cannot think
but so good and honest a Man will make a worthy and honourable Knight,
so rise up, Sir _John Cockle_: And, to support your State, and in some
sort requite the Pleasure you have done us, a Thousand Marks a Year
shall be your Revenue.
_Mil._ Your Majesty's Bounty I receive with Thankfulness; I have been
guilty of no Meanness to obtain it, and hope I shall not be obliged to
keep it upon base Conditions; for tho' I am willing to be a faithful
Subject, I am resolv'd to be a free and an honest Man.
_King._ I rely upon your being so: And to gain the Friendship of such a
one, I shall always think an Addition to my Happiness, tho' a King.
Worth, in whatever State, is sure a Prize
Which Kings, of all Men, ought not to despise;
By selfish Sycophants so close besieg'd,
'Tis by meer Chance a worthy Man's oblig'd:
But hence, to every Courtier be it known,
Virtue shall find Protection from the Throne.
_FINIS._