The Quarrel of Retius and Coopertius.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1041, 16 June 1880, Page 2

The Quarrel of Retius and Coopertius.

■ - — " After Spokesluxve." "OoO*iißTius.^?hat yoVhave ttiftd to injure and ruin me doth appear in this : — You have at various times and in C"?;.. >«diyers places trumped ujj vile charges "* " gainst me 'when "the ttntrutftfulness of all of them you were thoroughly aware of. BfeftUS.-^Yo^ have injured yburself by ..the reckless and extravagant course you have pursued. , Ooopertius. — In timefflike these " those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. " , And let me remind . you, Retiti's, you, yourself, are much suspected to have an itching desire to raise your fortunes out of the ' poor barbarians and to gain a reputation, of which you are undeserving. Rbtius. — I, an itching desire ? You know that I am a man of peace, or you would not dare to say bo. Qoopjsrtius. — The fame of Betius is too well known. You cannot hide your faults beneath the gown you wear. Rbtius. — Let me refer you to the annaU of the Court— the R. M. Court. Did not great Wardius plead for justice when the charge of forgery waa brought against him 1 What others of his "ring" did I not bring to justice ? What 1 Shall it be said thatlwhohave slain the foremost men of all this " tribe " but for supporting perjurers? Are not all the gods and the new trustees on my side ] Shall I now so far debase myself and allow the vast possessions of my dusky clients to pass into the hands of those who have attempted to grasp them thus ? Rather would I parch in Hades, old Mac for my friend, than be so vile a man. Coopertius. — Retius, mention not the name of Mac. to me Thou wrongst hirii thus toname him friend of thine. I will not hear it. His spirit roams in lands not yet ' ' trusteed" to thee, and o'er which thou ne'er shalt have control, though thou deemest thyi self a better man than he. Rbtius.— Begdne ! I will not listen to one so .base. '.'.■• ■ ' : • Ooopertius. — Base? SpotleßS one ! No longer spotless shalt thou- be. I will out of thee knock spots. Rbtius. — Urge me no more. I niay : forget myself, and prove to you that huge and ponderous as 'thod art, I'm quite a match for thee. ; Ooopertius.—" Away, slight man." Hetius.-— On ! Ye Oil Springs ! has it come to this 1 , Ooopertius. — Now listen to me, for I am bound to let it out. Shall I give way to you in 'all your rash • aud impracticable schemes ? Shall I be daunted when a visionary speaks ? Rbtius.— Oh ! Tuckorius, Tuckorius, : < must I endure all this 1 Ooopertius. — AU this 1 Aye ; and a great deal more. Wait till before the great tribunal thou art arraigned, then shalt thou be proved to be, but a man of straw— attempting to hide thine own unworchiness by aspersing the characters : of better men than thou. Shall I go on] Shall I tell thee of all the little " hanky panky" tricks that thou hast played elsewhere, of all the promise's thou hast broken — of Tareha and Heretaiinga — of Jimmy Burns of Murewai, and of others-" too numerous to. mention." By great ■* Jove, thou shalt have thy fill " though it do split thee." For from this time forward, I will pursue thee with an undying determination to drive thee henoe aud — out you goRbtius. — Things are.coming to a pretty pass. Ooopbßtius. — Y«u say you are an honest and a peaceful man. Prove yourself so, make your boasting true, and many will support you. For my part, I think you are very small •' pertaters." Retius. — 'Tis false ; you know, 'tis false, thou vile perverter of the truth. Ooopektius. — If it is, I care not. Rbtius. — When old Mac lived, he dared not thus have bearded me. Coopektius. — Stuff, man, stuff. You dared not thua have stood before him. Retius. — I dared not? Coopertixts.— No ! ! ! Retius. — What ! dare not Btand before old Mac 1 Ooopertius. — By jingo, 'you dared not. Retius. — Do not rely too much on the peacefulness of my waya. I may make thee Borry for what thou hast said. Ooopertius. — You cannot make me sorry for what I have said. You are known too well, Retius. Two years' experience have taught the people of this place to price you at VAmr proper value. You talk of peace, when you know there can be no peace unless you put a stop to your litigious and revengeful , ways, and learn "to do unto others as you would they should do unto you.' Retios/— Talk not to me, Coopertius. I am so ' ' strongly imbued with the great principles of right conduct iv in all things," and so powerful in my own resources, that I do not require advice from one like you. 1 did apply to you for a certain sum of money for others, whichyou refused to pay, and which I much regretted ; for I can raise no money other than' by fair means, I would rather sacrifice my own interests, and the interests of my family, than to wring from tho large estates of the barbarians one single sixpence by any indis- | cretion. I did send to you for means to pay my surveyors ' which you failed to pay me. Was that fmtriciouv ? Would I have treated ! my Coopertius so 1 When Gulielmus Retius becomes so mean as to refuse to pay his just and lawful debts, may he cease to be the friend and protege of the great Pro-Consul. Ooopbrtius. — I denied you not. I told Grunerius, the officer, to seize my flocVs and herds, and relieve your wants out of the proceeds. Retius. — Ye 3, but you had first hypothecated them to the new trustees. Coopektius. — You will hear of that anon. I have a rod in pickle for the guardians of the young and blooming fidds. Rbtius. — You like me not. Ooopertius. — I cannot say I do.

Retius — Wore it not better to be friends ? Coopkktitis. — Aye, truly if one could but keep you straight. Rftnus. — Come, Maudius, .and old Parnelliuß, come, revenge yourselves on' Retius, for Retiu3 ia sick and of this game. Twitted by one he admires — whom he loves as a brother — treated like a beggar. All : hie mistakes laid bare. - Summoned ill bankruptcy ; "brought before the Registrar to be gazed upon and laughed at by the common herd. Oh ! I could tear the very hair from off. my head. Here ia my hand, and here my naked head — -within a " brain far superior to thine. If thou beat a good man, take it. I, that have wronged thee, will hereby make a solemn pledge that, if you will agree to forget the past, and link your fate with mine, we shall henceforth be the best of friends, and work together for our common weal. j CoppßßTras. — Give me your hand. After I this how can I be angry with you 1 Do what you will, there is no dts- ! | honor. O, Retius ! ydu have linked yourself with One who loves you dearer than his life— a perfect lamb, who will hereafter be your bell wether, and lead you in the way that you should go. . Rktius. — Hath Retius then gained the goodwill of his Coopertius t CooPEß,Tn7g»~When I flay a thing I mean it. ...... Retitjs — O, Coopertiua ! Coopbrtius.— What's up ? Rbtius. — You cannot think how happy and contented I feel. Will you really promise to be forgetful of the past, and pardon the rashness and vindictivness of which I have been guilty. Cooperttus. — Yes, Retius ; and from henceforth we will work together, hand-in-hand, to pass your little Bill, and then won't we slate the barbarians ? — my eye ! Exeunt Retius and CooPEßTrus, rubbing noses a ia Maori.