Not like us Brethren, who divide
Our Common-wealth, the Cause and Side,
And though w'are all as near of Kindred,
As th' Outward Man is to the Inward;
We agree in nothing but to wrangle
About the flighteft fingle fangle,

While Lawyers have more fober Sense,
Than t' argue at their own Expence,
But make their best Advantages,
Of other's Quarrels, like the Swiss:
And out of Foreign Controverfies,
By aiding both fides, fill their Purses;
But have no Int'reft in the Caufe,

For which th' engage, and wage the Laws:
Nor further Profpect than their Pay,
Whether they lofe or win the Day.

And though th' abounded in all Ages,
With fundry learned Clerks, and Sages;
Though all their Business be Difpute,
Which way they canvas every Suit;
Th' have no Difputes about their Art,

Nor in Polemicks controvert:

While all Profeffions elfe are found,
VVith nothing but Difputes t' abound,
Divines of all forts, and Physicians,
Philofophers, Mathematicians,

The Galenift, and Paracelfian

Condemn the way each other deal in;
Anatomists diffect and mangle;

To cut themselves out VVork to wrangle;
Aftrologers difpute their Dreams,

That in their Sleeps they talk of Schemes;
And Heralds ftickle, who got who,
So many hundred Years ago.

But Lawyers are too wife a Nation
T'expofe their Trade to Difputation;
Or make the bufie Rabble Judges,
Of all their fecret Piques, and Grudges;
In which whoever wins the day,
The whole Profeffion's fure to pay.
Besides, no Mountebank, nor Cheats
Dare undertake to do their Feats;
VVhen in all other Sciences,

They fwarm, like Infects, and increase.

M

For

For what Bigot durft even draw,
By Inward Light, a Deed in Law?
Or could hold forth by Revelation,
An Answer to a Declaration?

For those that meddle with their Tools,
Will cut their Fingers, if th' are Fools.
And if you follow their Advice,
In Bills, and Answers, and Replies:
They'll write a Love-Letter in Chancery
Shall bring her upon Oath to answer ye,
And foon reduce her to b' your Wife,
Or make her weary of her Life.

The Knight, who us'd with Tricks and Shifts, To edifie by Ralpho's Gifts,

But in appearance cry'd 'em down,
To make them better feem his own,
(All Plagiary's Conftant Course
Of finking, when they take a Purfe,)
Refolv'd to follow his Advice,
But kept it from him by difguife:
And after ftubborn Contradiction,
To Counterfeit his own Conviction,

And

Quoth he; This Gambol thou advisest,
Is of all others the unwifeft;

For if I think by Law to gain her,
There's nothing fillier nor vainer.

'Tis but to hazard my Pretence,
Where nothing's certain but the Expence;
To Act against my self, and Traverse
My fuit and Title to her Favours.

And if she should, which Heaven forbid,
O'erthrow me, as the Fidler did ;
What after-courfe, have I to take,
'Gainst losing all I have at Stake?
He that with Injury is griev'd,
And goes to Law to be reliev'd,
Is fillier than a fottish Chouse,

Who, when a Thief has Robb'd his Houfe,

Applies himself to Cunning Men,

To help him ta his Goods agen:
When all he can expect to gain,
Is but to fquander more in vain.

M 2

Ând

And yet I have no other way,
But is as difficult, to play.

For to reduce her by main Force,

Is now in vain; by fair Means, worse :
But worst of all, to give her over,

Till fhe's as defp'rate to recover.

For bad Games are thrown up too foon,
Until they're never to be won.

But fince I have no other Course,
But is as bad t' attempt, or worse;
He that complies against his Will,
Is of his own Opinion still ;
Which he m'adhere to, yet difown,
For Reafons to himself best known:
But 'tis not to b' avoided now,
For Sidrophel refolves to fue;
Whom I must answer, or begin
Inevitably first with him.

For I've receiv'd Advertisement,
By times, enough of his Intent;
And knowing, he that firft complains,
Th' Advantage of the Bufinefs gains:

For