AN UNWORTHY LAWYER.

An unlearned and unworthily called a lawyer, is the figure of a foot-post, who carries letters but knows not what is in them, only can read the superscriptions to direct them to their right owners.  So trudgeth this simple clerk, that can scarce read a case when it is written, with his handful of papers from one court to another, and from one counsellor’s chamber to another, when by his good payment for his pains he will be so saucy as to call himself a solicitor.  But what a taking are poor clients in when this too much trusted cunning companion, better read in Piers Plowman than in Plowden, and in the play of “Richard the Third” than in the pleas of Edward the Fourth, persuades them all is sure when he is sure of all! and in what a misery are the poor men when upon a Nihil dicit, because indeed this poor fellow Nihil potest dicere, they are in danger of an execution before they know wherefore they are condemned.  But I wish all such more wicked than witty unlearned in the law and abusers of the same, to look a little better into their consciences, and to leave their crafty courses, lest when the law indeed lays them open, instead of carrying papers in their hands, they wear not papers on their heads; and instead of giving ear to their client’s causes or rather eyes into their purses, they have never an ear left to hear withal, nor good eye to see withal, or at least honest face to look out withal; but as the grasshoppers of Egypt, be counted the caterpillars of England, and not the fox that stole the goose, but the great fox that stole the farm from the gander.

A WORTHY SOLDIER.

A worthy soldier is the child of valour, who was born for the service of necessity, and to bear the ensign of honour in the actions of worth.  He is the dyer of the earth with blood, and the ruin of the erections of pride.  He is the watch of wit, the advantage of time, and the executioner of wrath upon the wilful offender.  He disputes questions with the point of a sword, and prefers death to indignities.  He is a lion to ambition, and a lamb to submission; he hath hope fast by the hand, and treads upon the head of fear.  He is the king’s champion, and the kingdom’s guard; peace’s preserver, and rebellion’s terror.  He makes the horse trample at the sound of a trumpet, and leads on to a battle as if he were going to a breakfast.  He knows not the nature of cowardice, for his rest is set up upon resolution; his strongest fortification is his mind, which beats off the assaults of idle humours, and his life is the passage of danger, where an undaunted spirit stoops to no fortune.  With his arms he wins his arms, and by his desert in the field his honour in the court.  In sum, in the truest manhood he is the true man, and in the creation of honour a most worthy creature.

AN UNTRAINED SOLDIER.