A
NEW POEM
ON THE
Excellency and Antiquity
OF
LAW and LAWYERS,
AND
Dedicated to his Mecenar and most worthy Patron and Professor thereof,
the Learned and Accomplished William Peazly of the Middle
Temple, London, Esq;
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WHen the Wise God this Beautous, World had laid,
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And, above all, Man in his Image made.
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He then to him very strictly gave a Law,
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To keep his Passions in good Plight and Awe.
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From which great Law, we other Laws do make,
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For Equity, and for Conscience sake.
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That Man to his Fellow-Creature may be just,
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When that at any time, he in him puts trust.
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Weret not for this, he would do as he please,
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Fulfils humor, and in each thing takes ease.
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Like the Tiger, fall foul of all comes next,
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By Natures, Preaching that should be the Text.
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But Law doth frown on every Rebel still,
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To fright Offenders from their doing ill.
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So it keeps the World in Majesty and Might,
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Its like the Sun, its full of glorious Light.
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It renders to Caesar, Caesar his goods,
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It gives to Ladies, their Scarfs and their Hoods.
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And the Countrey-man his Cow and his Calf,
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Does all to Perfection, doth nothing by half.
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As the Moon drives the Ocean too and fro,
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So doth the Law govern Mortals here below.
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All that we have, we have from her bright Face,
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Whether we are in Rags, or in Gold Lace.
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But who shall discuss it? Some are appointed
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The Favorites of Heaven, and Heavens Annointed.
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The Students of that in which they are brought up,
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To eat in Loves Dish, and drink in Loves Cup.
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Men of Arts, and of Education high,
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Commonly of Blood, and of Nobility.
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Its pity that so brave a thing as Law,
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Should be followd by Magpie, or Jack-Daw.
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The Basely Born, or the Ignorant, I mean,
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A thing that should be still the Wits great Theam.
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But only such men as have power to do,
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Justice to themselves, and cure others of Wo.
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For a Lawyer is next to the Divine,
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As the Grape is appendant to the Vine.
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For when with a man his business has done,
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Out comes the Lawyer and beats on his Drum.
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The one for the Soul, the other for the Body,
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Both of which they should shew a good Copy.
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The first our Morals for to learn us great,
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Th other to keep our Riches and Estate.
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Like Midwives necessary in a Land,
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One has a healing, th other a noble Hand.
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And for to cure the wounds of all us Men,
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As Fathers do their dearest Children.
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Therefore to every Lawyer lets give way,
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For honour still will have it so, I say.
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And treat him here as we expect hereafter,
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To be treated beyond Lightning and Thunder.
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Where all just Men shall there arise and come,
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As day doth flow after a setting Sun.
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For doing to others as we would be done by,
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Is both the Law and Prophets great on high.
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For so says the Oracle and it inchants,
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The hearts both of the Mean, and Gallants.
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Therefore live Divine and Lawyer till you die,
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For all once must go to Eternity.
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