TOM FOOL to Mr. HOSKINS, his Counsellor and Friend

On your care must depend the success of my suit, The possession I mean of the house in dispute. Consider, my friend, an attorney's my foe, The worst of his tribe, and the best is so, so. O let not his quiddits and quirks of the law, O let not not this harpy your poor client claw; In law as in life, I know well 'tis a rule, That a knave should be ever too hard for a fool: To this rule one exception your poor client implores, That the fool may for once beat the knave out of doors.