What after-course 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 sillier than a sottish chouse,
Who, when a thief has robb'd his house,
Applies himself to cunning men,
To help him to his goods again;
When all he can expect to gain,
Is but to squander more in vain;
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 she's as desp'rate to recover:
For bad games are thrown up too soon,
Until th' are never to be won.

But since 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 may adhere to, yet disown,
For reasons to himself best known:
But 'tis not to b' avoided now,

Celui qui reçoit un outrage,

Et puis dans un procès s'engage
Pour avoir satisfaction,

Est plus sot, sans comparaison,
Qu'un dont on aurait pris la bourse,
Qui choisirait, pour sa ressource,
D'aller s'adresser au sorcier,

Pour la lui faire retrouver,

Quand il ne peut, par ce voyage,
Qu'en perdre encore davantage.
Je n'ai pourtant aucun chemin
Moins difficile ou plus certain;
Car, pour de force la réduire,
Il n'est plus temps. Pour la séduire
Par caresses, c'est encor pis;
Mais le plus mauvais des partis
Serait d'abandonner ma chance,
Tant qu'il reste aucune espérance;
Mauvais jeu c'est trop tôt jeter
Tant qu'il peut encor se gagner.
Mais n'ayant pas d'autre manière
Qui ne me soit aussi contraire,
Qui cède contre son bon gré,
D'opinion n'a pas changé,
Peut s'y tenir ou s'en dédire,
Selon que sa raison l'inspire.
Or, je ne puis plus balancer,
Puisque Sidrophel veut plaider;

For Sidrophel resolves to sue;
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 first complains
Th' advantage of the business gains;
For courts of justice understand
The plaintiff to be eldest hand;
Who what he pleases may aver;
The other, nothing till he swear;
Is freely admitted to all grace,
And lawful favour, by his place;
And for his bringing custom in,
Has all advantages to win.
I, who resolve to oversee
No lucky opportunity,

Will go to counsel, to advise

Which way t' encounter, or surprise,

And, after long consideration,

Have found out one to fit th' occasion;
Most apt for what I have to do,
As counsellor and justice too:
And truly so, no doubt, he was,
A lawyer fit for such a case.

S'il m'attaque, il faut bien répondre;
Autrement, comment le confondre?
Même je ne puis éviter

De commencer par l'attaquer;
Car je suis bien instruit d'avance
De son dessein et manigance;
Et sachant que le demandeur
A plus beau jeu que défendeur;
Car dans toute cour de justice,
C'est toujours la même police;
Celui qui le premier se plaint,
Sur l'autre de droit a la main;
Tout ce qui lui plaît il affirme,
Et l'autre rien qu'il ne confirme
Par serment, et le demandeur
Par sa place obtient la faveur;
Ayant amené la pratique,
De le bien traiter on se pique.
Moi qui veux, comme de raison,
Me saisir de l'occasion,

Chez un avocat vais me rendre,

Et consulter comment m'y prendre ;
Et le tout bien considéré

Mon homme est déja tout trouvé;
Il sera mon meilleur refuge
Etant et conseiller et juge;
Et vraiment jamais avocat
Ne fut plus propre à tel débat.

An old dull sot, who told the clock
For many years at Bridewell-dock,
At Westminster, and Hicks's-Hall,
And hiccius doctius play'd in all;
Where, in all governments and times,
H' had been both friend and foe to crimes,
And us'd two equal ways of gaining,
By hind'ring justice, or maintaining :
To many a whore gave privilege,
And whipp'd for want of quarterage;
Cart-loads of bawds to prison sent,
For b'ing behind a fortnight's rent;
And many a trusty pimp and croney,
To Puddle-dock, for want of money;
Engag'd the constable to seize

All those that would not break the peace,
Nor give him back his own foul words,
Though sometimes commoners or lords,
And kept them prisoners of course,
For being sober at ill hours,

That in the morning he might free
Or bind 'em over for his fee;

Made monsters fine, and puppet-plays,

For leave to practise in their ways;

Farm'd out all cheats, and went a share