IF LAWYER'S HAND IS FEE'D

by: John Gay (1685-1732)

FOX may steal your hens, sir,

A whore your health and pence, sir,

Your daughter rob your chest, sir,

Your wife may steal your rest, sir,

A thief your goods and plate.

 

But this is all but picking,

With rest, pence, chest and chicken;

It ever was decreed, sir,

If lawyer's hand is fee'd, sir,

He steals your whole estate.

• Poems by 18th Century Dramatists - An index of poems by some of the greatest dramatists of the eighteenth century.
• John Gay: Bibliography - A bibliography of the works of John Gay; includes a list of critical and biographical resources.
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