THE BENEFIT OF GOING TO LAW
by: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
 WO beggars
traveling along,
- One blind, the other lame.
- Pick'd up an oyster on the way,
- To which they both laid claim:
- The matter rose so high, that they
- Resolv'd to go to law,
- As often richer fools have done,
- Who quarrel for a straw.
- A lawyer took it straight in hand,
- Who knew his business was
- To mind nor one nor t'other side,
- But make the best o' the cause,
- As always in the law's the case;
- So he his judgment gave,
- And lawyer-like he thus resolv'd
- What each of them should have;
- Blind plaintif, lame defendant, share
- The friendly laws impartial care,
- A shell for him, a shell for thee,
- The middle is the lawyer's fee.
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"The Benefit of Going to Law"
is reprinted from Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733. |
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POEMS BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN |
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