John Heywood

Of a Man of Law and His Clients

Twenty clients to one man of law
For counsel, in twenty matters, did draw.
Each one praying at one instant to speed,
As all at once would have speed to proceed.
“Friends all,” (quoth the learned man), “I’ll speak with none
Till one barber have shaven all, one by one.”
To a barber they went all together:
And being shaven, they returned again thither.
“Ye have,” (quoth the lawyer), “tarried long hence.”
“Sir,” (quoth one), “twenty could not be shaven since
Of one barber; for, ye well understand,
One barber can have but one shaving hand.”
“Not one lawyer,” (quoth he), “but one talking tongue.”
Learn clients this lesson of this lawyer sprung:
Like as the barber, one after one must shave,
So clients, of counselors, counsel must have.