III. _The Souldier._ My occupation is, the noble trade of Kings, The tryall that decides the highest right of things: Though _Mars_ my master be, I doe not _Venus_ loue, Nor honour _Bacchus_ oft, nor often sweare by _Ioue_; Of speaking of my selfe, I all occasion shunne, And rather loue to doe, then boast what I haue done. IV. _The Lawyer._ The Law my calling is, my robe, my tongue, my pen, Wealth and opinion gaine, and make me Iudge of men. The knowne dishonest cause, I neuer did defend, Nor spun out sutes in length, but wisht and sought an end: Nor counsell did bewray, nor of both parties take, Nor euer tooke I fee for which I neuer spake. V. _The Physition._ I study to vphold the slippery state of man, Who dies, when we haue done the best and all we can. From practise and from bookes, I draw my learnèd skill, Not from the knowne receipt of 'Pothecaries bill. The earth my faults doth hide,[139] the world my cures doth see, What youth, and time effects, is oft ascribde to me. [Footnote 139: 'The earth my faults doth hide.' This recalls the somewhat irate remonstrance of a bibulous Sexton under the reproaches of a medical church-warden at a parish-meeting: "O Sir, _you_ are the last that ever I expected to expose me, seeing I have covered up many of your faults" (i.e. in the graves of his patients.) G.] VI. _The Merchant._ My trade doth euery thing to euery land supply, Discouer unknowne coasts, strange Countries to ally; I neuer did forestall, I neuer did ingrosse, No custome did withdraw, though I return'd with losse. I thriue by faire exchange, by selling and by buying, And not by Jewish vse,[140] reprisall, fraud, or lying. [Footnote 140: = usury. G.] VII. _The Country Gentleman._ Though strange outl[=a]dish spirits praise towns, and country scorn, The country is my home, I dwel where I was born: There profit and command with pleasure I pertake, Yet do not Haukes and dogs, my sole companions make. I rule, but not oppresse, end quarrels, not maintaine; See towns, but dwel not there, t'abridge my charg or train. VIII. _The Bacheler._ How many things as yet are deere alike to me, The field, the horse, the dog, loue, armes or liberty. I haue no wife as yet, whom I may call mine owne, I haue no children yet, that by my name are knowne. Yet if I married were, I would not wish to thriue, If that I could not tame the veriest shrew aliue. IX. _The Married Man._ I only am the man, among all married men, That do not wish the Priest, to be unlinckt agen. And thogh my shoo did wring,[141] I wold not make my mone, Nor think my neighbors chance, more happy then mine own, Yet court I not my wife, but yeeld obseruance due, Being neither fond[142] nor crosse, nor iealous, nor vntrue. [Footnote 141: = pinch. G.] [Footnote 142: = foolish. G.] X. _The Wife._