ardens

Not in contempt but to our sport inclined
Smile on us, shades of Judges short and tall
Portrayed on windows of the Temple Hall;
There was a time that ye grave thoughts resigned,
Then, warm with sack, the Serjeants' hearts waxed kind,
In mirth Lords Keepers danced the galliard all,
Not in contempt.

Of pleasures past the shadows here we find,
Gay strife on brighter swards we thus recall,
Where maiden laughter winged the flying ball;
Declare us, fair ones, with a merry mind
Not in contempt.

A Ballade of Lost Law

(_Spirit of Lord Eldon speaks_)

This England is gone staring mad,
She hath abolished Chancery,[J]
See the long lines of suitors, sad
To find themselves unwontedly
After one day of trial free.
Pleading and seals have gone their way.
"I know," said I, "that after me
Too quickly comes the evil day."

(_Spirit of Lord Lyndhurst speaks_)

I was Chief Baron, and I had
A Court of Law and Equity,[K]
The Courts at Westminster were clad
With ancient glory fair to see.
Now County Courts have come to be
Exalted high on our decay,
And every whit as good as we;
Too quickly comes the evil day.

(_Shade of Butler speaks_)

In days of yore we used to pad
Our deeds with words of certainty;
Alas! that now the office lad
Is qualified to grant in fee!
Lost is our old supremacy,
Lost is the delicate display
Of learning on _pur autre vie_;
Too quickly comes the evil day.

L'ENVOI

(_The Three in Chorus_)

Thurlow, to thee we bend the knee,
When law was law, then men were gay,
'Tis down with port and up with tea,
Too quickly comes the evil day.

[J] The Court of Chancery was merged in the High Court of Justice in
1875.

[K] In the days of Lord Lyndhurst the old Court of Exchequer had
equitable as well as common law jurisdiction.

Com[oe]dia Juris

Est omne jus forense quasi com[oe]dia;
Hic advocatus maximas partes agit
Laudatus undique a procuratoribus,
Labore vocis redditus ditissimus;
Cui brevia nil forensis et quaestus valent
Silenter ille spectat, at pro praemio
Fruitur quietus optime com[oe]dia.

Cases

Cases

MYLWARD _v._ WELDON

[The plaintiff was committed to the Fleet Prison on Feb. 8,