LAW AND JUSTICE.
Alas! this "traitor loon," this brave, young man, full soon
Did anything but serve his mistress well:
He shifted like the wind, he altered like the moon;
And was changeful in his breathings as a bell.
Did anything but serve his mistress well:
He shifted like the wind, he altered like the moon;
And was changeful in his breathings as a bell.
All plausible and fair, he kept beside her chair;
But while she told him how he was to act,
He managed so to state what she wish'd him to relate,
That she scarcely knew her own, unvarnish'd fact.
But while she told him how he was to act,
He managed so to state what she wish'd him to relate,
That she scarcely knew her own, unvarnish'd fact.
He has dared, full many a time, to treat the poor man's crime
With bitter words—the prison and disgrace;
While the rich, whose blame and shame should have been the very same,
Met the smile of courteous mercy on his face.
With bitter words—the prison and disgrace;
While the rich, whose blame and shame should have been the very same,
Met the smile of courteous mercy on his face.
He does such brazen deeds, that the soul of Justice bleeds;
As she hears his "summing up," with sad surprise;
And while he "settles things," convulsively she wrings
The brine-drops from the bandage on her eyes.
As she hears his "summing up," with sad surprise;
And while he "settles things," convulsively she wrings
The brine-drops from the bandage on her eyes.
Most certain it appears, that these anguish-laden tears
Are caused by this young man so shrewd and clever;
And the case is very clear, that since Jove sent "Law" here,
Dame Justice has been much worse off than ever.
Are caused by this young man so shrewd and clever;
And the case is very clear, that since Jove sent "Law" here,
Dame Justice has been much worse off than ever.
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