The Common Lot of the Lawyer. Neglected them both. But now he could brook Law's service alone, and all other forsook. And
such was his eloquence, Cicero's might Have risen at times to as dazzling a height; His fancy was vivid, his wit keen and bright, And his logic had staggered the Stagyrite, And cast sublime Phaedo far into the night By its power to eliminate wrong from the right, And draw from the deepest well into the light Truth might concentrate the wavering sight Of the nonplussed agnostic, and put him to flight. But these availed little : men rarely engage A lawyer just starting on life's pilgrimage To pursue a profession; 't is fair to presage He must cope with starvation till youth pass to age, And then, perhaps, gain but a small clientage; Hence they wait for experience to make him so sage, He can teach doubtful battles where fittest to rage, Like Churchill on Addison's well-purchased page, Years after fond Cleveland had paid him his wage. Too proud to court patrons, he saw with disgust Servile lawyers, — but only a few, let us trust, — Who shamed their high calling by licking the dust And begging employment from just and unjust, Wax fat through such meanness, while he ate his crust.
475
Thus they left the young advocate plodding away, Heart-sore and despairing from day unto day, Determined sometimes, in his passions' mad play, On getting transported to Botany Bay, Or running amuck, like the frenzied Malay, Among his three clients that never would pay. As the best means of keeping the gaunt wolf at bay; Longing for sunshine, nor feeling a ray Smile on the hot forehead its pain to allay, Or banish the gloom that enveloped its prey, And twisting his mustache until it was gray! Then, forsooth, they discovered his merits, and flocked Round the cushionless chair, till approaches were blocked, And the spider, his roused victim fleeing, was shocked; While the unrepaired furniture, — not over stocked, — Through the weight, or surprise at an occu pant, rocked, And the rusty-hinged door had to be doublelocked, So numerous and eager the clients that knocked! Yes; now repaired thither the good and the bad, The brilliant, the stupid, the merry, the sad, The sneaking camp-follower, the sane, and the mad, The simpering dude, and the dusty foot-pad, Apparelled like Lazarus, or as Dives clad; While worthless and worthy his day in court had, And justice — sometimes. It is needless to add, The long smileless face of the lawyer looked glad.
