POETRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 17 June 1881, Page 3

POETRY.

THE DEVIL AND THE LAWYER,

[American Paper.] Tho Devil came up to the earth one day. And Into the Court-house he wended hiaway Just as an attorney, with very grave face. Was proceeding to argue the “ points in the case.”

Now, a lawyer his Majesty never had seen— For to his dominion none ever had been ; And he felt very anxious the reason to know Why none had been sent to the regions below.

’Twas the fault of his agents, his Majesty thought, That none of these lawyers had ever been

caught; And for his own pleasure he felt a desire To come to the earth and the reason inquire

Well, the lawyer, who rose with a visage so

grave, Made ont his opponent a consummate knave; And the Devil was really greatly amused To hear the attorney so soundly abused.

But soon as the speaker had come to a close The counsel opposing him fiercely arose, And heaped such abuse on the head of the first, That made him a villain of all men the worst.

Thus they quarrelled, contended, and argued so long, ,Twas hard to determine which of them was wrong; And concluding he’d heard quite enough of the “ fuss," Old Nick turned away and soliloquized thus;

“ If all they said of each other bo true, The Devil has surely been robbed of his due; But 1 am satisfied now it’s all very well— For these lawyers wonld ruin the morals of !

“ They have puzzled the Court with their villainous cavil, And I’m free to confess they have puzzled the Devil ? My agents are right to let lawyers alone— If I had them, they’d swindle me ont of my throne !”