LAW.

  In the corrupted currents of this world
  Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
  And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
  Buys out the law:  but ’tis not so above;
  There is no shuffling, there the action lies
  In his true nature; and we ourselves compelled,
  Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
  To give in evidence.
Hamlet, Act iii.  Sc. 3.  SHAKESPEARE.

  Press not a falling man too far! ’tis virtue: 
  His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
  Not you, correct him.
Henry VIII., Act iii.  Sc. 2.  SHAKESPEARE.

Still you keep o’ the windy side of the law. Twelfth Night, Act iii.  Sc. 4.  SHAKESPEARE.

  Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch,
  Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,
  Between two horses, which doth bear him best. 
  Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye,
  I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judgment;
  But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
  Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.
King Henry VI., Pt.  I. Act ii.  Sc. 4.  SHAKESPEARE.

  Mastering the lawless science of our law,
  That codeless myriad of precedent,
  That wilderness of single instances.
Aylmer’s Field.  A. TENNYSON.

  The hungry judges soon the sentence sign,
  And wretches hang, that jurymen may dine.
Rape of the Lock, Canto III.  A. POPE.

  In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt
  But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
  Obscures the show of evil?
Merchant of Venice, Act iii.  Sc. 2.  SHAKESPEARE.

  So wise, so grave, of so perplexed a tongue
  And loud withal, that could not wag, nor scarce
  Lie still, without a fee.
Valpone.  B. JONSON.

  While lawyers have more sober sense
  Than t’ argue at their own expense,
  But make their best advantages
  Of others’ quarrels, like the Swiss.
Hudibras.  BUTLER.

  All, all look up with reverential awe,
  At crimes that ’scape, or triumph o’er the law.
Epilogue to Satire, Dialogue I.  A. POPE.

  Once (says an Author; where, I need not say)
  Two Trav’lers found an Oyster in their way: 
  Both fierce, both hungry; the dispute grew strong,
  While Scale in hand Dame Justice passed along. 
  Before her each with clamor pleads the Laws. 
  Explained the matter, and would win the cause,
  Dame Justice weighing long the doubtful Right,
  Takes, opens, swallows it, before their sight. 
  The cause of strife removed so rarely well,
  “There take” (says Justice), “take ye each a shell. 
  We thrive at Westminster on Fools like you: 
  ’Twas a fat oyster—­live in peace—­Adieu.”
Verbatim from Boileau.  A. POPE. 
  We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
  Setting it up to fear the birds of prey,
  And let it keep one shape, till custom make it
  Their perch and not their terror.
Measure for Measure, Act ii.  Sc. 1.  SHAKESPEARE.