Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/327

Justly I bought it and the price I paid.
Give it, I pray you, that our strife may cease.
Yet—if ye will not—let us to the hall
Where, by his minster of the West, the King
Sits to right wrong, with him who meetly wears
The Ermine of the Lord Chief Justiceship."
But Mason answered: "Sir, ye waste your words;
The corn is Turings'. Freeman, when he sold
And sent you bills of lading, had not paid
The price he promised. Bankrupt now is he,
And since I stopped it, lo! the corn was mine."

Then on a day when, in due order ranged,
The judges, following their custom, sate
To hear the plaints of those who suffer wrong,
In the great hall, where the dim light beat through
The many-colored panes, the knights drew near
And cried for Justice. And when all was told
Stood one grave judge before the rest and sang:—

"This is the song, the Song of Ashurst, J.,
Let him who will, J. Ashurst's song gainsay;
He errs in counsel. Lo! I sing the law.

"Dear is the right to stop in transitu
The goods unpaid for, when the seller knew
The buyer bankrupt. List! I sing the law.

"Yet, if before the goods the seller takes,
The purchaser a due assignment makes,
No right remaineth. Lo! I sing the law.

"This corn Lickbarrow from yon Freeman bought;
Justly he claimed the goods; and true he ought
To have them rendered. I have sung the law."

Thus ceased he, and the murmured plaudits rose
As, for the plaintiff finding, he resumed
His seat august. Then slowly from the hall
The people passed away, and darkness fell
Upon them with the night; and the gray mists
Rose from the river, and the land was still.