BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'

Subject: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 08:13 PM

I asked about this some years ago, but I'm not sure there was ever an answer.

From the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations:

"Alone from Jargon born to rescue law
From precedent, grave hum and formal saw
To strip chicanery from its vain pretence
And marry Common Law to Common Sense"

I believe there is more to the poem. Does anyone know the rest of it?

Robert Lloyd lived from 1733 - 1764 (in England), and the poem was written for Lord Mansfield, the reformist Lord Chancellor of the time. It reads like an 18th century plea for plain language in the law; things never change, do they? Mansfield was known for his clear explanations of his judgments.

'Hum' means a sham or hoax, and 'saw' is a maxim or proverb.

I've looked high and low in libraries and second-hand bookshops but haven't yet found a single volume of Lloyd's. Some anthologies have one or two of his other poems but not this one. Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Peace
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 08:33 PM

4. THE LAW STUDENT. Now Christ-Church left, and fixt at Lincoln's Inn,
Author: Lloyd, Robert (1733–1764)


The only think I can locate is the above. It leads to a dead link. However, it originated at the following:

www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.jsp?collections=epoetry&poet=Lloyd%5C,%20Robert

Try getting in touch with the Univ of Texas. Perhaps they have it in their library.

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Alba
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 09:04 PM

Hi Richard,
If you wish you can check my link and see if the info is of any use to you.
It an extract from Samuel Johnston's 'The Works of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland' (Pages 151-152) published in 1800
Blue Clicky

Hope you find what you are looking for.
Best Wishes
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 02:44 AM

Thanks Jude - the link comes up 'Server error - cannot complete your request'. Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 03:52 AM

It might be worth phoning either the British Library or the Bodleian

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Alba
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 08:52 AM

That's weird Richard, it is coming up when I click it...mmm!
Alrighty then.
Let's try another link and if that doesn't do it I will see if I can transcribe the pages for you and PM them, howz that ma dear :)

Blue clicky that better work for our Richard or else...!!

Best Wishes
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 09:41 AM

Works for me with WinME and Firefox

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Alba
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 09:45 AM

Thanks Sorcha Darlin:)

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 04:42 PM

Jude, that's amazing, thank you very much!

And what a verse:

O, for thy spirit, Mansfield! at thy name,
what bosom glows not with an active flame?
Alone from Jargon born to rescue law,
from precedent, grave hum and formal saw,
to strip chicanery of its vain pretence,
and marry Common Law to Common Sense

I'm no lover of poetry as a general rule, but I like that a lot.

How can I return the favour?

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 07:36 PM

Teach him scansion

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Alba
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 08:46 PM

Alas the fickle dactyl of fate has taken Mr Lloyd.
Perhaps he is being taught the finer points of Poetry by Homer:)

Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Robert Lloyd poem 'The Law Student'
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 04:17 AM

His dactyls spondees and trochees look a bit muddled to me.