Com[oe]dia Juris

    Est omne jus forense quasi com[oe]dia;
    Hic advocatus maximas partes agit
    Laudatus undique a procuratoribus,
    Labore vocis redditus ditissimus;
    Cui brevia nil forensis et quaestus valent
    Silenter ille spectat, at pro præmio
    Fruitur quietus optime com[oe]dia.

James Williams

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James Williams

To Rome

James Williams, Simple Poetry

The Poet And The Advocate

James Williams, Simple Poetry

Cases - Hampden V. Walsh

James Williams, Simple Poetry

Le Temps Passé

James Williams, Simple Poetry

Latin

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Roman Law

    I am a "coach" in Roman law by fate,
        But Nature must have meant me for a poet,
    And while I struggle with a rule or date,
        Poetic thoughts intrude before I know it.

    The changing sunshine on the summer sea
        Drives forth the law of cessio bonorum,
    Peculium castrense speaks to me
        Of Horace and his Dulce et decorum.

    I see the matine bee among the flowers
        Instead of testamentum militare,
    And wander far away from agent's powers
        To picture me again some Maud or Mary.

    In truth there is no sequence in the thought,
        Why should the title De Societate
    Suggest, not trading partners, as it ought,
        But visions of my last night's valse wit...

James Williams

Law and Poetry

    In days of old did law and rime
        A common pathway follow,
    For Themis in the mythic time
        Was sister of Apollo.

    The Hindu statutes tripped in feet
        As daintily as Dryads,
    And law in Wales to be complete
        Was versified in triads.

    The wise Alfonso of Castile
        Composed his code in metre
    Thereby to make its flavour feel
        A little bit the sweeter.

    But law and rime were found to be
        A trifle inconsistent,
    And now in statutes poetry
        Is wholly non-existent.

    Still here and there some advocate
        Before his fellows know it
    Has had bestowed on him by fate
        The laurel of the poet.

    Let him who has been honoured so...

James Williams

Justice

    Ah! justice is a virtue bepraised and full of worth,
    It castigates the sinner, and peoples all the earth,
    And kings with care should guard it--instead they now forget
    The gem that is most precious in all the coronet.
    Some think they may do justice by cruelty, I wist;
    But 'tis an evil counsel, for justice must consist
    In showing deeds of mercy, in knowledge of the truth,
    And executing judgment it executes with ruth.

                                                                Pedro Lopez de Ayala.

James Williams

Translations - Greek Anthology

X. 48

    Woe to the house whose mistress was a slave!
    So say old saws, my own in aid I crave;
    Woe to the court whose judge once spake for fees,
    Though he were readier than Isocrates!
    An advocate that pleaded once for pelf
    Scarce on the bench forgets his former self.

                                                                Palladas.


XI. 75

    This Olympicus of old
    Had, Sebastus, I am told
    Quite his share of upper gear,
    Nose and chin and eye and ear.
    All he lost, and by his fist--
    He became a pugilist.
    Loss of members with it drew
    Loss of patrimony too.
    When his birthright he would claim,
    Into court his brother came
    With a portrait, saying, "T...

James Williams

Somewhere

    Somewhere in a distant star,
    Cities of Cocaigne there are,
    Paradises of the Bar.

    Somewhere 'neath another sun
    Counsel cease to see the fun
    Lurking in a judge's pun.

    Somewhere courts are fair to see,
    Beauty joins utility,
    Ushers answer courteously.

    Somewhere there are bailiwicks
    Which for dock defences fix
    Nothing under three-five-six.

    Somewhere rises struggle sore
    For revisorships no more,
    Every shire has half a score.

    Somewhere educated thought
    Scientifically taught
    Cross-examines as it ought.

    Somewhere judgments are obeyed,
    Executions are not stayed,
    Fees are almost always paid.

    Somewhere County Councils p...

James Williams

The Poet And The Advocate

    Glory and gain thus mixed distract the thought,
    We owe to honour all, to fortune nought;
    The poet, like the soldier, scorns for pay
    Peruvian gold, but seeks the wreath of bay.
    How is the advocate the poet's peer?
    The poet's glory is complete and clear;
    He far outlives the advocate's renown,
    Patru is e'en by Scarron's name weighed down.
    The bar of Greece and Rome you point me out,
    A bar that trained great men, I do not doubt,
    For then chicane with language void of sense
    Had not deformed the law and eloquence.
    Purge the tribune of all this monstrous growth,
    I mount it, and my soul will sink, though loth,
    Will yield to fortune and will speak in prose.
    But since reform in this so slowly grows,
    Lea...

James Williams