APOLLO ARRESTED BY A WRIT.
It was said of a certain officer of a certain sheriff, "nihil tetigit quod non ornavit," which means that it was really an honour to receive a tap on the shoulder at his hands, and we have no doubt that even a writ would have acquired from his peculiar touch a grace and a dignity. We know there is nothing that may not be elevated by poetry, and we have endeavoured therefore to force the Muses into the service of a writ for the purpose of investing it with a new charm, and giving it what it ought to possess—a taking character, in place of the old prosaic form, which is repulsive rather than attractive, and instead of enabling every one who runs to read, causes every one who reads to run. We would throw it into verse, and, by giving it poetical feet, place it on quite a new footing:—
Oh, come to me where Denman sits.
Victoria unto thee
Sends greeting, from her store of writs,
The one which now you see.
Within eight days we do command
(I'll own the time is short),
At Westminster, you'll understand,
You must appear in court.
It is an action on the case
At Laura Thomson's suit—
Her claims, if you have got the face,
Come forward and dispute.
Take notice, also, by the way,
If this you fail to do,
The aforesaid Laura Thomson may
Appearance make for you;
And then to judgment proceed,
With execution straight.
My friendly counsel prithee heed,
And thus avoid your fate.
Thomas, Lord Denman, you I call
Witness, of learning sober,
At Westminster's historic hall,
This first day of October.
But if, ere four brief days have fled,
The debt and costs be paid,
No further you'll by law be bled—
Proceedings will be stay'd.