May 27, 1784. Verses published 1785. The Waterfall, or an Error in Judgment. Published by Wallis, Ludgate Hill.
The coxcomb, student, and attorney vile, Jew bail and tipstaff, added to the pile; All rush in terror, or from gain or sport, And headlong tumble down the steps of Court.
The incident on which this print was founded occurred, according to the magazines, &c., in 1785; and, as numerous illustrations appeared at the time, it seems that the artist has put the date of the year wrongly. The Waterfall represents the Court of King's Bench in an uproar. The members of the Bench and the Bar, counsellors, attorneys, and clients, suitors and witnesses, are taking to flight indiscriminately, trampling over one another in their precipitate retreat, tumbling down the stairs of Westminster Hall, while robes, wigs, and briefs are lost in the struggle.
Rowlandson's illustration of this scene of consternation is used as the heading for a song to the tune of 'The Roast Beef of Old England.'
According to the song the recitative relates:—
'Twas at the Hall of Rufus, Woodfall tells, Where brawling, sneering Discord ever dwells; Where honest men despond, where tricking thrives, And Law against plain Reason ever strives, A sudden fright seiz'd all the black-rob'd race, And inward horror mark'd each hideous face.
A maiden appear'd on the roof of the Hall, And, washing a window, her water let fall, Which frighten'd the mighty, the short, and the tall. Oh, the clean maid of Westminster! And, oh, the clean Westminster maid!
Her trickling of water made such a sad noise, It threw the Court into a horrid surprise; All feeling alike—alike they all rise. Oh, the stout hearts of the lawyers! And, oh, the lawyers' stout hearts!
They thought that the roof was all coming down; And knowing how much they deserv'd Heaven's frown, All hasten'd, with loss of wig, band, and gown, Out of the Court of Westminster, And out of Westminster Court.
The Serjeants were wounded in limbs, nose, and eye; Like leaves of the Sibyls their briefs scattered lie A sight very pleasant to all standers-by. Oh, the torn robes of the Benchers! And, oh, the Benchers' torn robes!