See, from the dust a novel creature spring, The serpent’s nature with an eagles wing! With tooth so sharp, and pow’r to soar as high Thro’ all the pathless realms of sophistry! Conveyancer[44]! so call’d, because his art Can change and motion to estates impart; Not by the efforts of mechanic hand, But using legal error for a wand. In vain the son his grandsires right displays, And widow’d mother for her dowry prays. A deed unsign’d, or signed too late, too soon, A secret testament, a prior boon-- No stamp, or one not properly affixed,-- An instrument with fraud or weakness mix’d,-- A marriage, not by proper ritual grac’d,-- A seal by chance destroy’d or name effac’d,-- A passage interlined, or falsely crost; A fine unlevied, or recov’ry lost,-- Construction varying with the varying mind, And best opinions changing, like the wind,-- A meaning clear, tho’ doubtfully express’d,-- A meaning doubtful, tho’ in clearness dress’d,-- A rule of law, by folly misapplied,-- A point, which justice never yet has tried;-- All these, and thousands more the muse could name The strength enfeeble of possessive claim;-- Give to this monster necromantic skill, And make the law subservient to his will. Lo! at his bidding money chang’d to lands, And lands to money, as his voice commands;-- Estates for life a stinted term bewail, And those in fee are hamper’d by a tail,-- O’ergrown remainders vanish into dust. And useless uses take the form of trust. ’Tis his to conjure doubts, to breed dismay, And hunt, a jackall, for the lions prey,-- To lend his aid, when crafty villains ask, And clothe their purpose in an honest mask!