Cases - DashwoodV.Jermyn

(12 Chancery Division, 776)         Captain Dashwood, who had been         In the service of the Queen,         Sick of "Eyes front" and "Attention,"         Came to London on his pension.         At the "Portland" as he stayed,         Firm the friendship that he made         With one William Richards, who         Put up at the "Portland" too.         Passed six years, then he was wrapped in         Love's embraces, vanquished captain!         "Yes," he cried, "I will; no bar shall         Stop my wedding Edith Marshall."         But there was a bar, 'twas that         He was poorer than a rat;         Indian pensions do not run         More than just enough for one.         Edith, too, had not a cent,         Who would pay the rates and rent?         Two more years, and Richards moved         (He perchance had sometime loved),         Promised them an income clear,         'Twas five hundred pounds a year         For his life; when he was dead,         Then ten thousand pounds instead.         This to Dashwood in a letter         Wrote he, deeming it was better         They should marry soon while he         Lived their happiness to see.         'Twas a modest sum, but marriage         May be blest without a carriage,         Forty pounds a month and more         Keep the wolf from near the door.         So they wed for worse or better,         On the faith of Richards' letter.         Scarcely was a quarter's payment         Due when mourning was their raiment.         Richards died. Alas! no cash would         Find its way to Captain Dashwood.         Dashwood's head began to swim--         Not a shilling left to him!         "Ha, I'll have it still," cried he;         "Justice dwells in Chancery."         So the case was straightway taken         To the court of V.-C. Bacon.         Vainly Dashwood cash expended         The executors defended,         Claiming that what Richards wrote         Was not worth a five-pound note;         First because the dead testator         Well, not wisely, loved the "cratur,"         More than that, had often been         In delirium tremens seen;         Secondly, because he signed         When he did not know his mind;         Third, because pollicitation         Is not good consideration.         Law, of justice independent,         Gave its judgment for defendant.         Poorer than he was at first,         That unhappy plaintiff cursed,         With a special satisfaction         Cursed the day he brought his action.         Would that he'd in India tarried!         Would that he had never married!         He, alas, is tied for life         Pauper to a pauper wife,         Scarce consoled that on his name         Equity reports shower fame,         Bearing down to endless ages         Dashwood's story on their pages.