“The Whole World Kin”

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“The Whole World Kin”

“Liars for witnesses; for lawyers brutes

Willing to lose their souls to win their suits;

Cowards for jurors, and for judge a clown

Who ne’er took up the law, yet lays it down;

Justice denied, authority abused,

And the one blameless person the accused⁠—

Thy courts, my country, all these dreadful years,

Move fools to laughter and the wise to tears.”

So moaned an alien from beyond the foam.

Come here, my lad, I think you’ll feel at home.