The Bellaires

The good Bellaires Do not understand the conduct of this world's affairs. In fact they understood them so badly That they have had to cross the Channel. Nine lawyers, four counsels, five judges and three proctors of the King, Together with the respective wives, husbands, sisters and heterogeneous connections of the good Bellaires, Met to discuss their affairs; But the good Bellaires have so little understood their affairs That now there is no one at all Who can understand any affair of theirs. Yet Fourteen hunters still eat in the stables of The good Squire Bellaire; But these may not suffer attainder, For they may not belong to the good Squire Bellaire But to his wife. On the contrary, if they do not belong to his wife, He will plead A 'freedom from attainder' For twelve horses and also for twelve boarhounds From Charles the Fourth; And a further freedom for the remainder Of horses, from Henry the Fourth. But the judges, Being free of mediaeval scholarship, Will pay no attention to this, And there will be only the more confusion, Replevin, estoppel, espavin and what not. Nine lawyers, four counsels, etc., Met to discuss their affairs, But the sole result was bills From lawyers to whom no one was indebted, And even the lawyers Were uncertain who was supposed to be indebted to them. Wherefore the good Squire Bellaire Resides now at Agde and Biaucaire, To Carcassonne, Pui, and Alais He fareth from day to day, Or takes the sea air Between Marseilles And Beziers. And for all this I have considerable regret, For the good Bellaires Are very charming people.