What Inn is this 1
Where for the night
Peculiar Traveller comes?
Who is the Landlord?
Where the maids? 5
Behold, what curious rooms!
No ruddy fires on the hearth－
No brimming Tankards flow－
Necromancer! Landlord! 9
Who are these below?
Where for the night
Peculiar Traveller comes?
Who is the Landlord?
Where the maids? 5
Behold, what curious rooms!
No ruddy fires on the hearth－
No brimming Tankards flow－
Necromancer! Landlord! 9
Who are these below?
(F.100/J.115)
[1] Inn:: the Inns of Chancery (or Inns of Court), a group of buildings and legal institutions in London.
[2] night:: darkness, alluding to prison.
[3] Peculiar:: uncommon, abnormal to the common people (criminal).
[5] maids:: virgins (innocent people).
[7] fires:: to give light, truth, justice.
[8] brimming Tankards:: happy things to celebrate.
[9] Necromancer:: a ceremonial magician or one who claims to carry on communication with the dead; a mock on the judge and lawyer's performance in the court. Landlord:: one who collects rents; a mock on how they earn money.
[10] below:: inferior.
INNS OF CHANCERY. These Inns were formerly the nurseries of our great lawyers; hut they are at present attached only by name to the parent Inns of Court ─ Curiosities of London (1855)