154 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



The Preacher, in reply, insists that " Law must be rigidly 

 obeyed," when the following dialogue is continued : 



"Law ! " quoth St. Michael, " Law of pelf ! 



Can man make laws to suit himself? 



Or is it ' Law ' when want and woe 



From individual actions flow ? 



Methinks men do no sin when they 



' Laws ' of this nature disobey ! " 



' ' Hold ! " quoth the Preacher, ' ' you'll agree, 



That landlords must perforce be free 



To value land as they may will it, 



Without considering those who till it ; 



This is ' the Law ' as realized, 



And by the State is recognised, 



Hence those who dare resist its sway 



Are by the devil led astray. " 



St. Michael laughed, " Ay ! Ay ! " quo' he, 



"Your definition, ' Law ' may be ; 



But stay, I see in it a flaw, 



Say, where is Justice in your ' Law ' ? 



Can Law be Law when based on Wrong ? 



Can Law be Law when for the strong ? 



Can Law be Law when landlords stand 



Rack-renting mankind off the land ? 



By ' Law ' a landlord can become 



The ghost of every Crofter's home ; 



By ' Law ' their little cots can be 



Dark dens of dirt and misery ; 



By ' Law ' the tax upon their toil 



Is squandered on an alien soil ; 



By ' Law ' their daughters, sons, and wives, 



Are doomed to slavish drudgery's lives ; 



By ' Law ' Eviction's dreadful crimes 



Are possible in Christian times ; 



By ' Law ' a spendthrift lord's intents 



Are met by drawing higher rents ; 



By ' Law' all food-producing glens 



Are changed from farms to cattle pens : 



This is your ' Law ' whereby a few 



Are shielded in the deeds they do." 



