152 LIFE IN IRELAND 



beds of jealousy, fostered by the canker-worm of dis- 

 cretion, and are never seen until forcibly dragged to 

 the light, by the power of omnipotent law. 



' Have you ever,' said Sir Shawn, as him and Brian 

 BoRU disengaged from the arms of Lady Demiquaver, 

 ' have you ever been in the Four Courts ? ' ' No,' 

 replied his friend, 'and only know from report what it 

 means.' 'There,' said Sir Shawn, 'stands the build- 

 ing, celebrated as the emporium of Law and Logic. 

 Probably it has not its parallel in the habitable globe. 

 It is no disparagement to it that it faces Dirty Lane, 

 for that is a crossing we must all go through before 

 we reach the castle end of the city. This dark and 

 dreary place is now, by the order of government, called 

 Bridge-foot Street, but it will never lose its original 

 appellation. ' Here were perpetrated the foul murders 

 during what is called EfumeWs rebellion, and a brave 

 colonel fell, rather than confess himself a traitor.' The 

 bridge has very fortunately been swept away by the 

 torrents of the Liffey, and a new one constructed, 

 which makes a fine and irregular opening to the Courts 

 of Justice. 



'It is now,' said Sir Shawn, 'a full day at the bar, 

 so if you choose to see a sprinkle of the Life of a 

 Lawyer, you can't do better than shake your heels and 

 head for a few minutes amongst the big ivigs.^ 



' With all my heart,' said Brian ; ' we have kept it 

 up very decently, now let us go down and see what is 

 to be seen.' 



The hall of the four courts is really elegant, but the 

 exterior by no means corresponds. The dome is the 

 most vulgar thing that ever was dignified by the title 



