Swift Among The Lawyers
Dean Swift having preached an assize sermon in Ireland, was invited to
dine with the Judges; and having in his sermon considered the use and
abuse of the law, he then pressed a little hard upon those counsellors,
who plead causes which they knew in their consciences to be wrong. When
dinner was over, and the glass began to go round, a young barrister
retorted upon the dean; and after several altercations, the counsellor
asked him, If the devil was to die, whether a parson might not be
found, who, for money, would preach his funeral? Yes, said Swift, I
would gladly be the man, and I would then give the devil his due, as I
have this day done his children.