Poetry · Chapter
LXXXV explained
The speaker describes the surprising scene at the court, where instead of the expected formal reception, a chaotic crowd fills the hall and the Chief Justice is seen crawling on his hands and knees.
What happens
The speaker describes the surprising scene at the court, where instead of the expected formal reception, a chaotic crowd fills the hall and the Chief Justice is seen crawling on his hands and knees.
Themes in this chapter
Social Critique and Mortality
The chaotic court scene with the Chief Justice crawling satirizes social hierarchy and decorum.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker observes and narrates the chaotic scene at the court.
- A venerable priest
Implied as part of the court or crowd, though not directly named.
Key passages
“’Stead of his anxious Majesty and court At the open doors, with wide saluting eyes, Congées and scrape-graces of every sort, And all the smooth routine of gallantries, Was seen, to our immoderate surprise, A motley crowd thick gather’d in the hall, Lords, scullions, deputy-scullions, with wild cries Stunning the vestible from wall to wall, Where the Chief Justice on his knees and hands doth crawl.”
Instead of the king and courtiers waiting at the doors with formal bows and polite gestures, we were shocked to see a mixed crowd of nobles and servants filling the hall, shouting loudly, while the Chief Justice crawled on the floor.
The speaker contrasts expected courtly behavior with the actual disorder.