Lex Scripta: Music Resources

Trial by Jury

Trial by Jury, first performed in 1875, is the oldest surviving work of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire - the music for an earlier collaboration, Thespis, has mostly been lost. It is the only one of their works to contain no spoken dialogue. In a single act, it is also the shortest of the G&S operettas, often performed (as it was originally conceived) as a "curtain-raiser" for a longer work.

The scene is the Court of the Exchequer, where an action for breach of promise of marriage is to be tried before a civil jury, between Angelina (plaintiff) and Edwin (defendant).

Although the whole of the work is of a "legalistic" character, there is one particular song which is most often sung, or quoted, by members of the legal profession. It is the Learned Judge's song: When I, good friends, was called to the Bar.

When I, good friends, was called to the Bar.

JUDGE:
When I, good friends, was called to the bar,
I'd an appetite fresh and hearty.
But I was, as many young barristers are,
An impecunious party.
I'd a swallow-tail coat of a beautiful blue--
And a brief which I bought of a booby--
A couple of shirts, and a collar or two,
And a ring that looked like a ruby!

CHORUS:
A couple of shirts, etc.

JUDGE:
At Westminster Hall I danced a dance,
Like a semi-despondent fury;
For I thought I never should hit on a chance
Of addressing a British Jury--
But I soon got tired of third-class journeys,
And dinners of bread and water;
So I fell in love with a rich attorney's
Elderly, ugly daughter.

CHORUS:
So he fell in love, etc.

JUDGE:
The rich attorney, he jumped with joy,
And replied to my fond professions:
"You shall reap the reward of your pluck, my boy,
At the Bailey and Middlesex sessions.
"You'll soon get used to her looks," said he,
"And a very nice girl you will find her!
She may very well pass for forty-three
In the dusk, with a light behind her!"

CHORUS:
She may very well, etc.

JUDGE:
The rich attorney was good as his word;
The briefs came trooping gaily,
And every day my voice was heard
At the Sessions or Ancient Bailey.
All thieves who could my fees afford
Relied on my orations.
And many a burglar I've restored
To his friends and his relations.

CHORUS:
And many a burglar, etc.

JUDGE:
At length I became as rich as the Gurneys--
An incubus then I thought her,
So I threw over that rich attorney's
Elderly, ugly daughter.
The rich attorney my character high
Tried vainly to disparage---
And now, if you please, I'm ready to try
This Breach of Promise of Marriage!

CHORUS:
And now if you please, etc.

JUDGE:
For now I'm a Judge!

ALL:
And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE:
For now I'm a Judge!

ALL:
And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE:
Though all my law be fudge,
Yet I'll never, never budge,
But I'll live and die a Judge!

ALL:
And a good Judge, too!

JUDGE (pianissimo):
It was managed by a job--

ALL:
And a good job, too!

JUDGE:
It was managed by a job!

ALL:
And a good job too!

JUDGE:
It is patent to the mob,
That my being made a nob
Was effected by a job.

ALL:
And a good job too!