Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 14.pdf/520

 The Library of the Middle Temple.

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THE LIBRARY OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE. By Edward Manson, Of The Middle Temple, Barrister At Law. AS the eye from Waterloo Bridge sweeps replaced by clear glass—to the gain of learn the wide bend of the river and the leafy ing but the loss of art. Pity that the fine line of the Victoria embankment, stretching proportions of the library should be so broken from Westminster and the Houses of Parlia up by the high cross bookcases — necessary ment to the dome of St. Paul's, it is arrested evil — which traverse it athwart : but they in its travel by a modern gothic edifice of have their merit — they form convenient re stone with a highly pitched roof and fine cesses, electric lighted after dark, where the oriel window overlooking the Temple gardens reader can abstract himself from the world and the broad bosom of barge-laden Thames, and attain to a blissful legal Nirvana. On the hammer beams may be noticed alas! no longer " silver streaming," nor set with enameled flowers as in Spenser's day. figures of angels bearing shields with the arms This is the Library of the Middle Temple, of the Chief Justices who have belonged erected in 1859, at a cost of .£14,000, to to the Inn, Gascoyne and Popham, Hyde and house the growing collection of books — up Bramston, Saunders and Ryders, Kenyon, to that time kept in what is now the new Tenterden and Cockburn, and on the base Parliament chamber, adjoining the hall of of the hammer beams the arms of the Chan the Society. To enter the library we must cellors and Keepers of the Great Seal, Rich go round by Garden Court, which is on the and Clarendon, Somers and Cowper, Hardnorth side, away from the embankment. wicke and Eldon, Stowell and Westbury. Pausing for a moment on the broad stone Three blank shields on each side are left to steps which lead to the library we get one of encourage the hopes of the rising generation the prettiest pictures in London —many an of Middle Temple lawyers. But the chief artist fixes his campstool to sketch it : — on feature of the library — architecturally — is the right the garden glowing with geraniums the large oriel window which overlooks the or tulips; beyond, the dark background of Thames, emblazoned with the arms of the the old Elizabethan Hall, and straight before royal princes, from Richard Cceur de Lion to us Fountain Court, with its plane trees and the present King of England. This window, flashing fountain. We mount the winding with its sunny southern aspect, is delightful staircase, and pushing open the door find on a summer's day. From its vantageourselves in a long gothic hall, ninety-six ground the eye " exults in its command," and feet long, forty-two feet wide and seventy feet pausing for a moment in its eager quest of high, with a shadowy roof of carved arches learning, turns restfully to view the busy of pitch pine and lighted by cathedral-like scenes of life below, and muse the aspirations windows of stained glass, seven on each of the poet Denham : side. Once the stained glass of these win "Oh! could I flow like thee and make thy stream dows was full length, but so dim was the My great example, as it is my theme, religious light it cast on the student's book Though deep yet clear, though gentle yet not dull. 'that the lower half was a few years since Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full."