Genre:

Poetry, Drollery; Illustration

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Invention, Engineers, Commerce, Government, Patents

    Attacks the avaricious legal and political institutions associated with patents through a tale of a medieval 'wight', Childe Johnson, who tries to secure a patent while fighting the monsters connected with those institutions. Describes how the 'fairy, hight Invention, gave her Childe a certain treasure' to protect with 'A magic scroll—a talisman—a thing yclept a Patent', and how Johnson was attacked by such 'monsters' as 'foul vultures' at the Court of Chancery. Other beasts that impede his progress include 'rapacious birds' from the 'Ravens' Patent Nest' in Lincoln's Inn, the 'hawk and wolf of Government', 'Griffins grim and savage' of 'Signet's Haunt' and, again, the 'Patent Ravens' that, 'with bill, and stamp, and docket, / Engrossings, fees, and recipes, come picking at his pocket'. Proudly proclaims that Childe, despite 'Monster, Ogre, Cockatrice, and Dragon, / Has got Patent Talisman' and hopes the latter possession never fails him 'Gainst wiles of legal conjurers'. Illustrations show Childe, with medieval armour and sword, attacking legal 'vultures', and finally grasping a patent at the feet of a fairy.