Some seven men form an Association <br />(If possible, all Peers and Baronets), <br />They start off with a public declaration <br />To what extent they mean to pay their debts. <br />That's called their Capital: if they are wary <br />They will not quote it at a sum immense. <br />The figure's immaterial - it may vary <br />From eighteen million down to eighteenpence. <br />I should put it rather low; <br />The good sense of doing so <br />Will be evident at once to any debtor. <br />When it's left to you to say <br />What amount you mean to pay, <br />Why, the lower you can put it at, the better. <br /> <br />They then proceed to trade with all who'll trust 'em, <br />Quite irrespective of their capital <br />(It's shady, but it's sanctified by custom); <br />Bank, Railway, Loan, or Panama Canal. <br />You can't embark on trading too tremendous - <br />It's strictly fair, and based on common sense - <br />If you succeed, your profits are stupendous - <br />And if you fail, pop goes your eighteenpence. <br />Make the money-spinner spin! <br />For you only stand to win, <br />And you'll never with dishonesty be twitted. <br />For nobody can know, <br />To a million or so, <br />To what extent your capital's committed! <br /> <br />If you come to grief, and creditors are craving <br />(For nothing that is planned by mortal head <br />Is certain in this Vale of Sorrow - saving <br />That one's Liability is Limited), - <br />Do you suppose that signifies perdition? <br />If so you're but a monetary dunce - <br />You merely file a Winding-Up Petition, <br />And start another Company at once! <br />Though a Rothschild you may be <br />In your own capacity, <br />As a Company you've come to utter sorrow - <br />But the Liquidators say, <br />"Never mind - you needn't pay," <br />So you start another Company to-morrow!<br /><br />William Schwenck Gilbert<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/limited-liability/
