" I didn’t mean that. No; — I shouldn’t defend myself. I should say to the judge, ‘My lord, I don’t doubt the jury will do just as you tell them, and you’ll form your own opinion quite independent of the arguments’.” “You’d be hung, Mr. Chaffanbrass.” “No; I don’t know that I should,” said Mr. Chaffanbrass, slowly. “I don’t think I could affront a judge of the present day into hanging me. They’ve too much of what I call thick-skinned honesty for that. It’s the temper of the time to resent nothing, — to be mealy-mouthed and mealy-hearted. Jurymen are afraid of having their own opinion, and almost always shirk a verdict when they can.” “But we do get verdicts.” “Yes; the judge gives them "

― Anthony Trollope , Complete Works of Anthony Trollope