Part 3 (1/2)

'Twas at the May Term Races That first I met her eye: Amid a thousand Graces No form with her's could vie.

On Gra.s.sy's sward enamelled She reigned fair Beauty's Queen; And every heart entrammell'd With the charms of sweet eighteen.

Once more I saw that Bonnet-- 'Twas on the King's Parade-- Once more I gazed upon it, And silent homage paid.

She knew not I was gazing; She pa.s.sed unheeding by; While I, in trance amazing, Stood staring at the sky.

The May Term now is over: That Bonnet has 'gone down'; And I'm myself a rover, Far from my Cap and Gown.

But I dread the Long Vacation, And its work by night and day, After all the dissipation Energetic of the May.

For _x_ and _y_ will vanish, When that Bonnet I recall; And a vision fair will banish, Newton, Euclid, and s...o...b..ll.

And a gleam of tresses golden, And of eyes divinely blue, Will interfere with Holden, And my Verse and Prose imbue.

These sweet girl graduate beauties, With their bonnets and their roses, Will mar ere long the duties Which Granta wise imposes.

Who, when such eyes are s.h.i.+ning, Can quell his heart's sensations; Or turn without repining To Square Root and Equations?

And when conspicuous my name By absence shall appear; When I have lost all hopes of fame, Which once I held so dear; When 'plucked' I seek a vain relief In plaintive dirge or sonnet; Thou wilt have caused that bitter grief, Thou beautiful Pink Bonnet!

(1866).

THE MAY TERM.

Mille venit variis florum Dea nexa coronis: Scena ioci morem liberioris habet.

OV. FAST. IV. 945, 946.

I wish that the May Term were over, That its wearisome pleasures were o'er, And I were reclining in clover On the downs by a wave-beaten sh.o.r.e: For fathers and mothers by dozens, And sisters, a host without end, Are bringing up numberless cousins, Who have each a particular friend.

I'm not yet confirmed in misogyny-- They are all very well in their way-- But my heart is as hard as mahogany, When I think of the ladies in May.

I shudder at each railway-whistle, Like a very much victimized lamb; For I know that the carriages bristle With ladies invading the Cam.

Last week, as in due preparation For reading I sported my door, With surprise and no small indignation, I picked up this note on the floor-- 'Dear E. we are coming to see you, 'So get us some lunch if you can; 'We shall take you to Gra.s.sy, as Jehu-- 'Your affectionate friend, Mary Ann.'

Affectionate friend! I'm disgusted With proofs of affection like these, I'm growing 'old, tawny and crusted,'

Tho' my nature is easy to please.

An Englishman's home is his castle, So I think that my friend Mary Ann Should respect, tho' she deem him her va.s.sal, The rooms of a reading young man.

In the days of our fathers how pleasant The May Term up here must have been!

No chignons distracting were present, And scarcely a bonnet was seen.

As the boats paddled round Gra.s.sy Corner No ladies examined the crews, Or exclaimed with the voice of the scorner-- 'Look, _how_ Mr. Arculus screws!!

But now there are ladies in College, There are ladies in Chapels and Halls; No doubt 'tis a pure love of knowledge That brings them within our old walls; For they talk about Goldie's 'beginning'; Know the meaning of 'finish' and 'scratch,'

And will bet even gloves on our winning The Boat Race, Athletics, or Match.

There's nothing but music and dancing, Bands playing on each College green; And bright eyes are merrily glancing Where nothing but books should be seen.

They tell of a grave Dean a fable, That reproving an idle young man He faltered, for on his own table He detected in horror--a fan!