OXFORD, BY DAY AND NIGHT. 487 



Another class are often met, 



A quiet, steady-looking set ; 



In black or brown they move about, 



By Joy and Dry thus fitted out. 



These tailors lengthy credit stand ; 



Nor do they heed the chance or risk, 

 While those who have the cash in hand, 



And want a cheap thing, fly to Fiske. 



A London bagsman you may note, 



Come down to try some favourite coat : 



To ascertain if 'tis a fit, 



Or should it be let out a bit, 



Or lengthened in its depth a pin, 



Or, like the tailor, be let in. 



Alas ! alas ! poor victim race, 

 If thus ye seek the sons of knowledge, 



Your own degrees you'll speedy trace, 

 In Lord Chief Justice Denman's college. 



" Sigh no more, ladies, ladies, sigh no tnore," 

 That line I parody to you thus clever 



" Trust no more, tailors, tailors, trust no more/' 

 For Fate has doom'd ye to be swindled ever. 



Those who are fond of billiards hie 



To Betteris,* whose smooth balls fly 



Swift o'er the level, verdant board, 



Round which lounge some with Hoyle well stor'd ; 



Who, quick as each light ball off glances, 



Shooting as swift as shot from rocket, 

 Can calculate by rules the chances 



Of being lodg'd in either pocket. 

 These wise ones can prognosticate, 

 And render cannons sure as fate. 

 Ofttimes the tyro, by degrees, 

 Is led to bet with one of these; 

 And then, in learned phrase, 'tis said, 

 The hopeful youth is basketed, 



At length the tedious hours are gone, 

 And welcome dinner-time comes on, 

 And all are ranged, and every table 

 Now bears as much as it is able ; 



Each delicacy tempting stands, 

 Each tit-bit savoury, rich, and rare, 



Lies ready for the carver's hands, 

 And smokes in hot profusion there. 

 The grace is said, and to it all 

 With knife and fork in earnest fall> 

 And splendid havoc soon is made 

 In every joint, that late arrayed 

 In culinary charms, soar'd high, 

 The gourmand's taste to satisfy. 



The gormandizing so exceeds 

 All that the fiercest hunger needs, 



In Oxford billiard tables abound, but Betteris'sis the most frequented and fashionable. 



2M2 



