486 OXFORD, BY DAY AND NIGHT. 



Thus goes the noon ; the mid-day sun 



Shines bright thro' each hall's tinted pane, 

 The students lack some life, some fun, 



So sally thro' the streets again. 

 And picturesque it is to see 



The cap with tassel, black or gold, 

 The long dark gowns, all waving free, 



Whirl'd by the wind in graceful fold. 



As stealeth on the afternoon, 

 Each fav'rite lounge is thronging soon, 

 And proctor grave, and student meet, 

 And courteously each other greet. 

 Who's he, so stately, proud, and high, 

 That flutters thus in grandeur by ? 

 I see. I need not now be told 

 A lordling 'tis ; that bit of gold 

 Appended to his cap declares 

 The reason of these wond'ring stares. 

 Mankind are still quite dead to shame, 

 Though wit and satire at them laugh ; 

 Here's proof they still bow down the same, 

 And worship still the golden calf. 

 And here are scores who take delight 

 In flattering wealth from morn to night ; 



Whose only business seems to be 

 To show their great facility 



In grovelling on supple knee, 

 Cringing to young nobility. 



The classic choosers now thick drop 

 Into old Parker's well-stock'd shop. (1) 

 Talboys, (2) in winning accents bland, 

 Greets those who at his counter stand. 

 The newest German books are seen 



Next to sage scholiasts and divines ; 

 Here grave Longinus stands between 



George Colman's Grins, and Moore's light lines. 

 The cram books Vincent (3) doth supply 

 In many a long and rich array. 



These aid the lazy and incipient 

 O'er learning's fields : by many fools 



They're used as an expedient 

 To help the lame dog through "the schools." 



Behold a group of " Tufts," who shine 



In new, well-fitting, superfine. 

 There is not on a hip or shoulder 

 A fold beau Brummell could condemn ; 



Which quite convinces each beholder 

 Banting and Prior builds for them. 



Magdalen exceeds them all. The hospitality of Alma Mater is proverbial. A stran- 

 ger, with a very slight introduction, may go the round of the colleges ; at each of 

 which there issues from the buttery a huge silver tankard of ale, which is discussed ' 

 and replenished till the novice exclaims with Macbeth, " Hold ! enough !" 



(1,2, 3.) Three well known, highly respectable and intelligent booksellers. 



