64 THE MUSIC OF WILD FLOWERS 



college during the Whitsuntide vacation, endeavoured 

 to beguile his solitude by cutting a maze in the turf on 

 the top of " Hills," and by composing the Latin ode, 

 Dulce Domutn, but that he pined away, and eventually 

 died beneath the " Domum tree " singing his celebrated 

 song. The story is no doubt purely mythical ; but the 

 maze itself may be seen on St Catherine's Hill, and 

 gives a yet additional interest to the sacred mount. 

 For mazes are among the rarest of English antiquities. 

 Comparatively common in the Middle Ages, there are 

 very few now remaining. Two only exist in Hamp- 

 shire, one on Breamore Down and this one on St 

 Catherine's Hill. Unlike the Breamore miz-maze, ours 

 is square, but both are constructed on the same general 

 principle. There can be little reasonable doubt that 

 mazes are ecclesiastical in origin, and I should feel in- 

 clined to associate the one on St Catherine's Down with 

 acts of penance performed by mediaeval pilgrims when 

 visiting the ancient chapel which once crowned the hill. 

 In connection with the happy memories of " Hills," 

 which linger in the hearts of countless Wykehamists, it 

 may not be amiss to recall the singularly appropriate 

 lines of the poet Gray on the distant prospect of a not 

 less celebrated school : 



" Ah, happy hills ! ah, pleasing shade 1 



Ah, fields belov'd in vain ! 

 Where once my careless childhood stray'd, 



A stranger yet to pain 1 

 I feel the gales that from ye blow 

 A momentary bliss bestow, 



As waving fresh their gladsome wing, 

 My weary soul they seem to soothe, 

 And, redolent of joy and youth, 



To breathe a second spring." 



