SERIO-COMIC VERSE. 629 



There's many a better man, John. 



That scorns the scoffing crew, 

 But keeps with fond affection 



The notes he got from you 

 " Why he was out of College, 



Till two o'clock or near, 

 The Senior Dean requests to know, 



Yours truly, J. A. Frere." 



John Alexander Frere, John, 



I wonder what you mean 

 By mixing up your name so 



With me, and with " The Dean." 

 Another Don may dean us, 



But ne'er again, we fear, 

 Shall we receive such notes as yours, 



John Alexander Frere. 



The Lecture Koom no more, John, 



Shall hear thy drowsy tone, 

 N"o more shall men in Chapel 



Bow down before thy throne. 

 But Shillington with meekness, 



The oracle shall hear, 

 That set St. Mary's all to sleep 



John Alexander Frere. 



Then once before we part, John, 



Let all be clean forgot, 

 Our scandalous inventions, 



[Thy note-lets, prized or not]. 

 For under all conventions, 



The small man lived sincere, 

 The kernel of the Senior Dean, 



John Alexander Frere. 1 



1 The genuine esteem expressed in the concluding words, which 

 alone in this youthful pasquinade are to be taken seriously, must be 

 the apology for inserting what Maxwell himself would not have printed. 



