Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/442
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THE OXFORD STUDENT TO HIS MOTHER.
Indeed, we've got intimate lately,
And I seldom can pass down the street,
But their kindness surprises me greatly,
For they stop me whenever we meet!
And I seldom can pass down the street,
But their kindness surprises me greatly,
For they stop me whenever we meet!
My classics, with all their old stories,
I now very closely pursue,
And ne'er read the Remedia Amoris
Without thinking, dear mother, of you!
I now very closely pursue,
And ne'er read the Remedia Amoris
Without thinking, dear mother, of you!
Of Virgil I've more than a smatter,
And Horace I've nearly by heart;
But though famed for his smartness and satire,
He's not quite so easy as Smart.
And Horace I've nearly by heart;
But though famed for his smartness and satire,
He's not quite so easy as Smart.
English bards I admire every tittle,
And dote on poetical lore;
And, though yet I have studied but Little,
I hope to be master of Moore!
And dote on poetical lore;
And, though yet I have studied but Little,
I hope to be master of Moore!
You'll see, from the nonsense I've written,
That my devils are none of the blues,
That I'm playful and gay as a kitten,
And nearly as fond of the muse!
That my devils are none of the blues,
That I'm playful and gay as a kitten,
And nearly as fond of the muse!
Bright puns (oh! how crossly you bore 'em!)
I scatter while logic I cram;
For Euclid and Pons Asinorum
We leave to the Johnians of Cam.
I scatter while logic I cram;
For Euclid and Pons Asinorum
We leave to the Johnians of Cam.
My pony, in spite of my chidings,
Is as skittish and shy as can be!
Not Yorkshire, with all its three Ridings,
Is half such a shier as he!
Is as skittish and shy as can be!
Not Yorkshire, with all its three Ridings,
Is half such a shier as he!
I wish he were stronger and larger,
For, in truth, I must candidly own
He is far the most moderate charger
In this land of high chargers I've known!
For, in truth, I must candidly own
He is far the most moderate charger
In this land of high chargers I've known!
My doubts of profession are vanished;
I'll tell you the cause when we meet;
Church, Army, and Bar I have banished,
And now only look to the Fleet!
I'll tell you the cause when we meet;
Church, Army, and Bar I have banished,
And now only look to the Fleet!
Come down, then, when summer is gilding
Our gardens, our trees, and our founts;
I'll give you accounts of each building,—
How you'll wonder at all my accounts!
Our gardens, our trees, and our founts;
I'll give you accounts of each building,—
How you'll wonder at all my accounts!