The English Spy Part 18

8 Vice-Chancellor's court--creditor's last s.h.i.+ft.

9 Fort marshal--university marshal's post, charge themselves at the expiration of three years by leaving the lake of credit, and meandering through the haunts of a hundred creditors.

~154~~ "Rather romantic, but not elegant," said some voices at the door, which, on turning my head, I discovered to be my two friends, Echo and Eglantine, who, suspecting the state of the rooms, from the known character of the previous occupier, had followed me up stairs to enjoy the pleasure of quizzing a novice. "A snug appointment this, old fellow," said Echo. "Very airy and contemplative" rejoined Eglantine, pointing first to the broken window, and after to the mutilated remains of books and furniture. "Quite the larium of a man of genius," continued the former, "and very fine scope for the exhibition of improved taste."

"And an excellent opportunity for raillery," quoth I. "Well, old fellow," said Tom, "I wish you safe through _dun territory_{10} and the _preserve of long bills_{11}: if you are not pretty well _blunted_,{12} the first start will try _your wind._" "Courage, Blackmantle," said Eglantine, "we must not have you laid up here in the _marshes of impediment_{13} with all the horrors of _east jeopardy_,{14} as if you was lost in the _cave of antiquity_{15}: rally, my old fellow, for _the long hope_,{16}shoot past _mounts_

10 Dun territory--circle of creditors to be paid.

11 Preserve of long bills--stock of debts to be discharged.

12 Blunted--London slang for plenty of money.

13 Marshes of impediment--troublesome preparation for the schools.

14 East jeopardy--terrors of antic.i.p.ation.

15 Cave of antiquity--depot of old authors.

16 The long hope--Johnson defines "a Hope" to be any sloping plain between two ridges of mountains. Here it is the symbol of long expectations in studying for a degree.

~155~~ _Aldrich and Euclid_,{17} the _Roman tumuli_{18} and _Point Failure_{19} and then, having gained _Fount Stagira_{20} pa.s.s easily through _Littlego Vale_,{21} reach the summit of the _Pindaric heights_{22} and set yourself down easy in the _temple of Bacchus_{23} and the _region of rejoicing"{24} "Or if you should fall a sacrifice in the district of {sappers_,{25} old fellow!" said Echo, "or founder in _Dodd's sound_,{26} why, you can retreat to _Cam Roads_,{27} or lay up for life in the _Bay of Condolence_."{28} "For heaven's sake, let us leave the _Gulf of Misery_," said I, alluding to the state of my rooms, "and bend our course where some more amusing novelty presents itself."

"To Bagley wood," said Echo, "to break cover and introduce you to the Egyptians; only I must give my scout directions first to see the old bookseller{29} and have my _imposition_{30} ready for being absent from chapel this morning, or else I shall be favoured with another

17 Mount Aldrich, mount Euclid--logic and mathematics.

18 Tumuli raised by the Romans--difficulties offered by Livy and Tacitus in the studies for first cla.s.s honours.

19 Point Failure--catastrophe of plucking.

20 Fount Stagira--fount named after the birth-place of Aris- totle.

21 Littlego Vale--orderly step to the first examination.

22 Pindaric heights--study of Pindar's odes.

23 Temple of Bacchus--merry-making after getting a liceat.

24 Region of rejoicing--joy attendant on success in the schools.

25 District of sabers--track of those who sap at their quarto and folio volumes.

26 Dodd's sound--where the candidate will have to acknowledge the receipt of a certificate empowering him to float down Bachelor Creek.

27 Cam Roads--retreat to Cambridge by way of a change.

28 Bay of Condolence--where we console our friends, if plucked, and left at a nonplus.

29 A well-known bookseller in Oxford generally called imposition G-, from his preparing translations for the members of the university.

30 Imposition--see p.r.i.c.k bill.

~156~~ visit from the _p.r.i.c.k bill_."{31} "Agreed," said Eglantine, "and Blackmantle and myself will, in the meantime, visit Sadler, and engage a couple of his prime hacks to accompany you."

31 p.r.i.c.k bills--at Christ Church, junior students who p.r.i.c.k with a pin the names of those gentlemen who are at chapel.

Immediately after the service, the bills, with the n.o.blemen and gentlemen commoners' names, are taken to the dean; those with the students and commoners' names, to the acting censor for the week; and the bachelors' bills to the sub-dean, who generally inform the p.r.i.c.k bills what impositions shall be set those gentlemen who absented themselves from chapel: these are written upon strips of paper and carried to the gentlemen by the p.r.i.c.k bill's scouts.

Copy of an original imposition.

"Sp 259 particular M M C. P. B."--Signifies translate No. 259 Spectator to the word "particular" by Monday morning at chapel time.--p.r.i.c.k bill.

[Ill.u.s.tration: page156]

[Ill.u.s.tration: page157]

THE EXCURSION TO BAGLEY WOOD.

Oxford Scholars and Oxford Livery Men--How to insure a good Horse and prevent Accidents--Description of Bagley Wood--A Freshman breaking cover--Interview with the Egyptian-- Secrets of Futurity unveiled--Abingdon Beauties--Singular Anecdote and History of Mother Goose.

~157~~ The ride to Bagley Wood introduced me to some new features of a college life, not the least entertaining of which was the dialogue before starting between my friend Eglantine, the livery-stable keeper, and his man, where we went to engage the horses.

Eglan. (to the ostler) Well, d.i.c.k, what sort of a stud, hey? any thing rum, a ginger or a miller, three legs or five, got by Whirlwind out of Skysc.r.a.per? Come, fig out two lively ones.

d.i.c.k. I mun see measter first, zur, before I lets any gentleman take a nag out o' yard. It's more as my place is worth to act otherwise.

Eglan. What coming Tip-street over us, hey, d.i.c.k? ~158~~ _frisking the freshman_ here, old fellow? (pointing to me). It won't do--no go, d.i.c.k--he's my friend, a _c.a.w.ker_ to be sure, but must not _stand Sam_ to an _Oxford raff_, or a Yorks.h.i.+re _Johnny Raw_.

d.i.c.k. I axes pardon, zur. I didna mean any such thing, but ever since you rode the grey t.i.t last, she's never been out o' stall.

Eglan. Not surprised at that, d.i.c.k. Never crossed a greater slug in my life--She's only fit to carry a dean or a bishop--No go in her.

d.i.c.k. No, zur, measter zays as how you took it all out on her.

Eglan. Why, I did give her a winder, d.i.c.k, to be sure, only one day's hunting, though, a good hard run over Somerset range, not above sixty miles out and home.

d.i.c.k. Ay, I thought as how you'd been in some break-neck tumble-down country, zur, for t.i.t's knuckels showed she'd had a somerset or two.

Eglan. Well, blister the mare, d.i.c.k! there's _half a bull_ for your trouble: now put us on the right scent for a good one: any thing young and fresh, sprightly and shewy?

d.i.c.k. Why, there be such a one to be zure, zur, but you munna split on me, or I shall get the zack for telling on ye. If you'll sken yon stable at end o' the yard, there be two prime t.i.ts just com'd in from Abingdon fair, thorough-bred and devils to go, but measter won't let 'em out.

Eglan. Won't he? here he comes, and we'll try what a little persuasion will do. (Enter Livery Man.) Well, old fellow, I've brought you a new friend, Blackmantle of Brazennose: what sort of _praxis_ can you give us for a trot to Bagley Wood, a short ride for something shewy to _lionise_ a bit?

Livery M. Nothing new, sir, and you know all the stud pretty well (knowingly). Suppose you try the grey mare you rode t'other day, and I'll find a quiet one for your friend.