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Anon: A Girtonian Funeral
A GIRTONIAN FUNERAL
(The ACADEMY reports that the students of Girton College have
dissolved their 'Browning Society', and expended its remaining
funds, two shillings and twopence, upon chocolate creams.)
Let us begin and portion out these sweets,
Sitting together.
Leave we our deep debates, our sage conceits,—
Wherefore? and whether?
Thus with a.fine that fits the work begun
Our labours crowning,
For we, in sooth, our duty well have done
By Robert Browning.
Have we not wrought at essay and critique,
Scorning supine ease?
Wrestled with clauses crabbed as Bito's Greek,
Baffling as Chinese?
Out the Inn Album's mystic heart we took,
Lucid of soul, and
Threaded the mazes of the Ring and Book;
Cleared up Childe Roland.
We settled Fifine's business—let her be—
(Strangest of lasses;)
Watched by the hour some thick-veiled truth to see
Where Pippa passes.
(Though, dare we own, secure in victor's gains,
Ample to shield us?
Red Cotton Night-cap Country for our pains
Little would yield us.)
What then to do? Our culture-feast drag out
E'en to satiety?
Oft such the fate that findeth, nothing doubt,
Such a Society.
Oh, the dull meetings! Some one yawns an aye,
One gapes again a yea,
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