Oft backward looks the swine, and half disdains to go. "Ah me! how fallen," with choaking sobs he said, And sunk exhausted on his welcome bed; "Ere yet my shame, wide-circling through the town, Spreads from the strong contagion of the gown, Oh! be it mine, unknowing and unknown, [45]With deans deceased, to sleep beneath the stone." As tearful thus, and half convulsed with spite, He lengthen'd out with plaints the livelong night, At that still hour of night, when dreams are oft'nest true, A well-known spectre rose before his view, As in some lake, when hush'd in every breeze, The bending ape his form reflected sees,[46] Such and so like the Doctor's angel shone, And by his gait the guardian sprite was known, Benignly bending o'er his aching head-- "Sleep, Henry, sleep, my best beloved," he said,[47] "Soft dreams of bliss shall soothe thy midnight hour; Connubial transport and collegiate power. Fly fast, ye months, till Henry shall receive The joys a bride and benefice can give. But first to sanction thy prophetic name, In yon tall pile a doctor's honours claim;[48] E'en now methinks the awe-struck crowd behold Thy powder'd caxon and thy cane of gold. E'en now--but hark! the chimney sparrows sing, St Mary's chimes their early matins ring-- I go--but thou----through many a festive night Collegiate bards shall chant thy luckless fight-- Though many a jest shall spread the table round, And many a bowl to B----r----d's health be crown'd-- O'er juniors still maintain thy dread command, Still boast, my son, thy cross-compelling hand.[49] Adieu!"--His shadowy robes the phantom spread, And o'er the Doctor drowsy influence shed; Scared at the sound, far off his terrors flew, And love and hope once more his curtains drew. [Footnote 18: In the quadrangle of Brazenose College, there is a statue of Cain destroying Abel with a bone, or some such instrument. It is of lead, and _white-washed_, and no doubt that those who have heard that Cain was struck black, will be surprised to find that in Brazenose he is white as innocence.] [Footnote 19: All the world has rung with the fame of Roger Bacon, formerly of this college, and of his exploits in astrology, chemistry, and metallurgy, _inter alia_ his brazen head, of which alone the nose remains, a precious relic, and (to use the words of the excellent author of the _Oxford Guide_) still conspicuous over the portal, where it erects itself as a symbolical illustration of the Salernian adage "Noscitur a naso."] [Footnote 20: Two medallions of Alfred and Erigena ornament the outside of the Hall, so as to overlook the field of battle.] [Footnote 21: The Porter of the college.] [Footnote 22: The doctor's servant or scout.] [Footnote 23: Two wine-merchants residing in Oxford.]