I must also admit that I was not strong in Latin verse. I remember writing a copy once that I thought was beyond criticism, and was much disgusted when I found that the Master thought that “pius Æneas” was not a suitable termination to an Hexameter line. I was not, however, alone in this want of true poetic feeling. My worthy friend Podder one day produced the following Pentameter:— “Lēŏ rĕx bēllŭărūm ūt cæ̆tŭs ēst pĭscĭūm.” For the benefit both of those who do, and those who do not, understand Latin, I will mention that the translation of the above was meant to be— “The lion is the king of beasts, as the whale is of fishes.” Will Bumpus forgive me if I relate an instance of his ingenuity? He quietly took the following line from Horace, and served it up as an _Hexameter_ of his own composition:— Dūlcē|ēt dē|cōrūm|ēst prō|pātrĭâ|mōrī.| On the inexpediency of this being suggested to him, he was setting to work to alter it, when suddenly a bright thought flashed across his mind; he knew the line was out of Horace, so that if it wasn’t an Hexameter, it must be a Pentameter; so up it came— Dūlcĕ ĕt|dēcōr|ūm|ēst prŏpă|triă mŏ|rī. The rest being tragic, I will break off here, and having given the reader enough of myself and my shortcomings, will proceed to more general subjects. We had some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior part and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into School, used to engage in a kind of general tournament; this was called “Cloister Roush;” each party used to charge from their respective ends of School till they met in the middle; it was a good-humoured affair; fists were not used, but only wrestling and hustling. Another remarkable custom was that of “Cloister Pealing.” At the commencement of Cloister time, for a few minutes before the hiss was given, the vast gulf that usually existed between Præfects and Inferiors was temporarily broken down. All the boys in Cloisters being assembled up at books, proceeded to chant the praises of the popular or severe criticisms on the unpopular, Præfects, in short Latin, Greek, or English epigrams. I am happy to say that the complimentary species generally preponderated. Well do I remember the enthusiasm with which we chanted on one occasion— Ζωή μου σᾶς ἀγαπῶ. Ζωή being the nickname of one of the senior Præfects, _Rich_ in all those physical and moral qualities that endear an athletic youth to his younger school-fellows. I might give some examples of Peals, which the reader might find more amusing than the subjects found them complimentary, but for obvious reasons I abstain. In Commoners also there was an entirely different description of “Pealing,” which will be described in the chapter on Standing up and Election Week. [Illustration] CHAPTER IX. THE JUNIOR ON A LOCKBACK HOLIDAY.