A hand to relieve keen distress.
Poverty smiled on his birth,
And gave what all riches exceeds,
Wit, honesty, wisdom, and worth;
A soul to effect noble needs.
Legitimates bow at his shrine;
Unfetter'd he sprung into life;
When vigour with love doth combine
To free nature from priestcraft and strife.
No ancient escutcheon he claim'd,
Crimson'd with rapine and blood;
He titles and baubles disdain'd,
Yet his pedigree traced from the flood.
Ennobled by all that is bright
In the wreath of terrestrial fame,
Genius her pure ray of light
Spreads a halo to circle his name.

The main-spring of all his actions was a social disposition, which
embraced a most comprehensive view
~28~~
of the duties of good fellowship. He was equally popular with all
parties, by never declaring for any particular one: with the cricketers
he was accounted a hard swipe{3} an active field{4} and a stout
bowler;{5} in a water party he was a stroke{6} of the ten oar; at
foot-ball, in the playing fields, or a leap across Chalvey ditch, he was
not thought small beer{7} of; and he has been known to have bagged three
sparrows after a toodle{8} of three miles. His equals loved him for his
social qualities, and courted his acquaintance as the _sine qua non_
of society; and the younger members of the school looked up to him
for protection and assistance. If power was abused by the upper boys,
Bernard was appealed to as the mediator between the fag{9} and
his master. His grants of liberties{10} to the commonalty were
indiscriminate and profuse, while his influence was always exerted to
obtain the same privileges for his numerous proteges from the more
close aristocrats.{11} He was always to be seen attended by a shoal
of dependents of every form in the school, some to get their lessons
construed, and others to further claims to their respective stations in

3 A good bat-man.

4 To run well, or keep a good look out.

5 Strong and expert.

6 A first rate waterman.

7 Not thought meanly of. Sometimes this phrase is used in
derision, as, he does not think small beer of himself.

8 A walk.

9 Any sixth or fifth form boy can fag an Oppidan underling:
the collegers are exempted from this custom.

10 The liberties, or college bounds, are marked by stones
placed in different situations; grants of liberties are