"To prevent accidents, gentlemen pay _before
mounting_." "How the deuce can this practice of paying beforehand
prevent accidents?" said I. "You're fresh, old fellow," said Echo, "or
you'd understand after a man breaks his neck he fears no duns. Now you
know by accident what old Humanity there means."
Bagley is about two miles and a half from Oxford on the Abingdon road,
an exceedingly pleasant ride, leaving the sacred city and passing over
the old bridge where formerly was situated the study or observatory of
the celebrated Friar Bacon. Not an object in the shape of a petticoat
escaped some raillery, and scarcely 160~~ a town _raff_ but what met
with a corresponding display of university wit, and called forth many a
cutting joke: the place itself is an extensive wood on the summit of
a hill, which commands a glorious panoramic view of Oxford and the
surrounding country richly diversified in hill and dale, and sacred
spires shooting their varied forms on high above the domes, and
minarets, and towers of Rhedycina. This spot, the favourite haunt of
the Oxonians, is covered for many miles with the most luxuriant foliage,
affording the cool retreat, the love embowered shades, over which
Prudence spreads the friendly veil. Here many an amorous couple have in
softest dalliance met, and sighed, and frolicked, free from suspicion's
eye beneath the broad umbrageous canopy of Nature; here too is the
favourite retreat of the devotees of Cypriani, the spicy grove of
assignations where the velvet sleeves of the Proctor never shake with
terror in the wind, and the savage form of the university _bull dog_ is
unknown.
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