June 4th.—Lectured on the Scientific Basis of Blackstone’s Commentaries; afterwards received pupils until 1 p.m. Really Blanch S—— is more tiresome than ever. [126] It appears that she has taken up with a young undergraduate of King’s, and there is no prospect of any improvement in her work unless this nonsense is terminated. How foolish some of my sex are, in spite of their improved opportunities! I blush for them! Arnold has sent me a copy of Robert Browning’s ‘Belaustion,’ in order to make me like classics, and give up science. Misguided young man! He has written some tolerable verses on the fly-leaf; but I have no intention of playing Belaustion to his ‘entranced youth.’ These are his verses:
‘My lady dear, if I may call you so,
For you are dearer than all else beside,
I know the love you bear to golden verse,
To golden thoughts enshrined in classic lore,
To all that’s beautiful; so here I send
Some echoes of the songs of ancient days,
Attuned and chanted by an English bard,
Who fires one’s old love for the rolling lines
Of youthful Hellas; may your cultured ear