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Carnival Capping Songs 1917

Gaudeamus

Gaudeamus.

A very interesting biological specimen,—Kirk.

Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus;
Post jucundam inventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.

Vivat Academia,
Vivant professores,
Vivat membrum quodlibet
Vivant membra quaelibent
Semper sint in flore.

Vivant omnes virgines,
Faciles, formosae !
Vivant et mulieres
Tenerae, amabiles,
Bonae, laboriosae.

Floreat Georgius Rex
Haud minus quam Pater
Ob virtutes sic ametur
Optimus at appelletur
Patriaeque Pater.

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Motto; "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."

Pope.

(If this is by Shakespeare, can't help it.
Too late to change the rhyme now

Ed.)

Tune : "There is a tavern in the town."

I.
There is a college on a (a) hill,
(Yell) On a hill,
And there my dear love drinks his (b) fill,
(Yell) Drinks his fill
Of that deep spring that was pronounced by Mr. Pope
To yield the very latest dope.

Chorus:
Hurry up, for you must leave it,
And you needn't think you'll grieve it,
It has far too much to do to sit about in tears;
But give it just a go with right good will and vim;
And if you don't get all the cream, at least you'll skim
Enough to give a dash to dreams and hopes and fears,
To serve you well in coming years.

II.
And in this college there are profs.
(Yell) There are profs !
All well beknownst as frightful toffs,
(Yell) Frightful toffs
In mathematics, physics, classics, 'ologies,
Who know whatever thing you please.

Chorus:
Hurry up, for you must leave them,
And you needn't think you'll grieve them,
They have far too much to do to sit about in sacks (c);
But toe the mark they make by lecture and in brain,
And you will be astonished at your gain
In power to talk, think, play, or even wield an axe,
A broom, or any other fax (d).

III.
And as for science,—well, you know,
(Yell) Well, you know
No other place has half a show,
(Yell) Half a show
In proving yours is Grade One capability
For reasoning inductively.

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Chorus:
Oh the lovely stinks and drenches manufactured on those benches!
How they drag the intellects to light and show them off;
You never know your luck; you're choked—you've had enough
Of H2S and all such dainty stuff,
And then before you've got your breath and start to scoff,
You're swearing by the dear old prof.

IV.
And then the law ! Why there you are !
(Yell) There you are !
Each one a winner for the bar,
(Yell) For the bar;
And if you don't take silk while you are growing still,
By Jove, then when you've stopped you will !

Chorus:
Oh, the fees for lovely cases, and the sweet new gowns for K.C.'s.
The remainders and attainders, the subpœnas chill!
Then think how beautiful must be that legal sprig,
A charming lady in a charming wig;
And can you wonder that the college on the hill,
Without a flutter fills the bill ?

V.
Then here's to our professors' health,
(Yell) 'feasors' health;
And may they never want for wealth,
(Yell) Want for wealth
Or wisdom, and may life keep them from fret and fuss,
And lastly, here's to noble Us.

Chorus:
Though they sometimes may berate us, and not half appreciate us,
Still we manage to keep going and to do our bit.
But now a short farewell will do us lots of good,
So so-long, Vic., awhile, for you have stood
Our Alma Mater. That we should be very fit
Is but your due; and you are It.

(a) Note that the institution is not named, except later by a title only interpretable by those who know. This adds to the college the same charm that invests the young lady in the feather boa or the hair in the butter. Depend upon it, mystery is a principal factor in the Pleasures of Life.

(b) Legal maxim : Words importing the male sex shall include the female. Bat any member not of the s.s. may think of "'er."

(c) Sackcloth and ashes : (Do not) see the Oxford English Dictionary.

(d) Consult Smith's Greek and Roman Antiquities.