7 JANUARY 1966, Page 6

King and Common Room

King Henry VI fills in the form on university costs for the University Grants Committee.

0 God, methinks it were a happy life To be no better than a candidate, To sit behind a desk, as I do now, To fill out forms minutely, point by point.

So many hours must I instruct the young.

So many hours post-graduate seminar.

So many hours for personal research.

So many hours that I must write myself.

So many hours correct what others write, Careful to get the punctuation so.

So many hours sit aimlessly around At gossip in the Senior Common Room.

So many hours for sleeping, eating, thinking.

Ah, what a life! Browned off! How nearly like

To shepherds counting up their silly sheep To see how many can get through the gate.

Here on this molehill will I sit me down.

If, as is likely, they refuse the grant, I might as well continue being king.

It would on balance be less troublesome.

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS