Note 33 — THE ELEVENTH PAPYRUS

Written in English, in what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. “Saint Aldate’s” was, of course, a low catholic parish of Oxford, near Pembroke and The House, and much frequented by monsignori and other catholic converts, and I believe that no particular rashness can be attributed to me for saying that there was also a slightly excessive music hall, called (quaintly enough) the “Empire” in the “Cowley” Road, Oxford. But I really feel quite unable to elucidate the allusion in this connection. Saturday night is, of course, the eve of the day of the sun; and perhaps we have here some cryptic allusion to sun-worship, which (we know) was certainly of an hilarious and somewhat energetic character. Cf. Frazer’s chapter on Osiris and the Sun: Studies in Oriental Religion, vii. 287-294. A. H.