Ralph Windle

A Millennium Prayer

Domine illuminatio mea,
Look favourably on this our prayer.

Let these poor souls, in statu pupillari,
Become not too inquisitive nor starry-
Eyed, nor radical, nor witty,
But help them lust for riches in the City;
Wherewith, by covenant or charter,
They may endow their grateful Alma Mater.

Temper their yearnings to be wise
With visionary calls to Enterprise;
And exorcise all ghosts of shame or sin
At ventures of this dubious kind we’re in.

A thousand years on, we commit to Thee
The relaunched Oxford Inc and PLC.
May Academe, old fruitless passions spent,
Embrace this New, Improved Enlightenment;
And may these new-found Customers for Knowledge
Get richer quicker for their Dear Old College!