Possible Clues:

• Locates us in failed or doomed endeavour
• Osculates madly, at home in Oxford?
• The sound of the useless cries of a rook trying to find its way home?
• A hopeless undertaking or effort
• Hopeless effort or undertaking, beyond rescue
• It's not worth pursuing
• Objectionable person holding book up - you won't influence him
• Cast out worthless type about to produce hopeless situation
• Failed to retain principle with hopeless endeavour
• Forgotten reason for write-off