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BALLADE OF THE CAXTON HEAD, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: News! Good news! At the old year's end


News ! Good News ! at the old year's end
News! Good News! at the old year's end:
Lovers of learning, come buy, come buy,
Lovers of learning , come buy , come buy!
Now to old Holborn let bookmen wend,
Now to old Holborn let bookmen wend ,
Though the town be grimy , and grim the sky.
Though the town be grimy, and grim the sky.
News I Good News ! is our Christmas cry
News! Good News! is our Christmas cry;
For our feast of reason is richly spread :
For our feast of reason is richly spread ,
And hungry bookmen may turn and try
And hungry bookmen may turn and try
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head .

Let moralists talk of the lifelong friend :

But books are the safest of friends, say I !
The best of good fellows will oft offend :
Let moralists talk of the lifelong friend;
But books are the safest of friends, say I!
But books cm never do wrong : for why 't
The best of good fellows will oft offend;
To their lover's ear, and their lover's eye.
But books can never do wrong: for why?
They are over the same as in dear years fled :
Aud the choicest haunt, till you bid them fly.
To their lover's ear, and their lover's eye,
The famous Sign of the Caxton Heid.
They are ever the same as in dear years fled;
And the choicest haunt, till you bid them fly,
In one true fellowship let them blend!
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.
The delicate pages of Italy;
Poulis and Baskorville, bad to lend;

And the strong black letter of Germany:

Here rare French wonders of beauty lie,
In one true fellowship see them blend!
Wrought by the daintiest of hands long dea:
The delicate pages of Italy;
All these are waiting, till you draw nigh
Foulis and Baskerville, bad to lend;
And the strong black letter of Germany:
The famous Siign of the Caxton Head.
Here rare French wonders of beauty lie,
L'Esvoi.
Wrought by the daintiest of hands long dead:
Bookmen ! whose pleasures can never die,
All these are waiting, till you draw nigh
While books are written, and books are read:
For the honour of Caxton, pass not by
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.

The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.



L'ENVOI
Bookmen! whose pleasures can never die,
While books are written, and books are read:
For the honour of Caxton, pass not by
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.






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