KEEP me, I pray, in wisdom's way, That I may truths eternal seek; I need protecting care to-day, -- My purse is light, my flesh is weak. So banish from my erring heart All baleful appetites and hints Of Satan's fascinating art, Of first editions, and of prints. Direct me in some godly walk Which leads away from bookish strife, That I with pious deed and talk May extra-illustrate my life. But if, O Lord, it pleaseth Thee To keep me in temptation's way, I humbly ask that I may be Most notably beset to-day; Let my temptation be a book, Which I shall purchase, hold, and keep, Whereon, when other men shall look, They'll wail to know I got it cheap. Oh, let it such a volume be As in rare copperplates abounds, Large paper, clean, and fair to see, Uncut, unique, unknown to Lowndes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AB ASTRIS by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA THE BURIAL OF ROBERT BROWNING by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY STANZAS by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD BALLAD OF PLAGIARY by JAMES BRANCH CABELL THE OLD PROSPECTOR by CHARLES BADGER CLARK JR. SONS OF PROMISE by THOMAS CURTIS CLARK TO GRAVINA, ON HIS TRANSLATING THE AUTHOR'S SONG by WILLIAM COWPER |