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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLADE OF THE CAXTON HEAD by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

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! Good News! is our Christmas cry;
News I 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 !
Let moralists talk of the lifelong friend;
The best of good fellows will oft offend :
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 :
To their lover's ear, and their lover's eye,
Aud the choicest haunt, till you bid them fly.
They are ever the same as in dear years fled;
The famous Sign of the Caxton Heid.
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:
In one true fellowship see them blend!
Here rare French wonders of beauty lie,
The delicate pages of Italy;
Wrought by the daintiest of hands long dea:
Foulis and Baskerville, bad to lend;
All these are waiting, till you draw nigh
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:
The famous Sign of the Caxton Head.
For the honour of Caxton, pass not by

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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