Ballade Of The Bookworm

Far in the Past I peer, and see

A Child upon the Nursery floor,

A Child with books upon his knee,

Who asks, like Oliver, for more!

The number of his years is IV,

And yet in Letters hath he skill,

How deep he dives in Fairy-lore!

The Books I loved, I love them still!

One gift the Fairies gave me:  (Three

They commonly bestowed of yore)

The Love of Books, the Golden Key

That opens the Enchanted Door;

Behind it BLUEBEARD lurks, and o'er

And o'er doth JACK his Giants kill,

And there is all ALADDIN'S store, -

The Books I loved, I love them still!

Take all, but leave my Books to me!

These heavy creels of old we bore

We fill not now, nor wander free,

Nor wear the heart that once we wore;

Not now each River seems to pour

His waters from the Muses' hill;

Though something's gone from stream and shore,

The Books I loved, I love them still!

ENVOY.

Fate, that art Queen by shore and sea,

We bow submissive to thy will,

Ah grant, by some benign decree,

The Books I loved--to love them still.