Page:Rosemary and Pansies.djvu/44

This page has been validated.
My crowded bookroom gives me greater pleasure Than misers from their money-bags can gain; Upon its shelves rests many and many a treasure Sought for long years before I could obtain.
Therein I'm king—all elements contentious Are there subdued and dwell in perfect peace; Mohammed there rests quietly by Mencius; There Pope and Protestant their warfare cease.
Old plays are there, old poems, old romances, Things that the busy world has long forgot; Books full of strange and undigested fancies By brains half-mad and half-inspired begot.
All kinds of useless knowledge in it slumber; Lamb's "books that are no books" there find no rest; Few of its tomes would be allowed to cumber Their shelves who chatter of "the hundred best."
It holds a thousand volumes none would value, Save such another "dryasdust" as I, Though why I love them I could scarcely tell you— Lover ne'er loved who knew the reason why.
Treasures I see, wherever fall my glances, If not unique of rarity extreme, Each with a curious history which enhances Its value past all price in my esteem.
I know wise worldlings look on me with wonder, As one beneath a strange obsession's sway. Though they perchance the influence are under Of passions which to countless ills betray,

28

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.