The Bibliomaniac's Prayer

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.