A precious-mouldering pleasure-'t is-
To meet an Antique Book,
In just the Dress his Century wore -
A privilege - I think -

His venerable Hand to take -
And warming in our own -
A passage back- or two- to make
To Times when he- was young -

His quaint opinions - to inspect -
His thoughts to ascertain
On Themes concern our mutual mind-
The Literature of Man -

What interested Scholars- most-
What Competitions ran
When Plato - was a Certainty -
And Sophocles - a Man -

When Sappho - was a living Girl -
And Beatrice wore
The Gown that Dante- deified-
Facts Centuries before

He traverses - familiar -
As One should come to Town
And tell you all your Dreams-were true-
He lived - where Dreams were born-

His presence is Enchantment,
You beg him not to go -
Old Volumes shake their Vellum Heads
And tantalize - just so -