A precious - mouldering pleasure - 'tis-
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 thought to ascertain
On Themes concern our mutual mind -
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 -
Fact Centuries before
He traverses - familiar -
As One should come to Town -
And tell you all you 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 -
(1863)
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