Here, e'en the sturdy democrat may find, Nor scorn their rank, the nobles of the mind; While kings may learn, nor blush at being shown How Learning's patents abrogate their own. A goodly company and fair to see; Royal plebeians; earls of low degree; Beggars whose wealth enriches every clime; Princes who scarce can boast a mental dime; Crowd here together like the quaint array Of jostling neighbours on a market day. Homer and Milton,--can we call them blind?-- Of godlike sight, the vision of the mind; Shakespeare, who calmly looked creation through, 'Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new'; Plato the sage, so thoughtful and serene, He seems a prophet by his heavenly mien; Shrewd Socrates, whose philosophic power Xantippe proved in many a trying hour; And Aristophanes, whose humour run In vain endeavour to be-'cloud' the sun; Majestic Aeschylus, whose glowing page Holds half the grandeur of the Athenian stage; Pindar, whose odes, replete with heavenly fire, Proclaim the master of the Grecian lyre; Anacreon, famed for many a luscious line, Devote to Venus and the god of wine. I love vast libraries; yet there is a doubt If one be better with them or without-- Unless he use them wisely, and, indeed, Knows the high art of what and how to read. At Learning's fountain it is sweet to drink, But 'tis a nobler privilege to think; And oft, from books apart, the thirsting mind May make the nectar which it cannot find. 'Tis well to borrow from the good and great; 'Tis wise to learn; 'tis godlike to create! J. G. SAXE. OF LIBRARIES: THE BODLEIAN What oweth Oxford, nay this Isle, to the most worthy Bodley, whose Library, perhaps, containeth more excellent books than the ancients by all their curious search could find?... To such a worthy work all the lovers of learning should conspire and contribute; and of small beginnings who is ignorant what great effects may follow? If, perhaps, we will consider the beginnings of the greatest libraries of Europe (as Democritus said of the world, that it was made up of atoms), we shall find them but small; for how great soever in their present perfection they are now, these Carthages were once Magalia. Libraries are as forests, in which not only tall cedars and oaks are to be found, but bushes too and dwarfish shrubs; and as in apothecaries' shops all sorts of drugs are permitted to be, so may all sorts of books be in a library. And as they out of vipers and scorpions, and poisoning vegetables, extract often wholesome medicaments, for the life of mankind; so out of whatsoever book, good instructions and examples may be acquired.--WILLIAM DRUMMOND. _Of Libraries._ ON THE DEATH OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY