 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
THE SHAM LIBRARY.
YRIARTE.
Once, in Madrid, there dwelt a worthy man,
And wealthy too, of whom 't was truly said
His house—the best the architects could plan—
Was vastly better furnished than his head!
And wealthy too, of whom 't was truly said
His house—the best the architects could plan—
Was vastly better furnished than his head!
And yet one room this splendid dwelling lacked
A wealthy squire should have, beyond a doubt;
To wit, a Library,—a thing in fact
“No gentleman can fairly live without.”
A wealthy squire should have, beyond a doubt;
To wit, a Library,—a thing in fact
“No gentleman can fairly live without.”
So said a neighbor, adding his advice
That one be built without the least delay;
“And let,” he said, the room be large and nice;
By Jove! I would n't wait another day!”
That one be built without the least delay;
“And let,” he said, the room be large and nice;
By Jove! I would n't wait another day!”
“Egad!” he answered, “I must find a spot
Somewhere about the house; of course I know
A man wants books, and books, sir, shall be got;
If not for use, they 're requisite for show!
Somewhere about the house; of course I know
A man wants books, and books, sir, shall be got;
If not for use, they 're requisite for show!
“I have it now! my carpenter shall use
What space he chooses in the northern wing;
One sees from there the loveliest of views;
Faith! on reflection, it is just the thing!
What space he chooses in the northern wing;
One sees from there the loveliest of views;
Faith! on reflection, it is just the thing!
“I'll have it finished in the finest style;
Such as may suit a gentleman's abode;
With doors and shelves ('t will cost a pretty pile!)
All stained and gilded in the latest mode.
Such as may suit a gentleman's abode;
With doors and shelves ('t will cost a pretty pile!)
All stained and gilded in the latest mode.
“And then I'll send my trusty servant Bob
(An honest fellow and the best of cooks,
And always clever at a tasty job),
By careful measurement, to buy the books.”
(An honest fellow and the best of cooks,
And always clever at a tasty job),
By careful measurement, to buy the books.”
But ere the work was done, from floor to shelf,
The owner, pondering on the great expense
Incurred already, said within himself:
“This room, egad! is really quite immense!
The owner, pondering on the great expense
Incurred already, said within himself:
“This room, egad! is really quite immense!
“With handsome books these cases to supply
Will cost a sum of money rather tall!
But since I merely aim to please the eye,
Pray, what 's the use of real books at all?
Will cost a sum of money rather tall!
But since I merely aim to please the eye,
Pray, what 's the use of real books at all?
“A thousand gilded backs will do as well,
Lettered to look like volumes all a-row;
Mere wooden backs in fact, but who can tell
They are not real, I should like to know!”
Lettered to look like volumes all a-row;
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They are not real, I should like to know!”
So said, so done; and now at length behold
All things complete. With pride the owner looks
To see—at little cost of precious gold—
His wooden cases filled with wooden books!
All things complete. With pride the owner looks
To see—at little cost of precious gold—
His wooden cases filled with wooden books!
MORAL.
“A fool!” you say, “to spend his money so!”Well—not a very Solomon, indeed;
But wiser, sure, than they who buy for show
The costly volumes which they never read!
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |