 | Verses by W. H. Mallock |  |
19
THE SIBYL'S BOOKS
Life is a Sibyl, who to YouthOffers the golden books of Truth,
And Youth rejects them; for, indeed,
The dazzling lines are hard to read.
But what cares Life for that? She goes,
And in the fire a volume throws.
When Manhood ripens, as before
She offers still her dwindling store,
In vain:—till one day Age divines
What seems some meaning in the lines,
And starts, and stays her with the call,
‘Bring your books back: I'll take them all.’
‘Good,’ cries the Sibyl, ‘that's to say,
All that are undestroyed to-day.
Take them.’ She spreads her bundle bare,
And not a single book is there.
‘What's this?’ She laughs. ‘Ere man has learnt
To read my books, the books are burnt!’
‘Life, you're a mockery!’ ‘Man,’ is Life's reply,
‘Without my books you know me. Such am I.’
| Verses by W. H. Mallock | |