Sunday 11 October 2009

A Rebuke from Burns

[Robert] Burns called once on a certain lord in Edinburgh, and was shown into the library. To amuse himself till his lordship was at leisure, the poet took down a volume of Shakespeare, splendidly bound; but on opening it he discovered from the gilding, that it had never been read, and also that the worms were eating it through and through. He therefore took out his pencil and worte the following lines in it. They, however, were only discovered by accident about twelve years afterwards!

"Through and through the inspired leaves,
Ye maggots, make your windings:
But, oh! respect his lordship's taste,
And spare his golden bindings."

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