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."

A Poet's Testimonial

[Robert] Burns procured a pair of pistols as a portion of his exciseman's outfit. They were made by Blair of Birmingham, and, in acknowledging them, the poet wrote to him -
"I have tried them, and will say for them what I would not say of the bulk of mankind - they are an honour to their maker." These pistols were afterwards bequeathed to Dr Maxwell.