IN THE TITLE-PAGE OF A SHAKESPEARE.

IF thou dost read this book with but thine eye,

Seeing alone the printed pages turn

In dry succession, little shalt thou learn;

Save that it hath no lesson there for thee,

The thing unmeaning to thy mind will be;

If with thy heart and brain, then thou 'It discern

The flaming truths which in these pages burn,

Shedding a light on human history;

Read with thy heart and brain, then, read and know

The knowledge that one man had of mankind,

And thou 'It possess a precious gift indeed;

If thou canst not, - then do not try to read,

But fling the book unto the boisterous wind, -

'T will turn each page as well, when the light breezes blow.

O. W.