De Libris: Prose and Verse

PROLOGUE
LECTOR BENEVOLE!
--FOR SO
THEY USED TO CALL YOU, YEARS AGO,--
I CAN'T PRETEND TO MAKE YOU READ
THE PAGES THAT TO THIS SUCCEED;
NOR COULD I--IF I WOULD--EXCUSE
THE WAYWARD PROMPTINGS OF THE MUSE
AT WHOSE COMMAND I WROTE THEM DOWN.
I HAVE NO HOPE TO PLEASE THE TOWN.
I DID BUT THINK SOME FRIENDLY SOUL