"Evert Jonson His book
God Give him Grase thair in to look
not only to looke but to understand
that Larning is better than Hous or Land
When Land is Gon & Gold is spent
then larning is most Axelant
When I am dead & Rotton
If this you see Remember me
Though others is forgotton."
Different portions of this script have been seen in many books.
Four rhymes seem to be specially the property of schoolboys, being found in Accidences, Spellers, "Logick" Primers, and other school-books, down even to the present day.
"This book is one thing, My fist's another,
If you touch the one thing, You'll feel the other."
"Hic liber eat meus
And that I will show
Si aliquis capit
I'll give him a blow."
"This book is mine
By Law Divine
And if it runs astray
I'll call you kind
My desk to find
And put it safe away."
"Hic liber est meus Deny it who can
Zenas Graves Junior An honest man."
There also appears a practical warning which may be read with attention and profit by the public now a days:
"If thou art borrowed by a friend
Right welcome shall he be
To read, to study, not to lend
But to return to me.
"Not that imparted knowledge doth
Diminish Learnings Store
But books I find if often lent
Return to me no more."
"Read Slowly—Pause Frequently—Think Seriously—Finger Lightly—Keep Cleanly—Return Duly—with the Corners of the Leaves Not Turned Down."