Such is the Cold Cast Irony of Fate.

At last the Train arrived, and with it too

Your Book—a Precious Package marked "collect."

Raptured I read it through and through, and through,

And then I paused in sadness to reflect—

How that same Book had been a priceless boon,

But for a little accident of Date;

If only I had not been born so soon,

Or if you had not gone to press so late.

O Book, if only you had come to me