| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1044. The Bibliomaniac’s Prayer |
| | | By Eugene Field |
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| KEEP me, I pray, in wisdom’s way, | |
| That I may truths eternal seek; | |
| I need protecting care to-day,— | |
| My purse is light, my flesh is weak. | |
| So banish from my erring heart | 5 |
| All baleful appetites and hints | |
| Of Satan’s fascinating art, | |
| Of first editions, and of prints. | |
| Direct me in some godly walk | |
| Which leads away from bookish strife, | 10 |
| That I with pious deed and talk | |
| May extra-illustrate my life. | |
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| But if, O Lord, it pleaseth Thee | |
| To keep me in temptation’s way, | |
| I humbly ask that I may be | 15 |
| Most notably beset to-day; | |
| Let my temptation be a book, | |
| Which I shall purchase, hold, and keep, | |
| Whereon, when other men shall look, | |
| They ’ll wail to know I got it cheap. | 20 |
| Oh, let it such a volume be | |
| As in rare copperplates abounds, | |
| Large paper, clean, and fair to see, | |
| Uncut, unique, unknown to Lowndes. | |
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