Marcus Varro went up and down <br />The places where old books were sold; <br />He ransacked all the shops in town <br />For pictures new and pictures old. <br />He gave the folk of earth no peace; <br />Snooping around by day and night, <br />He plied the trade in Rome and Greece <br />Of an insatiate Grangerite. <br /> <br />'Pictures!' was evermore his cry -- <br />'Pictures of old or recent date,' <br />And pictures only would he buy <br />Wherewith to 'extra-illustrate.' <br />Full many a tome of ancient type <br />And many a manuscript he took, <br />For nary purpose but to swipe <br />Their pictures for some other book. <br /> <br />While Marcus Varro plied his fad <br />There was not in the shops of Greece <br />A book or pamphlet to be had <br />That was not minus frontispiece. <br />Nor did he hesitate to ply <br />His baleful practices at home; <br />It was not possible to buy <br />A perfect book in all of Rome! <br /> <br />What must the other folk have done -- <br />Who, glancing o'er the books they bought, <br />Came soon and suddenly upon <br />The vandalism Varro wrought! <br />How must their cheeks have flamed with red -- <br />How did their hearts with choler beat! <br />We can imagine what they said -- <br />We can imagine, not repeat! <br /> <br />Where are the books that Varro made -- <br />The pride of dilettante Rome -- <br />With divers portraitures inlaid <br />Swiped from so many another tome? <br />The worms devoured them long ago -- <br />O wretched worms! ye should have fed <br />Not on the books 'extended' so, <br />But on old Varro's flesh instead! <br /> <br />Alas, that Marcus Varro lives <br />And is a potent factor yet! <br />Alas, that still his practice gives <br />Good men occasion for regret! <br />To yonder bookstall, pri'thee, go, <br />And by the 'missing' prints and plates <br />And frontispieces you shall know <br />He lives, and 'extra-illustrates'!<br /><br />Eugene Field<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/marcus-varro/
