Keep me, I pray, in wisdom's way br That I may truths eternal seek; br I need protecting care to-day,-- br My purse is light, my flesh is weak. br So banish from my erring heart br All baleful appetites and hints br Of Satan's fascinating art, br Of first editions, and of prints. br Direct me in some godly walk br Which leads away from bookish strife, br That I with pious deed and talk br May extra-illustrate my life. br br But if, O Lord, it pleaseth Thee br To keep me in temptation's way, br I humbly ask that I may be br Most notably beset to-day; br Let my temptation be a book, br Which I shall purchase, hold, and keep, br Whereon when other men shall look, br They'll wail to know I got it cheap. br Oh, let it such a volume be br As in rare copperplates abounds, br Large paper, clean, and fair to see, br Uncut, unique, unknown to Lowndes.