TO CADMUS.
Reading edition
To good St. Cad we sing, For he’s patron Saint and King Of lettered men. He was both wise and strong And he had a marked penchant To use the pen. He laid the walls of Thebes When he’d sowed Bœotian Glebes In martial oats. He was Minerva’s pet, For she gave the alphabet To him with notes. A serpent he became, When he’d tired of human fame And yellow gold. And now a tempter sly, He but tries to make men buy, Rare book and old. So here’s to good St. Cad, For he isn’t half so bad In spite of looks. If I must tempted be Pray let Cadmus come to me With musty books. John H. Finley.
