em, one and all,
The Rowfant books!

The Rowfant books! In sun and snow
They're dear, but most when tempests fall;
The folio towers above the row
As once, o'er minor prophets--Saul!
What jolly jest books, and what small
"Dear dumpy Twelves" to fill the nooks.
You do not find in every stall
The Rowfant books!

The Rowfant books! These long ago
Were chained within some College hall;
These manuscripts retain the glow
Of many a coloured capital;
While yet the Satires keep their gall,
While the _Pastissier_ puzzles cooks,
There is a joy that does not pall,
The Rowfant books!

ENVOY.

The Rowfant books,--ah magical
As famed Armida's golden looks.
They hold the Rhymer for their thrall--
The Rowfant books!'

In 1900 was published an Appendix to the Catalogue, the work of Mr.
Frederick Locker-Lampson's son, Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson, consisting
of additions to the library since the printing of the Catalogue in 1886,
to which Mr. Andrew Lang again contributed some verses:--

'How often to the worthy Sire
Succeeds th' unworthy son!
Extinguished is the ancient fire,
Books were the idols of the Squire,
The graceless heir has none.

To Sotheby's go both old and new,
Bindings, and prose, and rhymes,
With Shakespeare as with Padeloup
The sportive lord has naught to do,
_He_ reads _The Sporting Times_.

Behold a special act of grace,
On Rowfant shelves behold,
The well-loved honours keep their place,
And new-won glories half efface
The splendours of the old.'

The volume also contains verses by Mr. Austin Dobson, the Earl of Crewe,
and Mr. Wilfrid Blunt.

WILLIAM MORRIS, 1834-1896

William Morris, the poet, art-designer, and manufacturer, was born at
Elm House, Clay Hill, Walthamstow, Essex, on the 24th of March 1834. His
father William Morris, a partner in the firm of Sanderson and Co.,
discount brokers, London, died in 1847, leaving him a considerable
fortune. Young Morris was first educated at a preparatory school at
Walthamstow, and afterwards at Marlborough, from whence he proceeded to
Exeter College, Oxford. On leaving the University he wished to become a
painter, but his studies were not sufficiently successful to warrant him
carrying out his intention. He also paid some attention to the study of
architecture. In 1858 he published a small volume entitled _The Defence
of Guenevere and ot