Classic Poem

Now that you have read of,
You will want to see.
I can only take you to the spot
And let you not see.
Then you may choose freely
Between my book and your eye.
You will undoubtedly prefer your eye,
To not see for yourself.
I shall be delighted to withdraw my book
In favour of your however blind eye.
But I will not withdraw my book
In favour of any words of yours,
In favour of a time-tongued eloquence.
This may be yet an early hour for seeing,
But it is a late hour for telling of,
And I will not be indistinct
That the confounded may distribute
Confusion like a cheaper gold.

Not even the insensible shroud
Can money of such coining buy you.
Loud naked fools you'll go to death,
Flying the rags of shamelessness
To advertise your faith in gifts.
You'll call the same large wants,
And still the same large courtesies
Between the author and the reader
Shall perfectly adjudicate,
And the writing of the book suffice
To give to those who do not read
A thank-you for such proof of need.