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To bid, or not to bid, that is the question: Whether 'tis better for thy o'erdraft to concede The deeper purse of thy hell-bent foe, Or continue with thy folly And by opposing end in penury? To buy: to own; For evermore; and by owning we mean The heartache and expense the wretched tome Brings with it. 'Tis a consummation Devoutly to be missed. To buy, to own; To own perchance to sell: ay, there's the rub; | ||||
For in that sale we may regret its loss And would as lief retain the penury The book hath brought us. And as we shuffle off this mortal coil, May give us pause and time to brood - P'raps we should have let it go more cheaply To those with richer pockets. | ||||
Mayhap it would be best to bear The saleroom's scorn, thy colleagues' ridicule And endure the pangs of obvious treasure missed, And seek out instead the bounty of the Undiscovered sleeper, which renown Perforce we cannot share. 'Tis a dilemma devoutly to be wish'd: To buy for pittance and sell at retail plus Yet keep thy counsel close, and thereby Ease the grunt and sweat of weary life. | ||||
Thus knowledge doth make money for us all, And when unto that undiscovered country We repair, from which no bookseller doth return, 'Twill be a compliment to have it said Not that conscience did of him a coward make, But obscure points hard-learn'd, did him well repay. But soft you now! The auction doth begin ... |
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Last updated: 10/05/17
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