Poem by Christian Milne

To a Lady Who Said It Was Sinful to Read Novels

To love these books, and harmless tea,
Has always been my foible,
Yet will I ne’er forgetful be
To read my Psalms and Bible.

Travels I like, and history too,
Or entertaining fiction;
Novels and plays I’d have a few,
If sense and proper diction.

I love a natural harmless song,
But I cannot sing like Handel;
Deprived of such resource, the tongue
Is sure employed — in scandal.

1. Written in Early Spring, 1795
2. Song 6 (Loud beats the drum--to arms! to arms!)
3. On the Birth of a Child, a Few Days after the Death of a First
4. A Scotch Song
5. Written during a State of Illness

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