That was wonderful. Spike just taking the bull by the horns and ripping open that box was vivid and amusing, and his reverent response to the books enclosed was lovely. Spike and Giles explaining the poem to Dawn brought parallels with the loss of Buffy to the fore. I love how this dovetails into Spike's every night I save you speech: This bloke, he can’t sleep, you see. His head’s full of ideas. What he could have done, what he should have done. He’s lost this bird, y’see, and he just can’t get over it.

Spike having been acquainted with John Gower is an entertaining bit of his history and I wonder if Giles was about to lament the loss of the vampire.

Thanks for this vivid interlude. Spike's lead a long, interesting unlife.