第4章

Ruskin\'s。Hehadthe\'OdetoDespair\'ofSmith（nowacomicwriter），andthe\'LoveLyrics\'ofBrown，whoisnowapermanentunder-secretary，thanwhichnothingcanbelessgaynormorepermanent。HehadtheamatorysongswhichadignitaryoftheChurchpublishedandwithdrewfromcirculation。Blintonwaswonttosayheexpectedtocomeacross\'TrioletsofaTribune，\'byMr。JohnBright，and\'OriginalHymnsforInfantMinds，\'byMr。HenryLabouchere，ifheonlyhuntedlongenough。

OnthedayofwhichIspeakhehadsecuredavolumeoflove-poemswhichtheauthorhaddonehisbesttodestroy，andhehadgonetohisclubandreadallthefunniestpassagesaloudtofriendsoftheauthor，whowasontheclubcommittee。Ah，wasthisakindaction？

Inshort，Blintonhadfilledupthecupofhisiniquities，andnobodywillbesurprisedtohearthathemettheappropriatepunishmentofhisoffence。Blintonhadpassed，onthewhole，ahappyday，notwithstandingtheerrorabouttheElzevir。Hedinedwellathisclub，wenthome，sleptwell，andstartednextmorningforhisofficeintheCity，walking，asusual，andintendingtopursuethepleasuresofthechaseatallthebook-stalls。Attheveryfirst，intheBromptonRoad，hesawamanturningovertherubbishinthecheapbox。Blintonstaredathim，fanciedheknewhim，thoughthedidn\'t，andthenbecameapreytotheglitteringeyeoftheother。TheStranger，whoworetheconventionalcloakandslouchedsofthatofStrangers，wasapparentlyanaccomplishedmesmerist，orthought-reader，oradept，oresotericBuddhist。HeresembledMr。Isaacs，Zanoni（inthenovelofthatname），Mendoza（in\'Codlingsby\'），thesoul-lessmanin\'AStrangeStory，\'Mr。Home，Mr。IrvingBishop，aBuddhistadeptintheastralbody，andmostothermysteriouscharactersofhistoryandfiction。BeforehisAwfulWill，Blinton\'smeremodernobstinacyshrankbacklikeachildabashed。TheStrangerglidedtohimandwhispered，"Buythese。"

"These"wereacompletesetofAuerbach\'snovels，inEnglish，which，Ineednotsay，Blintonwouldneverhavedreamtofpurchasinghadhebeenlefttohisowndevices。

"Buythese！"repeatedtheAdept，orwhateverhewas，inacruelwhisper。Payingthesumdemanded，andtrailinghisvastloadofGermanromance，poorBlintonfollowedthefiend。

Theyreachedastallwhere，amongstmuchtrash，Glatigny\'s\'Jourdel\'And\'unVagabond\'wasexposed。

"Look，"saidBlinton，"thereisabookIhavewantedsometime。

Glatignysaregettingratherscarce，anditisanamusingtrifle。"

"Nay，buyTHAT，"saidtheimplacableStranger，pointingwithahookedforefingeratAlison\'s\'HistoryofEurope\'inanindefinitenumberofvolumes。Blintonshuddered。

"What，buyTHAT，andwhy？Inheaven\'sname，whatcouldIdowithit？"

"Buyit，"repeatedthepersecutor，"andTHAT"（indicatingthe\'Ilios\'ofDr。Schliemann，abulkywork），"andTHESE"（pointingtoallMr。TheodoreAloisBuckley\'stranslationsoftheClassics），"andTHESE"（glancingatthecollectedwritingsofthelateMr。HainFriswell，andata\'Life，\'inmorethanonevolume，ofMr。

Gladstone）。

ThemiserableBlintonpaid，andtrudgedalongcarryingthebargainsunderhisarm。Nowonebookfellout，nowanotherdroppedbytheway。SometimesaportionofAlisoncameponderouslytoearth；

sometimesthe\'GentleLife\'sunkresignedlytotheground。TheAdeptkeptpickingthemupagain，andpackingthemunderthearmsofthewearyBlinton。

Thevictimnowattemptedtoputonanairofgeniality，andtriedtoenterintoconversationwithhistormentor。

"HeDOESknowaboutbooks，"thoughtBlinton，"andhemusthaveaweakspotsomewhere。"

Sothewretchedamateurmadeplayinhisbestconversationalstyle。

Hetalkedofbindings，ofMaioli，ofGrolier，ofDeThou，ofDerome，ofClovisEve，ofRogerPayne，ofTrautz，andekeofBauzonnet。Hediscoursedoffirsteditions，ofblackletter，andevenofillustrationsandvignettes。HeapproachedthetopicofBibles，butherehistyrant，withafierceyettimidglance，interruptedhim。

"Buythose！"hehissedthroughhisteeth。

"Those"werethecompletepublicationsoftheFolkLoreSociety。

Blintondidnotcareforfolklore（verybadmenneverdo），buthehadtoactashewastold。

Then，withoutpauseorremorse，hewaschargedtoacquirethe\'Ethics\'ofAristotle，intheagreeableversionsofWilliamsandChase。Nexthesecured\'Strathmore，\'\'Chandos，\'\'UnderTwoFlags，\'

and\'TwoLittleWoodenShoes，\'andseveraldozensmoreofOuida\'snovels。Thenextstallwasentirelyfilledwithschool-books，oldgeographies，Livys，Delectuses，Arnold\'s\'GreekExercises，\'

Ollendorffs，andwhatnot。

"Buythemall，"hissedthefiend。HeseizedwholeboxesandpiledthemonBlinton\'shead。

HetiedupOuida\'snovels，intwoparcels，withstring，andfastenedeachtooneofthebuttonsabovethetailsofBlinton\'scoat。

"Youaretired？"askedthetormentor。"Nevermind，thesebookswillsoonbeoffyourhands。"

Sospeaking，theStranger，withamazingspeed，hurriedBlintonbackthroughHolywellStreet，alongtheStrand，anduptoPiccadilly，stoppingatlastatthedoorofBlinton\'sfamousandveryexpensivebinder。

Thebinderopenedhiseyes，aswellhemight，atthevisionofBlinton\'streasures。ThenthemiserableBlintonfoundhimself，asitwereautomaticallyandwithoutanyexerciseofhiswill，speakingthus：-

"HerearesomethingsIhavepickedup，——extremelyrare，——andyouwillobligemebybindingtheminyourbestmanner，regardlessofexpense。Morocco，ofcourse；crushedlevantmorocco，double，everybookofthem，petitsfers，mycrestandcoatofarms，plentyofgilding。Sparenocost。Don\'tkeepmewaiting，asyougenerallydo；"forindeedbook-bindersarethemostdilatoryofthehumanspecies。

Beforetheastonishedbindercouldaskthemostnecessaryquestions，Blinton\'stormentorhadhurriedthatamateuroutoftheroom。

"Comeontothesale，"hecried。

"Whatsale？"saidBlinton。

"Why，theBeckfordsale；itisthethirteenthday，aluckyday。"

"ButIhaveforgottenmycatalogue。"

"Whereisit？"

"Inthethirdshelffromthetop，ontheright-handsideoftheebonybook-caseathome。"

Thestrangerstretchedouthisarm，whichswiftlyelongateditselftillthehanddisappearedfromviewroundthecorner。Inamomentthehandreturnedwiththecatalogue。ThepairspedontoMessrs。

Sotheby\'sauction-roomsinWellingtonStreet。Everyoneknowstheappearanceofagreatbook-sale。Thelongtable，surroundedbyeagerbidders，resemblesfromalittledistancearoulettetable，andcommunicatesthesamesortofexcitement。Theamateurisatalosstoknowhowtoconducthimself。Ifhebidsinhisownpersonsomebooksellerwilloutbidhim，partlybecausethebooksellerknows，afterall，heknowslittleaboutbooks，andsuspectsthattheamateurmay，inthiscase，knowmore。Besides，professionalsalwaysdislikeamateurs，and，inthisgame，theyhaveaverygreatadvantage。Blintonknewallthis，andwasinthehabitofgivinghiscommissionstoabroker。Butnowhefelt（andverynaturally）

asifademonhadenteredintohim。\'TiranteilBiancoValorosissimoCavaliere\'wasbeingcompetedfor，anexcessivelyrareromanceofchivalry，inmagnificentredVenetianmorocco，fromCanevari\'slibrary。ThebookisoneoftherarestoftheVenetianPress，andbeautifullyadornedwithCanevari\'sdevice，——asimpleandelegantaffairingoldandcolours。"Apolloisdrivinghischariotacrossthegreenwavestowardstherock，onwhichwingedPegasusispawingtheground，"thoughwhythisactionofahorseshouldbecalled"pawing"（theanimalnotoriouslynotpossessingpaws）itishardtosay。Roundthisgracefuldesignistheinscription[Greektext]（straightnotcrooked）。InhisordinarymoodBlintoncouldonlyhaveadmired\'TiranteilBianco\'fromadistance。Butnow，thedemoninspiringhim，herushedintothelists，andchallengedthegreatMr-，theNapoleonofbookselling。Thepricehadalreadyreachedfivehundredpounds。

"Sixhundred，"criedBlinton。

"Guineas，"saidthegreatMr。

"Sevenhundred，"screamedBlinton。

"Guineas，"repliedtheother。

ThisarithmeticaldialoguewentontillevenMr。——struckhisflag，withasigh，whenthemaddenedBlintonhadsaid"Sixthousand。"Thecheersoftheaudiencerewardedthelargestbidevermadeforanybook。Asifhehadnotdoneenough，theStrangernowimpelledBlintontocontendwithMr。——foreveryexpensiveworkthatappeared。TheaudiencenaturallyfanciedthatBlintonwasintheearlierstageofsofteningofthebrain，whenamanconceiveshimselftohaveinheritedboundlesswealth，andisdeterminedtoliveuptoit。Thehammerfellforthelasttime。Blintonowedsomefiftythousandpounds，andexclaimedaudibly，astheinfluenceofthefienddiedout，"Iamaruinedman。"

"Thenyourbooksmustbesold，"criedtheStranger，and，leapingonachair，headdressedtheaudience：-

"Gentlemen，IinviteyoutoMr。Blinton\'ssale，whichwillimmediatelytakeplace。ThecollectioncontainssomeveryremarkableearlyEnglishpoets，manyfirsteditionsoftheFrenchclassics，mostoftherarerAldines，andasingularassortmentofAmericana。"

Inamoment，asifbymagic，theshelvesroundtheroomwerefilledwithBlinton\'sbooks，alltiedupinbiglotsofsomethirtyvolumeseach。HisearlyMoliereswerefastenedtooldFrenchdictionariesandschool-books。HisShakespearequartoswereinthesamelotwithtatteredrailwaynovels。Hiscopy（almostunique）ofRichardBarnfield\'smuchtoo\'AffectionateShepheard\'wascoupledwithoddvolumesof\'ChipsfromaGermanWorkshop\'andacheap，imperfectexampleof\'TomBrown\'sSchool-Days。\'Hookes\'s\'Amanda\'wasatthebottomofalotofAmericandevotionalworks，whereitkeptcompanywithanElzevirTacitusandtheAldine\'Hypnerotomachia。\'Theauctioneerputuplotafterlot，andBlintonplainlysawthatthewholeaffairwasa"knock-out。"Hismosttreasuredspoilswerepartedwithatthepriceofwastepaper。Itisanawfulthingtobepresentatone\'sownsale。Nomanwouldbidaboveafewshillings。

WelldidBlintonknowthataftertheknock-outtheplunderwouldbesharedamongthegrinningbidders。Atlasthis\'Adonais，\'uncut，boundbyLortic，went，incompanywithsomeold\'Bradshaws，\'the\'CourtGuide\'of1881，andanoddvolumeofthe\'SundayatHome，\'

forsixpence。TheStrangersmiledasmileofpeculiarmalignity。

Blintonleapeduptoprotest；theroomseemedtoshakearoundhim，butwordswouldnotcometohislips。

Thenheheardafamiliarvoiceobserve，asafamiliargraspshookhisshoulder，——

"Tom，Tom，whatanightmareyouareenjoying！"

Hewasinhisownarm-chair，wherehehadfallenasleepafterdinner，andMrs。Blintonwasdoingherbesttoarousehimfromhisawfulvision。Besidehimlay\'L\'EnferduBibliophile，vuetdecritparCharlesAsselineau。\'（Paris：Tardieu，MDCCCLX。）

Ifthiswereanordinarytract，IshouldhavetotellhowBlinton\'seyeswereopened，howhegaveupbook-collecting，andtooktogardening，orpolitics，orsomethingofthatsort。ButtruthcompelsmetoadmitthatBlinton\'srepentancehadvanishedbytheendoftheweek，whenhewasdiscoveredmarkingM。Claudin\'scatalogue，surreptitiously，beforebreakfast。Thus，indeed，endallourremorses。"Lancelotfallstohisownloveagain，"asintheromance。Much，andjustly，astheologiansdecryadeath-bedrepentance，itis，perhaps，theonlyrepentancethatwedonotrepentof。Allothersleaveusready，whenoccasioncomes，tofalltoouroldloveagain；andmaythatloveneverbeworsethanthetasteforoldbooks！Onceacollector，alwaysacollector。Moiquiparle，Ihavesinned，andstruggled，andfallen。Ihavethrowncatalogues，unopened，intothewaste-paperbasket。IhavewithheldmyfeetfromthepathsthatleadtoSotheby\'sandtoPuttick\'s。I

havecrossedthestreettoavoidabook-stall。Infact，liketheprophetNicholas，"Ihavebeenknowntobesteadyforweeksatatime。"Andthenthefatalmomentoftemptationhasarrived，andI

havesuccumbedtothesoftseductionsofEisen，orCochin，oranoldbookonAngling。ProbablyGrolierwasthinkingofsuchweaknesseswhenhechosehisdevicesTanquamVentus，andquisquesuospatimurManes。Likethewindweareblownabout，and，likethepeopleintheAEneid，weareobligedtosuffertheconsequencesofourownextravagance。

BALLADEOFTHEUNATTAINABLE

TheBooksIcannothopetobuy，Theirphantomsroundmewaltzandwheel，Theypassbeforethedreamingeye，EreSleepthedreamingeyecanseal。

AkindofliteraryreelTheydance；howfairthebindingsshine！

ProsecannottellthemwhatIfeel，——

TheBooksthatnevercanbemine！

TherefriskEditionsrareandshy，Moroccocladfromheadtoheel；

Shakspearianquartos；ComedyAsfirstsheflashedfromRichardSteele；

AndquaintDeFoeonMrs。Veal；

And，lordoflandingnetandline，OldIzaakwithhisfishingcreel，——

TheBooksthatnevercanbemine！

Incunables！foryouIsigh，Blackletter，atthyfountsIkneel，OldtalesofPerrault\'snursery，ForyouI\'dgowithoutameal！

ForBookswhereindidAldusdealAndrareGalliotduPreIpine。

ThewatchesofthenightrevealTheBooksthatnevercanbemine！

ENVOY。

Prince，bearahopelessBard\'sappeal；

ReversetherulesofMineandThine；

MakeitlegitimatetostealTheBooksthatnevercanbemine！

LADYBOOK-LOVERS

ThebiographerofMrs。AphraBehnrefutesthevulgarerrorthat"aDutchmancannotlove。"Whetherornotaladycanlovebooksisaquestionthatmaynotbesoreadilysettled。Mr。ErnestQuentinBaucharthascontributedtothediscussionofthisproblembypublishingabibliography，intwoquartovolumes，ofbookswhichhavebeeninthelibrariesoffamousbeautiesofold，queensandprincessesofFrance。Therecanbenodoubtthattheseladieswerepossessorsofexquisiteprintedbooksandmanuscriptswonderfullybound，butitremainsuncertainwhethertheowners，asarule，werebibliophiles；whethertheirheartswerewiththeirtreasures。

Incredibleasitmayseemtousnow，literaturewashighlyrespectedinthepast，andwasevenfashionable。Poetswereinfavouratcourt，andFashiondecidedthatthegreatmustpossessbooks，andnotonlybooks，butbooksproducedintheutmostperfectionofart，andboundwithalltheskillatthedisposalofClovisEve，andPadeloup，andDuseuil。Therefore，asFashiongavehercommands，wecannothastilyaffirmthattheladieswhoobeyedwerereallybook-

lovers。Inourmorepoliteage，Fashionhasdecreedthatladiesshallsmoke，andbet，andromp，butitwouldbeprematuretoassertthatallladieswhodotheirdutyinthesemattersarebornromps，orhaveanunaffectedlikingforcigarettes。History，however，maintainsthatmanyoftherenowneddameswhosebooksarenowthemosttreasuredofliteraryrelicswereactuallyinclinedtostudyaswellastopleasure，likeMargueritedeValoisandtheComtessedeVerrue，andevenMadamedePompadour。Probablybooksandartsweremoretothislady\'slikingthanthediversionsbywhichshebeguiledthetediumofLouisXV。；andmanyatimeshewouldratherhavebeenquietwithherplaysandnovelsthanengagedinconscientiouslyconductedbutdistastefulrevels。

LikeatrueFrenchman，M。BaucharthasonlywrittenaboutFrenchladybook-lovers，oraboutwomenwho，likeMaryStuart，weremorethanhalfFrench。NorwoulditbeeasyforanEnglishauthortoname，outsidetheranksofcrownedheads，likeElizabeth，anyEnglishwomenofdistinctionwhohadapassionforthematerialsideofliterature，forbinding，andfirsteditions，andlargepaper，andengravingsinearly"states。"Thepracticalsex，whenstudious，islikethesamesexwhenfondofequestrianexercise。"Aladysays，\'Myheyes，he\'san\'orse，andhemustgo，\'"accordingtoLeech\'sgroom。Inthesameway，astudiousgirlormatronsays，"Thisisabook，"andreadsit，ifreadshedoes，withoutcaringaboutthedate，orthestate，orthepublisher\'sname，orevenveryoftenabouttheauthor\'s。Iremember，beforethepublicationofanovelnowcelebrated，seeingaprivatelyprintedvellum-boundcopyonlargepaperinthehandsofaliterarylady。Shewasholdingitoverthefire，andhadalreadymadethevellumcoverscurlwideopenliketheshellsofanafflictedoyster。

WhenIaskedwhatthevolumewas，sheexplainedthat"Itisabookwhichapoormanhaswritten，andhe\'shaditprintedtoseewhethersomeonewon\'tbekindenoughtopublishit。"Iventured，perhapspedantically，topointoutthatthepoormancouldnotbesoverypoor，orhewouldnothavemadesocostlyanexperimentonDutchpaper。Buttheladysaidshedidnotknowhowthatmightbe，andshewentontoastingtheexperiment。Inallthisthereisafinecontemptforeverythingbutthespiritualaspectofliterature；

thereisanaversiontothemerecoquetryanddisplayofmoroccoandredletters，andthetoyswhichamusethemindsofmen。Whereladieshavecaught"theBibliomania，"Ifancytheyhavetakenthisprettyfeverfromtheothersex。Butitmustbeownedthatthebookstheyhavepossessed，beingrarerandmoreromantic，areevenmorehighlyprizedbyamateursthanexamplesfromthelibrariesofGrolier，andLongepierre，andD\'Hoym。M。Bauchart\'sbookisacompleteguidetothecollectoroftheseexpensiverelics。HebeginshisdreamoffairwomenwhohaveownedbookswiththepearloftheValois，Marguerited\'Angouleme，thesisterofFrancisI。Theremainsofherlibraryarechieflydevotionalmanuscripts。Indeed，itistobenotedthatalltheseladies，howeverfrivolous，possessedthemostdevoutandpiousbooks，andwholecollectionsofprayerscopiedoutbythepen，anddecoratedwithminiatures。

Marguerite\'slibrarywasboundinmorocco，stampedwithacrownedM

ininterlacssownwithdaisies，or，atleast，withconventionalflowerswhichmayhavebeenmeantfordaisies。Ifonecouldchoose，perhapsthemostdesirableofthespecimensextantis\'LePremierLivreduPrincedesPoetes，Homere，\'inSalel\'stranslation。ForthistranslationRonsardwritesaprologue，addressedtothemanesofSalel，inwhichhecomplainsthatheisridiculedforhispoetry。

HedrawsacharacteristicpictureofHomerandSalelinElysium，amongthelearnedlovers：

quiparmilesfleursdevisentAugirondeleurdame。

Marguerite\'smanuscriptcopyoftheFirstBookoftheIliadisasmallquarto，adornedwithdaisies，fleursde-lis，andthecrownedM。ItisintheDucd\'Aumale\'scollectionatChantilly。ThebooksofDianedePoitiersaremorenumerousandmorefamous。Whenfirstawidowshestampedhervolumeswithalaurelspringingfromatomb，andthemotto，"Solavivitinillo。"ButwhensheconsoledherselfwithHenriII。shesuppressedthetomb，andmadethemottomeaningless。Hercrescentshonenotonlyonherbooks，butonthepalacewallsofFrance，intheLouvre，Fontainebleau，andAnet，andherinitialD。isinextricablyinterlacedwiththeH。ofherroyallover。Indeed，HenriaddedtheDtohisowncypher，andthismusthavebeensoembarrassingforhiswifeCatherine，thatpeoplehavegood-naturedlytriedtoreadthecurvesoftheD\'sasC\'s。TheD\'s，andthecrescents，andthebowsofhisDianaareimpressedevenonthecoversofHenri\'sBookofHours。Catherine\'sowncypherisadoubleCenlacedwithanH，ordoubleK\'s（Katherine）combinedinthesamemanner。These，unliketheD。H。，aresurmountedwithacrown——theoneadvantagewhichthewifepossessedoverthefavourite。AmongDiane\'sbooksarevarioustreatisesonmedicinesandonsurgery，andplentyofpoetryandItaliannovels。AmongthebooksexhibitedattheBritishMuseuminglasscasesisDiane\'scopyofBembo\'s\'HistoryofVenice。\'AnAmericancollector，Mr。Barlow，ofNewYork，ishappyenoughtopossessher\'SingularitezdelaFranceAntarctique\'（Antwerp，1558）。

CatherinedeMedicisgotsplendidbooksonthesametermsasforeignpiratesprocureEnglishnovels——shestolethem。TheMarshalStrozzi，dyingintheFrenchservice，leftanoblecollection，onwhichCatherinelaidherhands。BrantomesaysthatStrozzi\'ssonoftenexpressedtohimacandidopinionaboutthistransaction。

WhatwithherowncollectionandwhatwiththeMarshal\'s，Catherinepossessedaboutfourthousandvolumes。Onherdeaththeywereinperilofbeingseizedbyhercreditors，butheralmonercarriedthemtohisownhouse，andDeThouhadthemplacedintheroyallibrary。

UnluckilyitwasthoughtwisertostripthebooksofthecoatswithCatherine\'scompromisingdevice，lesthercreditorsshouldsinglethemout，andtakethemawayintheirpockets。Hence，bookswithherarmsandcypherareexceedinglyrare。AtthesaleofthecollectionsoftheDuchessedeBerry，aBookofHoursofCatherine\'swassoldfor2，400pounds。

MaryStuartofScotlandwasoneoftheladybook-loverswhosetastewasmorethanamerefollowingofthefashion。Someofherbooks，likeoneofMarieAntoinette\'s，werethecompanionsofhercaptivity，andstillbearthesadcomplaintswhichsheentrustedtotheselastfriendsoffallenroyalty。Hernote-book，inwhichshewroteherLatinproseexerciseswhenagirl，stillsurvives，boundinredmorocco，withthearmsofFrance。InaBookofHours，nowthepropertyoftheCzar，maybepartlydecipheredthequatrainswhichshecomposedinhersorrowfulyears，butmanyofthemaremutilatedbythebinder\'sshears。TheQueenusedthevolumeasakindofalbum：itcontainsthesignaturesofthe"CountessofSchrewsbury"（asM。Baucharthasit），ofWalsingham，oftheEarlofSussex，andofCharlesHoward，EarlofNottingham。Thereisalsothesignature，"Yourmostinfortunat，ARBELLASEYMOUR；"and"Fr。

Bacon。"

ThisremarkablemanuscriptwaspurchasedinParis，duringtheRevolution，byPeterDubrowsky，whocarriedittoRussia。AnotherBookofHoursoftheQueen\'sbearsthisinscription，inasixteenth-

centuryhand："CesontlesHeuresdeMarieSetuartRenne。

MargueritedeBlacuoddeRosay。"InDeBlacuoditisnotveryeasytorecognise"Blackwood。"MargueritewasprobablythedaughterofAdamBlackwood，whowroteavolumeonMaryStuart\'ssufferings（Edinburgh，1587）。

ThefamousMargueritedeValois，thewifeofHenriIV。，hadcertainlyanoblelibrary，andmanybeautifullyboundbooksstampedwithdaisiesareattributedtohercollections。Theybearthemotto，"Expectatanoneludet，"whichappearstorefer，firsttothedaisy（"Margarita"），whichispunctualinthespring，orratheris"theconstellatedflowerthatneversets，"andnext，tothelady，whowill"keeptryst。"ButistheladyMargueritedeValois？

ThoughthebookshavebeensoldatveryhighpricesasrelicsofthelemanofLaMole，itseemsimpossibletodemonstratethattheywereeveronhershelves，thattheywereboundbyClovisEvefromherowndesign。"Nomentionismadeoftheminanycontemporarydocument，andthejudiciousarereducedtoconjectures。"Yettheyformamostimportantcollection，systematicallybound，scienceandphilosophyincitronmorocco，thepoetsingreen，andhistoryandtheologyinred。Inanycaseitisabsurdtoexplain"Expectatanoneludet"asareferencetothelilyoftheroyalarms，whichappearsonthecentreofthedaisy-piedvolumes。Themotto，inthatcase，wouldrun，"Expectata（lilia）noneludent。"Asitstands，thefeminineadjective，"expectata，"inthesingular，mustapplyeithertotheladywhoownedthevolumes，ortothe"Margarita，"heremblem，ortoboth。YettheungrammaticalrenderingisthatwhichM。Bauchartsuggests。Manyofthebooks，Marguerite\'sornot，weresoldatpricesover100poundsinLondon，in1884and1883。TheMacrobius，andTheocritus，andHomerareintheCracherodecollectionattheBritishMuseum。ThedaisycrownedRonsardwentfor430poundsattheBeckfordsale。Thesepriceswillprobablyneverbereachedagain。

IfAnneofAustria，themotherofLouisXIV。，wasabibliophile，shemaybesuspectedofactingonthemotive，"Loveme，lovemybooks。"

AboutheraffectionforCardinalMazarinthereseemstobenodoubt：

theCardinalhadafamouslibrary，andhisroyalfriendprobablyimitatedhistastes。Inhertime，andonhervolumes，theoriginalityandtasteoftheskilledbinder，LeGascon，begintodeclarethemselves。Thefashionablepassionforlace，towhichLaFontainemadesuchsacrifices，affectedtheartofbookdecorations，andLeGascon\'sbeautifulpatternsofgoldpointsanddotsarecopiesoftheproductionsofVenice。TheQueen-Mother\'sbooksincludemanydevotionaltreatises，for，whateverotherfashionsmightcomeandgo，pietywasalwaysconstantbeforetheRevolution。

AnneofAustriaseemstohavebeenparticularlyfondofthelivesandworksofSaintTheresa，andSaintFrancoisdeSales，andJohnoftheCross。ButshewasnotunreadintheoldFrenchpoets，suchasCoquillart；shecondescendedtoAriosto；shehadthatdubiouscharacter，TheophiledeViaud，beautifullybound；sheownedtheRabelaisof1553；and，whatisparticularlyinteresting，M。deLignerollespossesseshercopyof\'L\'EscholedesFemmes，ComedieparJ。B。P。Moliere。Paris：GuillaumedeLuynes，1663。\'In12

[degreesign]，redmorocco，giltedges，andtheQueen\'sarmsonthecovers。Thisrelicisespeciallyvaluablewhenwerememberthat\'L\'EcoledesFemmes\'andArnolphe\'ssermontoAgnes，andhiscomicthreatsoffuturepunishmentfirstmadeenvytaketheformofreligiouspersecution。ThedevoutQueen-MotherwasoftenappealedtobytheenemiesofMoliere，yetAnneofAustriahadnotonlyseenhiscomedy，butpossessedthisbeautifulexampleofthefirstedition。M。PaulLacroixsupposesthatthiscopywasofferedtotheQueen-MotherbyMolierehimself。Thefrontispiece（ArnolphepreachingtoAgnes）isthoughttobeaportraitofMoliere，butinthereproductioninM。LouisLacour\'seditionitisnoteasytoseeanyresemblance。ApparentlyAnnedidnotsharetheviews，eveninherlateryears，oftheconvertedPrincedeConty，forseveralcomediesandnovelsremainstampedwithherarmsanddevice。

ThelearnedMarquisedeRambouillet，theparentofallthe\'Precieuses，\'musthaveownedagoodlibrary，butnothingischronicledsavehercelebratedbookofprayersandmeditations，writtenoutanddecoratedbyJarry。Itisboundinredmorocco，doublewithgreen，andcoveredwithV\'singold。TheMarquisecomposedtheprayersforherownuse，andJarrywassomuchstruckwiththeirbeautythatheaskedleavetointroducethemintotheBookofHourswhichhehadtocopy，"fortheprayersareoftensosilly，"saidhe，"thatIamashamedtowritethemout。"

HereisanexampleofthedevotionswhichJarryadmired，aprayertoSaintLouis。Itwaspublishedin\'MiscellaniesBibliographiques\'byM。ProsperBlanchemain。

PRIEREASAINT-LOUIS，ROYDEFRANCE。

GrandRoy，bienquevotrecouronneaytestedesplusesclatantesdelaTerre，cellequevousportezdanslecielestincomparablementplusprecieuse。L\'uneestoitperissablel\'autreestimmortelleetceslysdontlablancheursepouvoitternir，sontmaintenantincorruptibles。Vostreobeissanceenversvostremere；vostrejusticeenversvossujets；etvosguerrescontrelesinfideles，vousontacquislavenerationdetouslespeuples；etlaFrancedoitavostravauxetavostrepietel\'inestimabletresordelasanglanteetglorieusecouronneduSauveurdumonde。Priez-leincomparableSaintqu\'ildonneunepaixperpetuelleauRoyaumedontvousavezportelesceptre；qu\'illepreserved\'heresie；qu\'ilyfacetoujoursregnersaintementvostreillustreSang；etquetousceuxquiontl\'honneurd\'endescendresoientpourjamaisfidelesasonEglise。

ThedaughteroftheMarquise，thefairJulie，heroineofthat"longcourting"byM。deMontausier，survivesinthoserecordsasthepossessorof\'LaGuirlandedeJulie，\'themanuscriptbookofpoemsbyeminenthands。ButthismanuscriptseemstohavebeenallthelibraryofJulie；thereinshecouldconstantlyreadofherownperfections。Tobesureshehadalso\'L\'HistoiredeGustaveAdolphe，\'aheroforwhom，likeMajorDugaldDalgetty，shecherishedasupremedevotion。Inthe\'Guirlande\'Chapelain\'sversesturnonthepleasingfancythattheProtestantLionoftheNorth，changedintoaflower（likePaulLimayracinM。Banville\'sode），requestsJulietotakepityonhisalteredestate：

Soispitoyableamalangueur；

Etsijen\'ayplaceentoncoeurQuejel\'ayeaumoinssurtateste。

Theseverseswerereckonedconsummate。

The\'Guirlande\'isstill，withhappierfatethanattendsmostbooks，inthehandsofthesuccessorsoftheDucandDuchessedeMontausier。

LikeJulie，MadamedeMaintenonwasaprecieuse，butsheneverhadtimetoformaregularlibrary。Herbooks，however，wereboundbyDuseuil，abinderimmortalintheverseofPope；oritmightbemorecorrecttosaythatMadamedeMaintenon\'sownbooksareseldomdistinguishablefromthoseofherfavouritefoundation，St。Cyr。

Themostinterestingisacopyofthefirsteditionof\'Esther，\'inquarto（1689），boundinredmorocco，andbearing，inRacine\'shand，\'AMadamelaMarquisedeMaintenon，offertavecrespect，——RACINE。"

DoubtlessRacinehadthebookboundbeforehepresentedit。"Peoplearediscontented，"writeshissonLouis，"ifyouofferthemabookinasimplemarbledpapercover。"Icouldwishthatthisworthycustomwererestored，forthesakeoftheartofbinding，andalsobecauseamateurpoetswouldbemorecharyoftheirpresentationcopies。Itis，nodoubt，wisetoturnthesegiftswiththeirsidesagainsttheinnerwallsofbookcases，tobebulwarksagainstthedamp，butthetroubleofacknowledgingworthlesspresentsfromstrangersisconsiderable。{20}

AnotherinterestingexampleofMadamedeMaintenon\'scollectionsisDacier\'s\'RemarquesCritiquessurlesOEuvresd\'Horace，\'bearingthearmsofLouisXIV。，butwithhiswife\'ssignatureonthefly-leaf（1681）。

OfMadamedeMontespan，oustedfromtheroyalfavourbyMadamedeMaintenon，who"marriedintothefamilywhereshehadbeengoverness，"theresurvivesonebookishrelicofinterest。Thisis\'OEuvresDiversesparunauteurdeseptans，\'inquarto，redmorocco，printedonvellum，andwiththearmsofthemotherofthelittleDucduMaine（1678）。WhenMadamedeMaintenonwasstillplayingmothertothechildrenofthekingandofMadamedeMontespan，sheprintedthose"works"ofhereldestpupil。

Theseladieswereonlybibliophilesbyaccident，andweredevoted，inthefirstplace，topleasure，piety，orambition。WiththeComtessedeVerrue，whoseepitaphwillbefoundonanearlierpage，wecometoagenuineandevenfanaticalcollector。MadamedeVerrue（1670-1736）goteverykindofdiversionoutoflife，andwhensheceasedtobeyoungandfair，sheturnedtothejoysof"shopping。"

Inearlyyears，"pleinedecoeur，elleledonnasanscomptes。"Inlaterlife，shepurchased，orobtainedoncredit，everythingthatcaughtherfancy，alsosanscomptes。"Myaunt，"saystheDucdeLuynes，"wasalwaysbuying，andneverbaulkedherfancy。"Pictures，books，coins，jewels，engravings，gems（over8，000），tapestries，andfurniturewereallalikeprecioustoMadamedeVerrue。Hersnuff-

boxesdefiedcomputation；shehadthemingold，intortoise-shell，inporcelain，inlacquer，andinjasper，andsheenjoyedthedelicatefragranceofsixtydifferentsortsofsnuff。Withoutapplaudingthesmokingofcigarettesindrawing-rooms，wemayadmitthatitislessrepulsivethansteadyapplicationstotobaccoinMadamedeVerrue\'sfavouritemanner。

TheCountesshadanoblelibrary，foroldtastessurvivedinhercommodiousheart，andnewtastessheanticipated。Shepossessed\'TheRomanceoftheRose，\'and\'Villon，\'ineditionsofGalliotduPre（1529-1533）undeterredbythesatireofBoileau。Shehadexamplesofthe\'Pleiade，\'thoughtheywerenotagainadmiredinFrancetill1830。Shewasalsointhemostmodernfashionofto-

day，forshehadthebeautifulquartoofLaFontaine\'s\'Contes，\'andBouchier\'sillustratedMoliere（largepaper）。And，whatIenvyhermore，shehadPerrault\'s\'FairyTales，\'inbluemorocco——theblueroseofthefolkloristwhoisalsoabook-hunter。ItmustalsobeconfessedthatMadamedeVerruehadalargenumberofbookssuchasareusuallykeptunderlockandkey，bookswhichherheirsdidnotcaretoexposeatthesaleofherlibrary。OnceImyself（moichetif）ownedanovelinbluemorocco，whichhadbeeninthecollectionofMadamedeVerrue。Inheroldagethisexemplarywomaninventedapeculiarlycomfortablearm-chair，which，likehernovels，wascoveredwithcitronandvioletmorocco；thenailswereofsilver。IfMadamedeVerruehasmettheBaronessBernstein，theirconversationintheElysianFieldsmustbeofthemostgallantandinterestingdescription。

Anotherliteraryladyofpleasure，MadamedePompadour，canonlybespokenofwithmodifiedapproval。Hergreatfaultwasthatshedidnotcheckthedecadenceoftasteandsenseintheartofbookbinding。Inhertimecameinthehabitofbindingbooks（ifbindingitcanbecalled）withflatbacks，withoutthenervesandsinewsthatareoftheveryessenceofbook-covers。Withoutthesenobindingcanbepermanent，nonecansecurethelastingexistenceofavolume。ItisverydeeplytobedeploredthatbyfarthemostaccomplishedlivingEnglishartistinbookbindinghasrevertedtothisoldandmostdangerousheresy。Themostoriginalandgracefultoolingisofmuchlessrealvaluethanpermanence，andabookboundwithaflatback，withoutnerfs，mightpracticallyaswellnotbeboundatall。ThepracticewastheheraldoftheFrenchandmayopenthewayfortheEnglishRevolution。OfwhatavailweretheingeniousmosaicsofDerometostemthetideofchange，whenthebookswhosesidestheyadornedwerenotreallyBOUNDatall？MadamedePompadour\'sbookswereofallsorts，fromtheinevitableworksofdevotionstodevotionsofanothersort，andthe\'Hours\'ofErycinaRidens。Oneofhertreasureshadsingularfortunes，acopyof\'DaphnisandChloe，\'withtheRegent\'sillustrations，andthoseofCochinandEisen（Paris，quarto，1757，redmorocco）。Thecoversareadornedwithbillingandcooingdoves，withthearrowsofEros，withburninghearts，andsheepandshepherds。Eighteenyearsagothisvolumewasboughtfor10francsinavillageinHungary。A

booksellergave8poundsforitinParis。M。Bauchartpaidforit150pounds；andasithaslefthisshelves，probablyhetoomadenobadbargain。MadamedePompadour\'s\'ApologyforHerodotus\'（LaHaye，1735）hasalsoitslegend。ItbelongedtoM。Paillet，whocovetedaglorifiedcopyofthe\'PastissierFrancois，\'inM。

Bauchart\'scollection。MPailletswoppedit，withanumberofothers，forthe\'Pastissier：\'

J\'avais\'L\'ApologiePourHerodote，\'enreliureancienne，amourDelivreprovenantdechezlaPompadourIlmelesoutira！{21}

OfMarieAntoinette，withwhomourladybook-loversoftheoldregimemustclose，theresurvivemanybooks。ShehadalibraryintheTuileries，aswellasatlepetitTrianon。Ofallhergreatandvariedcollections，noneisnowsovaluedasherlittlebookofprayers，whichwasherconsolationintheworstofallherevildays，intheTempleandtheConciergerie。Thebookis\'OfficedelaDivineProvidence\'（Paris，1757，greenmorocco）。Onthefly-leaftheQueenwrote，somehoursbeforeherdeath，thesetouchinglines：

"Ce16Octobre，a4h。0。5dumatin。MonDieu！ayezpitiedemoi！

Mesyeuxn\'ontplusdelarmespourprierpourvous，mespauvresenfants。Adieu，adieu！——MARIEANTOINETTE。"

Therecanbenosadderrelicofagreatersorrow，andthelastconsolationoftheQueendidnotescapetheFrenchpopulargeniusforcrueltyandinsult。Thearmsonthecoversoftheprayer-bookhavebeencutoutbysomefanaticofEqualityandFraternity。

Footnotes：

{1}Seeillustrations，pp。114，115。——InthisProjectGutenbergeTextnoneoftheillustrationsareincluded。However，thereferencestothemareincluded。——DP

{2}"Slate"isaprofessionaltermforaseverecriticism。Clearlythewordisoriginally"slat，"anarrowboardofwood，withwhichapersonmightbebeaten。

{3}HistoiredesIntriguesAmoureusesdeMoliere，etdecellesdesafemme。（AlaSphere。）AFrancfort，chezFredericArnaud，MDCXCVII。ThisanonymoustracthasactuallybeenattributedtoRacine。ThecopyreferredtoismarkedwithalargeNinred，withaneagle\'shead。

{4}TheLadyoftheLake，1810。

TheLayoftheLastMinstrel，1806。

"ToMrs。RobertLaidlaw，Peel。FromtheAuthor。"

{5}DictysCretensis。ApudLambertumRoulland。Lut。Paris。，1680。Inredmorocco，withthearmsofColbert。

{6}L。AnnaeiSenecaeOperaOmnia。Lug。Bat。，apudElzevirios。

1649。Withbook-plateoftheDukeofSussex。

{7}StratonisEpigrammata。Altenburgi，1764。StratonboundupinonevolumewithEpictetus！FromtheBeckfordlibrary。

{8}OperaHeliiEobaniHessi。Yellowmorocco，withthefirstarmsofDeThou。Includesapoemaddressed"LANGE，decusmeum。"

Quantityofpenultimate"Eobanus"takenforgranted，metrigratia。

{9}LaJourneeduChretien。Coutances，1831。Withinscription，"LeonGambetta。RueSt。Honore。Janvier1，1848。"

{10}Villoison\'sHomer。Venice，1788。WithTessier\'sticketandSchlegel\'sbook-plate。

{11}LesEssaisdeMichel，SeigneurdeMontaigne。"PourFrancoisleFebvredeLyon，1695。"WithautographofGul。Drummond，andcipressoepalma。

{12}"ThelittleoldfoxedMoliere，"oncethepropertyofWilliamPott，unknowntofame。

{13}Thatthereeverweresucheditorsismuchdisputed。ThestorymaybeafictionoftheageofthePtolemies。

{14}Or，moreeasily，inMaury\'sReligionsdelaGrece。

{15}SeeEssayon\'LadyBook-Lovers。\'

{16}SeeEssayon\'LadyBook-Lovers。\'

{17}ForaspecimenofMadamePompadour\'sbindingseeoverleaf。

ShehadanotherRabelaisincalf，latelytobeseeninashopinPallMall。

{18}Mr。Paynedoesnotgivethedateoftheeditionfromwhichhecopiesthecut。Apparentlyitisofthefifteenthcentury。

{19}ReproducedinTheLibrary，p。94。

{20}Countrypapers，pleasecopy。Poetsatadistancewillkindlyacceptthisintimation。

{21}Bibliothequed\'unBibliophile。Lille，1885。