Part 1

THE BOOK-LOVERS'

ANTHOLOGY

THE BOOK-LOVERS' ANTHOLOGY

EDITED BY

R. M. LEONARD

'Here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange floures, and have put nothing of mine into it but the thred to binde them.'

MONTAIGNE (Florio's translation)

HENRY FROWDE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON, NEW YORK, TORONTO AND MELBOURNE

1911

OXFORD: HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

PREFACE

One of the most delightful of the _Last Essays of Elia_ is entitled 'Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading', a title which would serve very well to indicate the contents of this anthology. In bringing together into one volume the tributes and opinions of a galaxy of writers, my object has been the glorification of books as books, a book being regarded as a real and separate entity, and often as an end in itself. There is a wide circle to whom this collection should appeal, in addition to bibliomaniacs or mere collectors of first or rare editions to whom the contents are often anathema, for the love of books is not confined to scholars or great readers. This love is incommunicable: it comes, but happily seldom goes, as the wind which bloweth where it listeth; it is perfectly sincere, and knows nothing of conventions and sham admirations.

No greater lover of books has ever lived than that Englishman who was born at Bury St. Edmunds seven hundred and thirty years ago--Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, author of _Philobiblon_, and, as Lord Campbell said, undoubtedly the founder of the order of book-lovers in England. Centuries passed, and then the more modern worship of books was promoted by one of even higher station than this lord chancellor and lord high treasurer of England--by King James, whom sycophants and cynics called the British Solomon. The sixteenth century saw also the births of Bacon, Burton, and Florio, the inspired translator of Montaigne, and Ben Jonson, who all deserved well of the order. Milton, with prose and poetry, handed down the sacred fire in the seventeenth century, and his

soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart.

Dr. Johnson, nearly a hundred years later, filled a niche of his own, irreverent though he was to books except for their message. The latter half of the eighteenth century is especially memorable, for it synchronized with the early years of Southey, Lamb, and Leigh Hunt, the very temples of the spirit which I have sought to enshrine in these pages, and of Hazlitt, and of two who should be dear to librarians, Crabbe and John Foster. I should like to claim an honoured place in the nineteenth century for Bulwer Lytton, who, although he understood 'the merits of a spotless shirt', understood books also and appreciated them thoroughly; and for the Brownings, especially the author of _Aurora Leigh_. Emerson is conspicuous, not only as a book-lover, but also as a professor of books, and as a missionary in the sense that Carlyle and Ruskin preached the gospel of books. Many others deserve honourable mention, but I must pass on to some of those who adorn the present day. It would have been very pleasant to have seen Lord Morley, Mr. Frederic Harrison, Mr. Austin Dobson, Mr. Edmund Gosse, Mr. Andrew Lang, and Mr. Augustine Birrell appearing in this cloud of witness, but happily they are alive to testify to the faith that is in them, and for that reason are beyond the scope of an anthology confined to authors who are dead.

It may be pointed out that there has been an increasing tendency to write not so much about books as about the authors of books; but to have included literary criticism, except incidentally, would have increased this volume to prodigious size. While I have been obliged for the same reason to ignore, as a rule, individual volumes, an exception has been made of the Bible, which is itself a library, and this is justified by the fact that many pages are devoted to libraries. Scores of poems have been prefixed to volumes or addressed in apology to possible readers, but these, and colophons, interesting though they may be, do not fit in with my scheme. However tempting it seemed to give versions of Catullus, Horace, or Martial, translations from ancient classic writers have been excluded; but room has been found for classic writers of comparatively modern times, for it would have been ridiculous to have passed over, for example, Montaigne, whose immortal essays have been handed down in the splendid English dress of John Florio's design. For the rest, the contents of this volume, in which more than 200 authors bear their varying testimony, must speak for themselves.

The passages will be found grouped more or less according to subjects, though the dividing lines are fine, and chronological order within the limits of the groups has been a secondary consideration. After forewords by Lamb, the anthology deals with books as companions, the love of and delight in books, the immortality of books and the immortality which they convey, the multiplicity of books and the distraction of choice; ancient and modern books and their respective claims; books that are or may be thought injurious; novels and romances; bookmaking of various kinds--plagiarism, books about books, anthologies, abridgements, dedications, presentation copies, bibliographies, translations, and quotations; books and preachers, and books as 'the true university of these days'; critics and criticism; rules for reading, commonplace-books, abstracts, epitomes, and marginalia; casual and superficial reading, talking from books, brains turned by books, over-reading; books and life; books as an enemy to health and as pharmaceutical preparations for mental indisposition; reading in bed, at meal-times, and out-of-doors, and the call of the book of nature; the horn-book and other books for children; advice on youthful reading, and the early preferences of some notable book-lovers; love and literature, and the conflict between matrimony and the library; women and books and libraries; the human species of book-worms, bibliomaniacs, and pedants; the proper handling of books; bindings, book illustrations, &c.; book pests--worms and moths; 'finds' at second-hand bookshops and what Leigh Hunt calls 'bookstall urbanity'; booksellers and publishers; mammon and books; book borrowers and book borrowing; bookish similes; books for magic; the Bible; literary geography; libraries--as studies and keys to character, private libraries real and imaginary, public libraries--from the provincial reference library to the British Museum, reflections in libraries, Crabbe's masterpiece, the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge with fitting tributes to Bodley; and, finally, a memorable tribute to books and the priceless treasury that a library affords. The source of the quotations is generally given; and the index of authors quoted or referred to, together with a full list of contents, and, it is hoped, the notes, should serve the convenience of the reader.

Many years ago Mr. Alexander Ireland gave me a copy of _The Book-Lover's Enchiridion_, and my debt to that 'treasury of thoughts on the Solace and Companionship of Books' is great. Mr. Ireland's object was 'to present, in chronological order, a selection of the best thoughts of the greatest and wisest minds on the subject of Books--their solace and companionship--their efficacy as silent teachers and guides--and the comfort, as of a living presence, which they afford amidst the changes of fortune and the accidents of life.' In this volume I have taken the subject and myself less seriously than would have been possible to Mr. Ireland. The 'thoughts' which I have collected are more 'detached', and they cover a wider field. I am under much obligation also to the _Ballads of Books_, which Mr. Brander Matthews compiled nearly a quarter of a century ago and Mr. Andrew Lang recast, and to Mr. W. Roberts's _Book-Verse_. Mainly, however, I have relied upon my own personal reading--'blessing,' as Lamb said, 'my stars for a taste so catholic, so unexcluding'--and upon research, in which I have had invaluable assistance from friends and colleagues. I am fortunately able to include many copyright pieces, and I have to thank the following for the necessary permission:--

Messrs. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., for B. W. Procter's autobiographical fragment, 'My Books'; Messrs. Chapman & Hall, for what I have taken from a contribution to the _Fortnightly Review_ by Mark Pattison, and for the passage from Carlyle's _Historical Sketches_; Messrs. Chatto & Windus, for the poems by Laman Blanchard, also for the passage from R. Jefferies' _Life of the Fields_; and Messrs. Macmillan & Co., for the excerpt from the same author's _The Dewy Morn_; Messrs. Constable & Co., and the executors of the late George Gissing, for the passages from _The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft_; Mr. A. C. Fifield, for Samuel Butler's whimsical irreverence quoted from _Quis Desiderio_; Mr. Edward Garnett, for Richard Garnett's poem; the Houghton Mifflin Co., for Whittier's 'The Library'; Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., for R. L. Stevenson's 'Picture Books in Winter' (and Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons in respect of copyright in America); Mr. Elkin Mathews, for Lionel Johnson's poem; Messrs. G. Routledge & Sons, Ltd., for Longfellow's 'My Books', and 'Bayard Taylor' (and the Houghton Mifflin Co. in respect of copyright in America); Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., for J. A. Symonds's poem from _Lyrics of Life_; and Dr. A. Stoddart Walker, for permission to quote from J. S. Blackie's _Self-Culture_.

In _Guesses at Truth_ the brothers Hare wrote: 'They who cannot weave a uniform net, may at least produce a piece of patchwork, which may be useful, and not without a charm of its own.' It is my modest ambition that book-lovers shall find this volume useful and not without charm.

R. M. LEONARD.

CONTENTS

ADDISON, JOSEPH (1672-1719). The Legacies of Genius 14 The Authors' Advantage 60 The evil that Men do 80 A great Book is a great evil 119 Chance Readings 145 A Lady's Library 209 Books for a Lady's Library 211

ALCOTT, AMOS BRONSON (1799-1888). The Fellowship of Books 6

ALCUIN or EALWHINE (735-804). An Episcopal Library 311

ARBLAY, FRANCES, MADAME D' (1752-1840). Royal Patronage of Books 253

ARMSTRONG, JOHN (1709-79). Read without Prejudice 127

ARNOLD, MATTHEW (1822-88). The Grand Mine of Diction 297

ASCHAM, ROGER (1515-68). Books that do Hurt 77 Epitomes 138

_ATHENIAN MERCURY, THE_ Whether 'tis lawful to read Romances 85

AUNGERVILE. _See_ BURY.

AUSTEN, JANE (1775-1817). Only a Novel 87

BACON, FRANCIS, LORD VERULAM AND VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS (1561-1626). Enduring Monuments 46 Old Authors to Read 65 Dedications 97 'Books will speak plain' 113 Studies 124 Commonplace Books 141 Over-reading 157 A great Necromancer 287 The Shrines of the Ancient Saints 325

BAILEY, PHILIP JAMES (1816-1902). 'Worthy Books' 5

BALE, JOHN, BISHOP OF OSSORY (1495-1563). A most Horrible Infamy 325

BARCLAY, ALEXANDER (1475?-1552). Envoy to Fools 218

BARNES, WILLIAM (1801-86). Learning 173

BARROW, ISAAC (1630-77). He that loveth a Book will never want 3

BARTON, BERNARD (1784-1849). Composed in the Rev. J. Mitford's Library 324

BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-91). Romances are Pernicious 84 Books preferred to Preachers 108

BAYLY, THOMAS HAYNES (1797-1839). A Novel of High Life 88

BEACONSFIELD, EARL OF. _See_ DISRAELI, BENJAMIN.

BEECHER, HENRY WARD (1813-1887). The Bodleian: a Dead Sea of Books 364

BERESFORD, JAMES (1764-1840). Bibliosophia 225 Eye-worship 242

BLACKIE, JOHN STUART (1809-95). Overrating the Value of Books 162

BLANCHARD, SAMUEL LAMAN (1804-45). The Double Lesson 192 The Art of Book-keeping 280

BLOUNT, CHARLES (1654-93). The Imprimatur 119

BOSWELL, JAMES (1740-95). _See also_ JOHNSON. Shakespeare in Heaven 48 Reading according to Inclination 128 Johnson's Cursory Reading 148 Talking from Books 153 The Dog and the Bone 170 Books you may hold in your hand 247

BRANT, SEBASTIAN (1458-1521). The Chief Fool 216

BROWNE, SIR THOMAS (1605-82). Superfluous Books 58

BROWNE, SIR WILLIAM (1692-1774). Oxford and Cambridge: an Epigram 113

BROWNING, ELIZABETH BARRETT (1806-61). 'Books are men of higher stature' 39 Reading as Intellectual Indolence 159 The Poets 205 The World of Books 206 A Forced Sale 259 The Library in the Garret 318

BROWNING, ROBERT (1812-89). Sibrandus Schafnaburgensis 236 The Find 257

BRYDGES, GREY, LORD CHANDOS (1579?-1621). The greatest Clerks be not always the wisest Men 149

BUCKINGHAM, DUKE OF. _See_ SHEFFIELD.

BULWER. _See_ LYTTON, LORD.

BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-88). The Scriptures: what are they? 292

BURNEY, FANNY. _See_ ARBLAY.

BURNS, ROBERT (1759-96). The Bookworms 249 The big Ha'-Bible 298

BURTON, JOHN HILL (1809-81). A Sense of Humour 18 A Course of Reading 134 Definitions 235

BURTON, ROBERT (1577-1640). An extraordinary Delight to study 26 'Though they write _contemptu gloriae_' 51 Every Man his Due 89 Read the Scriptures 290 To be chained with good Authors 356

BURY, RICHARD DE, BISHOP OF DURHAM (1281-1345). The Desirable Tabernacle 13 Books as Memorials 43 Woman and Books 203 Of Handling Books 239 Deductions from Scripture 240 Mammon and Books 273

BUTLER, JOSEPH (1692-1752). The Habit of Casual Reading 147

BUTLER, SAMUEL (1612-80). Superficial Readers 151

BUTLER, SAMUEL (1835-1902). Books in a New Light 330

BYRON, GEORGE GORDON, LORD (1788-1824). A Lasting Link of Ages 52 ''Tis pleasant, sure' 95 Love and the Library 198 To Mr. Murray 268

CALVERLEY, CHARLES STUART (1831-84). Of Reading 135

CAMPION, THOMAS (1567?-1620). The Writer to his Book 261

CARLYLE, THOMAS (1795-1881). The Miraculous Art of Writing 42 The Virtue of a True Book 52 The Real Working Effective Church 109 The True University of These Days 112 A Very Priceless Thing 295

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, MIGUEL DE (1547-1616). 'There is no Book so bad' 117 The Burning of Don Quixote's Books 155

CHANDOS, LORD. _See_ BRYDGES.

CHANNING, WILLIAM ELLERY (1780-1842). Books the True Levellers 19 The Diffusion of Books and its Effect upon Culture 60 Folly generated by Books 156

CHAUCER, GEOFFREY (1340 ?-1400). To Drive the Night Away 169 Farewell to Books in Springtime 172 The Oxford Scholar and his Books 216

CHESTERFIELD EARL OF. _See_ STANHOPE.

CHURCHYARD, THOMAS (1520 ?-1604). Books is Nurse to Truth 33

COBBETT, WILLIAM (1762-1835). The Danger of Poets and Romances 86 A Birth of Intellect 184

COLERIDGE, HARTLEY (1796-1849). Suitable Bindings 246

COLERIDGE, SAMUEL TAYLOR (1772-1834). Books as Fruitful Trees 129 Reading to kill Time 153 The Pilgrim's Progress 293

COLLIER, JEREMY (1650-1726). Of the Entertainment of Books 34

COLTON, CHARLES CALEB (1780 ?-1832). 'We should choose our Books' 6 'There are many Books written' 120 Readers and Writers 123 Title-readers 154 Books and Men 159

COOK, ELIZA (1818-89). Old Story Books 177

'CORNWALL, BARRY.' _See_ PROCTER, B. W.

COWLEY, ABRAHAM (1618-67). 'May I a small house' 12 Material for Poesy 295 Pindaric Ode 360

COWPER, WILLIAM (1731-1800). Books bad and good 81 Swallowing the Husks 158 'Twere well with most, if Books' 208 An Ode to Mr. John Rouse (translated from Milton) 357

CRABBE, GEORGE (1754-1832). The Prouder Pleasures of the Mind 26 The Old Bachelor's Books 21 The Peasant's Library 317 The Library 337

CRASHAW, RICHARD (1613 ?-49). Upon the Book of St. Teresa 106 On a Prayer-Book sent to Mrs. M. R. 200 On George Herbert's _The Temple_, sent to a Gentlewoman 201

CROSS, MARY ANN. _See_ ELIOT.

DANIEL, SAMUEL (1562-1619). Immortality in Books 46 O Blessed Letters 51 To the Countess of Bedford 195

DANTE ALIGHIERI (1265-1321). Love's Purveyor 192

DAVENANT, SIR WILLIAM (1606-68). Hidden Treasure 92

DAVIES, SIR JOHN (1569-1626). What profits it 163

DAVY, SIR HUMPHRY (1778-1829). Permanence for Thought 41

DAWSON, GEORGE (1821-76). The Consulting-room of a Wise Man 309 The Reference Library 327

DENHAM, SIR JOHN (1615-69). For wisdom, piety, delight, or use 33

DE QUINCEY, THOMAS (1785-1859). Instruction or Amusement 36 The Distraction of Choice 61

DIBDIN, THOMAS FROGNALL (1776-1847). An Unworthy Professor 227 A Bibliomaniac 228 Book Illustrations and Nightmare 247

DICKENS, CHARLES (1812-70). Early Reading 188 What a Heart-breaking Shop 272

DIGBY, SIR KENELM (1603-65). Reading in Bed 169

DILLON, WENTWORTH, EARL OF ROSCOMMON (1633 ?-85). 'Choose an author as you choose a friend' 7

DISRAELI, BENJAMIN, EARL OF BEACONSFIELD (1804-81). 'Lady Constance guanoed her mind' 88 Biography preferred to History 99 'The author who speaks about his own Books' 154

D'ISRAELI, ISAAC (1766-1848). Golden volumes! richest treasures 226 A Malady of weak Minds 227 Accidents to Books 275

DODD, WILLIAM (1729-77). In Prison 15

DONNE, JOHN (1573-1631). Valediction to his Book 190 The Library and the Grave 305

DOVASTON, JOHN FREEMAN MILWARD (1782-1854). The Cure for Bookworms 253

DRAYTON, MICHAEL (1563-1631). Immortality in Song 56 Translations from the Classics 100