按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was in the world only one book printed by Lambert Palmart in 1482； and
that the prisoner must have stolen this； the only copy； from the library
where it was treasured。 The defendant's counsel proved that there was
another copy in the Louvre； that； therefore； there might be more； and that
the defendant's might have been honestly procured。 Here Don Vincente；
previously callous； uttered an hysterical cry。 Said the Alcalde：… 〃At last；
Vincente； you begin to understand the enormity of your offence？〃 〃Ah；
Senor Alcalde； my error was clumsy indeed。 If you only knew how
miserable I am！〃 〃If human justice prove inflexible； there is another
justice whose pity is inexhaustible。 Repentance is never too late。〃 〃Ah；
Senor Alcalde； but my copy was not unique！〃 With the story of this
impenitent thief we may close the roll of biblioklepts； though Dibdin
pretends that Garrick was of the company； and stole Alleyne's books at
Dulwich。
There is a thievish nature more hateful than even the biblioklept。 The
Book…Ghoul is he who combines the larceny of the biblioklept with the
abominable wickedness of breaking up and mutilating the volumes from
which he steals。 He is a collector of title…pages； frontispieces；
illustrations； and book…plates。 He prowls furtively among public and
private libraries； inserting wetted threads； which slowly eat away the
illustrations he covets； and he broods； like the obscene demon of Arabian
superstitions； over the fragments of the mighty dead。 His disgusting
32
… Page 33…
THE LIBRARY33
tastes vary。 He prepares books for the American market。 Christmas
books are sold in the States stuffed with pictures cut out of honest volumes。
Here is a quotation from an American paper：…
〃Another style of Christmas book which deserves to be mentioned；
though it is out of the reach of any but the very rich； is the historical or
literary work enriched with inserted plates。 There has never； to our
knowledge； been anything offered in America so supremely excellent as
the 5000 book on Washington； we think exhibited by Boston last year；
but not a few fine specimens of books of this class are at present offered to
purchasers。 Scribner has a beautiful copy of Forster's 'Life of Dickens；'
enlarged from three volumes octavo to nine volumes quarto； by taking to
pieces； remounting； and inlaying。 It contains some eight hundred
engravings； portraits； views； playbills； title…pages； catalogues； proof
illustrations from Dickens's works； a set of the Onwhyn plates； rare
engravings by Cruikshank and 'Phiz；' and autograph letters。 Though this
volume does not compare with Harvey's Dickens； offered for 1750 two
years ago； it is an excellent specimen of books of this sort； and the veriest
tyro in bibliographical affairs knows how scarce are becoming the early
editions of Dickens's works and the plates illustrating them。 ｛4｝
Anything about Dickens in the beginning of his career is a sound
investment from a business point of view。 Another work of the same sort；
valued at 240； is Lady Trevelyan's edition of Macaulay； illustrated with
portraits； many of them very rare。 Even cheaper； all things considered； is
an extra… illustrated copy of the 'Histoire de la Gravure；' which； besides its
seventy…three reproductions of old engravings； is enriched with two
hundred fine specimens of the early engravers； many of the impressions
being in first and second states。 At 155 such a book is really a bargain；
especially for any one who is forming a collection of engravings。
Another delightful work is the library edition of Bray's 'Evelyn；' illustrated
with some two hundred and fifty portraits and views； and valued at 175；
and still another is Boydell's 'Milton；' with plates after Westall； and further
illustrations in the shape of twenty…eight portraits of the painter and one
hundred and eighty…one plates； and many of them before letter。 The price
of this book is 325。〃
33
… Page 34…
THE LIBRARY34
But few book…ghouls are worse than the moral ghoul。 He defaces；
with a pen； the passages； in some precious volume； which do not meet his
idea of moral propriety。 I have a Pine's 〃Horace；〃 with the engravings
from gems； which has fallen into the hands of a moral ghoul。 Not only
has he obliterated the verses which hurt his delicate sense； but he has
actually scraped away portions of the classical figures； and 〃the breasts of
the nymphs in the brake。〃 The soul of Tartuffe had entered into the body of
a sinner of the last century。 The antiquarian ghoul steals title…pages and
colophons。 The aesthetic ghoul cuts illuminated initials out of
manuscripts。 The petty； trivial； and almost idiotic ghoul of our own days；
sponges the fly…leaves and boards of books for the purpose of cribbing the
book…plates。 An old 〃Complaint of a Book…plate；〃 in dread of the wet
sponge of the enemy； has been discovered by Mr。 Austin Dobson：… ｛5｝
THE BOOK…PLATE'S PETITION。 By a Gentleman of the Temple。
While cynic CHARLES still trimm'd the vane 'Twixt Querouaille and
Castlemaine； In days that shocked JOHN EVELYN； My First Possessor
fix'd me in。 In days of Dutchmen and of frost； The narrow sea with
JAMES I cross'd； Returning when once more began The Age of Saturn
and of ANNE。 I am a part of all the past； I knew the GEORGES； first and
last； I have been oft where else was none Save the great wig of ADDISON；
And seen on shelves beneath me grope The little eager form of POPE。 I
lost the Third that own'd me when French NOAILLES fled at Dettingen；
The year JAMES WOLFE surpris'd Quebec； The Fourth in hunting broke
his neck； The day that WILLIAM HOGARTH dy'd； The Fifth one found
me in Cheapside。 This was a Scholar； one of those Whose Greek is
sounder than their hose； He lov'd old Books and nappy ale； So liv'd at
Streatham； next to THRALE。 'Twas there this stain of grease I boast Was
made by Dr。 JOHNSON'S toast。 （He did it； as I think； for Spite； My
Master call'd him Jacobite！） And now that I so long to…day Have rested
post discrimina； Safe in the brass…wir'd book…case where I watch'd the
Vicar's whit'ning hair； Must I these travell'd bones inter In some
Collector's sepulchre！ Must I be torn from hence and thrown With
frontispiece and colophon！ With vagrant E's； and I's； and O's； The spoil of
plunder'd Folios！ With scraps and snippets that to ME Are naught but
34
… Page 35…
THE LIBRARY35
kitchen company！ Nay； rather； FRIEND； this favour grant me： Tear me at
once； but don't transplant me。
CHELTENHAM； Sept。 31； 1792。
The conceited ghoul writes his notes across our fair white margins； in
pencil； or in more baneful ink。 Or he spills his ink bottle at large over the
pages； as Andre Chenier's friend served his copy of Malherbe。 It is
scarcely necessary to warn the amateur against the society of book…ghouls；
who are generally snuffy and foul in appearance； and by no means so
insinuating as that fair lady…ghoul； Amina； of the Arabian Nights。
Another enemy of books must be mentioned with the delicacy that
befits the topic。 Almost all women are the inveterate foes； not of novels；
of course； nor peerages and popular volumes of history； but of books
worthy of the name。 It is true that Isabelle d'Este； and Madame de
Pompadour； and Madame de Maintenon； were collectors； and； doubtless；
there are other brilliant exceptions to a general rule。 But； broadly speaking；
women detest the books which the collector desires and admi