Chapter XIV: Part IV: =The Library.= (1)

DR. HENRY'S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. A GAME AT CHESS.--OF MONACHISM AND CHIVALRY. DINNER AT LORENZO'S. SOME ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS IN ENGLAND.

----Wisdom loves
This seat serene, and Virtue's self approves:--
Here come the griev'd, a change of thought to find;
The curious here, to feed a craving mind:
Here the devout, their peaceful temple chuse;
And here, the poet meets his favouring Muse.

CRABBE'S POEMS. (_The Library._)

=Ingredere ut Proficias.=]

=The Library.=

DR. HENRY'S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. A GAME OF CHESS.--OF MONACHISM AND CHIVALRY. DINNER AT LORENZO'S. SOME ACCOUNT OF BOOK-COLLECTORS IN ENGLAND.

During the first seven miles of our return from the busy scene which has just been described, it was sufficiently obvious that Lisardo was suffering a little under the pangs of mortification. True it was, he had filled his pocket with an ampler supply of pistoles than it ever fell to the lot of Gil Blas, at the same time of life, to be master of; but he had not calculated upon the similar condition of his competitors; some of whom had yet greater powers of purchase, and a more resolute determination, as well as nicer skill, in exercising these powers, than himself. Thus rushing into the combat with the heat and vehemence of youth, he was of necessity compelled to experience the disappointment attendant upon such precipitancy. It was in vain that Philemon and myself endeavoured to make him completely satisfied with his purchase: nothing produced a look of complacency from him. At length, upon seeing the rising ground which was within two or three miles of our respective homes, he cheered up by degrees; and a sudden thought of the treasures contained in his Clement, De Bure and Panzer, darted a gleam of satisfaction across his countenance. His eyes resumed their wonted brilliancy, and all the natural gaiety of his disposition returned with full effect to banish every vapour of melancholy. "Indeed, my good friend," said he to me--"I shall always have reason to think and speak well of your kindness shewn towards me this day; and although some years may elapse before a similar collection may be disposed of--and I must necessarily wait a tedious period 'ere I get possession of Maittaire, Audiffredi, and others of the old school--yet I hope to convince Lysander, on the exhibition of my purchase, that my conversion to bibliography has been sincere. Yes: I perceive that I have food enough to digest, in the volumes which are now my travelling companions, for two or three years to come--and if, by keeping a sharp look-out upon booksellers' catalogues when they are first published, I can catch hold of Vogt, Schelhorn and Heinecken, my progress in bibliography, within the same period, must be downright marvellous!" "I congratulate you," exclaimed PHILEMON, "upon the return of your reason and good sense. I began to think that the story of Orlando had been thrown away upon you; and that his regular yearly purchases of a certain set of books, and making himself master of their principal contents before he ventured upon another similar purchase, had already been banished from your recollection."

We were now fast approaching the end of our journey; when the groom of Lorenzo, mounted upon a well-bred courser, darted quickly by the chaise, apparently making towards my house--but on turning his head, and perceiving me within it, he drew up and bade the postilion stop. A note from his master soon disclosed the reason of this interruption. LORENZO, upon hearing of the arrival of Lysander and Philemon, and of their wish to visit his library, had sent us all three a kind invitation to dine with him on the morrow. His close intimacy with Lisardo (who was his neighbour) had left no doubt in the mind of the latter but that a similar note had been sent to his own house. After telling the messenger that we would not fail to pay our respects to his master, we drove briskly homewards; and found Lysander sitting on a stile under some wide-spreading beech trees, at the entrance of the paddock, expecting our arrival. In less than half an hour we sat down to dinner (at a time greatly beyond what I was accustomed to); regaling Lysander, during the repast, with an account of the contest we had witnessed; and every now and then preventing Lisardo from rushing towards his packet (even in the midst of his _fricandeau_), and displaying his book-treasures. After dinner, our discussion assumed a more methodical shape. Lysander bestowed his hearty commendations upon the purchase; and, in order to whet the bibliomaniacal appetite of his young convert, he slyly observed that his set of De Bure's pieces were _half bound_ and _uncut_; and that by having them bound in morocco, with gilt leaves, he would excel my own set; which latter was coated in a prettily-sprinkled calf leather, with speckled edges. Lisardo could not repress the joyful sensations which this remark excited; and I observed that, whenever his eyes glanced upon my shelves, he afterwards returned them upon his own little collection, with a look of complacency mingled with exultation. It was evident, therefore, that he was now thoroughly reconciled to his fortune.

LYSAND. During your absence, I have been reading a very favourite work of mine--DR. HENRY'S _History of Great Britain_; especially that part of it which I prefer so much to the history of human cunning and human slaughter; I mean, the account of learning and of learned men.

PHIL. It is also a great favourite with me. But while I regret the inexcuseable omission of an index to such a voluminous work, and the inequality of Mr. Andrews's partial continuation of it, I must be permitted to observe that the history of our literature and learned men is not the most brilliant, or best executed, part of Dr. Henry's valuable labours. There are many omissions to supply, and much interesting additional matter to bring forward, even in some of the most elaborate parts of it. His account of the arts might also be improved; although in commerce, manners and customs, I think he has done as much, and as well, as could reasonably be expected. I question, however, whether his work, from the plan upon which it is executed, will ever become so popular as its fondest admirers seem to hope.

LYSAND. You are to consider, Philemon, that in the execution of such an important whole, in the erection of so immense a fabric, some parts must necessarily be finished in a less workman-like style than others. And, after all, there is a good deal of caprice in our criticisms. You fancy, in this fabric (if I may be allowed to go on with my simile), a boudoir, a hall, or a staircase; and fix a critical eye upon a recess badly contrived, an oval badly turned, or pillars weakly put together:--the builder says, Don't look at these parts of the fabric with such fastidious nicety; they are subordinate. If my boudoir will hold a moderate collection of old-fashioned Dresden China, if my staircase be stout enough to conduct you and your company to the upper rooms; and, if my hall be spacious enough to hold the hats, umbrellas and walking-sticks of your largest dinner-party, they answer the ends proposed:--unless you would _live_ in your boudoir, upon your staircase, or within your hall! The fact then is, you, Philemon, prefer the boudoir, and might, perhaps, improve upon its structure; but, recollect, there are places in a house of equal, or perhaps more, consequence than this beloved boudoir. Now, to make the obvious application to the work which has given rise to this wonderful stretch of imagination on my part:--Dr. Henry is the builder, and his history is the building, in question: in the latter he had to put together, with skill and credit, a number of weighty parts, of which the "_Civil and Ecclesiastical_" is undoubtedly the most important to the generality of readers. But one of these component parts was the _The History of Learning and of Learned Men_; which its author probably thought of subordinate consequence, or in the management of which, to allow you the full force of your objection, he was not so well skilled. Yet, still, never before having been thus connected with such a building, it was undoubtedly a delightful acquisition; and I question whether, if it had been more elaborately executed--if it had exhibited all the fret-work and sparkling points which you seem to conceive necessary to its completion; I question, whether the popularity of the work would have been even so great as it is, and as it unquestionably merits to be! A few passionately-smitten literary antiquaries are not, perhaps, the fittest judges of such a production. To be generally useful and profitable should be the object of every author of a similar publication; and as far as candour and liberality of sentiment, an unaffected and manly style, accompanied with weighty matter, extensive research, and faithful quotation, render a work nationally valuable--the work of Dr. Henry, on these grounds, is an ornament and honour to his country.

PHIL. Yet I wish he had rambled (if you will permit me so to speak) a little more into book-men and book-anecdotes.

LYSAND. You may indulge this wish very innocently; but, certainly, you ought not to censure Dr. Henry for the omission of such minutiæ.

LIS. Does he ever quote Clement, De Bure, or Panzer?

LYSAND. Away with such bibliomaniacal frenzy! He quotes solid, useful and respectable authorities; chiefly our old and most valuable historians. No writer before him ever did them so much justice, or displayed a more familiar acquaintance with them.

LIS. Do pray give us, Lysander, some little sketches of book-characters--which, I admit, did not enter into the plan of Dr. Henry's excellent work. As I possess the original quarto edition of this latter, bound in Russia, you will not censure me for a want of respect towards the author.

PHIL. I second Lisardo's motion; although I fear the evening presses too hard upon us to admit of much present discussion.

LYSAND. Nothing--(speaking most unaffectedly from my heart) nothing affords me sincerer pleasure than to do any thing in my power which may please such cordial friends as yourselves. My pretensions to that sort of antiquarian _knowledge_, which belongs to the history of book-collectors, are very poor, as you well know,--they being greatly eclipsed by my _zeal_ in the same cause. But, as I love my country and my country's literature, so no conversation or research affords me a livelier pleasure than that which leads me to become better acquainted with the ages which have gone by; with the great and good men of old; who have found the most imperishable monuments of their fame in the sympathizing hearts of their successors. But I am wandering--

LIS. Go on as you please, dear Lysander; for I have been too much indebted to your conversation ever to suppose it could diverge into any thing censoriously irrelevant. Begin where and when you please.

LYSAND. I assure you it is far from my intention to make any formal exordium, even if I knew the exact object of your request.

PHIL. Tell us all about book-collecting and BIBLIOMANIACS in this country--

LIS. "Commençez au commençement"--as the French adage is.

LYSAND. In sober truth, you impose upon me a pretty tough task! "One Thousand and One Nights" would hardly suffice for the execution of it; and now, already, I see the owl flying across the lawn to take her station in the neighbouring oak; while even the middle ground of yonder landscape is veiled in the blue haziness of evening. Come a short half hour, and who, unless the moon befriend him, can see the outline of the village church? Thus gradually and imperceptibly, but thus surely, succeeds age to youth--death to life--eternity to time!--You see in what sort of mood I am for the performance of my promise?

LIS. Reserve these meditations for your pillow, dear Lysander: and now, again I entreat you--"commençez au commençement."

PHIL. Pray make a beginning only: the conclusion shall be reserved, as a desert, for Lorenzo's dinner to-morrow.

LYSAND. Lest I should be thought coquettish, I will act with you as I have already done; and endeavour to say something which may gratify you as before.

It has often struck me my dear friends, continued Lysander--(in a balanced attitude, and seeming to bring quietly together all his scattered thoughts upon the subject) it has often struck me that few things have operated more unfavourably towards the encouragement of learning, and of book-collecting, than the universal passion for _chivalry_--which obtained towards the middle ages; while, on the other hand, a _monastic life_ seems to have excited a love of retirement, meditation, and reading.[210] I admit readily, that, considering the long continuance of the monastic orders, and that almost all intellectual improvement was confined within the cloister, a very slow and partial progress was made in literature. The system of education was a poor, stinted, and unproductive one. Nor was it till after the enterprising activity of Poggio had succeeded in securing a few precious remains of classical antiquity,[211] that the wretched indolence of the monastic life began to be diverted from a constant meditation upon "antiphoners, grailes, and psalters,"[212] towards subjects of a more generally interesting nature. I am willing to admit every degree of merit to the manual dexterity of the cloistered student. I admire his snow-white vellum missals, emblazoned with gold, and sparkling with carmine and ultramarine blue. By the help of the microscopic glass, I peruse his diminutive penmanship, executed with the most astonishing neatness and regularity; and often wish in my heart that our typographers printed with ink as glossy black as that which they sometimes used in their writing. I admire all this; and now and then, for a guinea or two, I purchase a specimen of such marvellous leger-de-main: but the book, when purchased, is to me a sealed book. And yet, Philemon, I blame not the individual, but the age; not the task, but the task-master; for surely the same exquisite and unrivalled beauty would have been exhibited in copying an ode of Horace, or a dictum of Quintilian. Still, however, you may say that the intention, in all this, was pure and meritorious; for that such a system excited insensibly a love of quiet, domestic order, and seriousness: while those counsels and regulations which punished a "Clerk for being a hunter," and restricted "the intercourse of Concubines,"[213] evinced a spirit of jurisprudence which would have done justice to any age. Let us allow, then, if you please, that a love of book-reading, and of book-collecting, was a meritorious trait in the monastic life; and that we are to look upon old abbies and convents as the sacred depositories of the literature of past ages. What can you say in defence of your times of beloved chivalry?

[Footnote 210: As early as the sixth century commenced the
custom, in some monasteries, of copying ancient books and
composing new ones. It was the usual, and even only,
employment of the first monks of Marmoutier. A monastery
without a library was considered as a fort or a camp
deprived of the necessary articles for its defence:
"claustrum sine armario, quasi castrum sine armentario."
Peignot, _Dict. de Bibliolog._, vol. i., 77. I am fearful
that this good old bibliomanical custom of keeping up the
credit of their libraries among the monks had ceased--at
least in the convent of Romsey, in Hampshire--towards the
commencement of the sixteenth century. One would think that
the books had been there disposed of in bartering for
_strong liquors_; for at a visitation by Bishop Fox, held
there in 1506, Joyce Rows, the abbess, is accused of
_immoderate drinking_, especially in the night time; and of
inviting the nuns to her chamber every evening, for the
purpose of these excesses, "post completorium." What is
frightful to add,--"this was a rich convent, and filled with
ladies of the best families." See Warton's cruel note in his
_Life of Sir Thomas Pope_, p. 25, edit. 1772. A
tender-hearted bibliomaniac cannot but feel acutely on
reflecting upon the many beautifully-illuminated vellum
books which were, in all probability, exchanged for these
inebriating gratifications! To balance this unfavourable
account read Hearne's remark about the libraries in ancient
monasteries, in the sixth volume of _Leland's Collectanea_,
p. 86-7, edit. 1774: and especially the anecdotes and
authorities stated by Dr. Henry in book iii., chap, iv.,
sec. 1.]

[Footnote 211: See the first volume of Mr. Roscoe's _Lorenzo
de Medici_; and the Rev. Mr. Shepherd's _Life of Poggio
Bracciolini_.]

[Footnote 212: When Queen Elizabeth deputed a set of
commissioners to examine into the superstitious books
belonging to All-Souls library, there was returned, in the
list of these superstitious works, "eight grailes, seven
antiphoners of parchment and bound." Gutch's _Collectanea
Curiosa_, vol. ii., 276. At page 115, ante, the reader will
find a definition of the word "Antiphoner." He is here
informed that a "gradale" or "grail," is a book which ought
to have in it "the office of sprinkling holy water: the
beginnings of the masses, or the offices of _Kyrie_, with
the verses of _gloria in excelsis_; the _gradales_, or what
is gradually sung after the epistles; the hallelujah and
tracts, the sequences, the creed to be sung at mass, the
offertories, the hymns holy, and Lamb of God, the communion,
&c., which relate to the choir at the singing of a solemn
mass." This is the Rev. J. Lewis's account; _idem opus_,
vol. ii., 168.]

[Footnote 213: "_Of a Clerk that is an Hunter._"

"We ordain that if any clerk be defamed of trespass
committed in forest or park of any man's, and thereof be
lawfully convicted before his ordinary, or do confess it to
him, the diocesan shall make redemption thereof in his
goods, if he have goods after the quality of his fault; and
such redemption shall be assigned to him to whom the loss,
hurt, or injury, is done; but if he have no goods, let his
bishop grievously punish his person according as the fault
requireth, lest through trust to escape punishment they
boldly presume to offend." _Fol._ 86, _rev._: vide _infra_.
(The same prohibition against clergymen being Hunters
appears in a circular letter, or injunctions, by Lee,
Archbishop of York, A.D. 1536. "Item; they shall not be
common _Hunters ne Hawkers_, ne playe at gammes prohibytede,
as dycese and cartes, and such oder." Burnet's _Hist. of the
Reformation_; vol. iii. p. 136, "Collections.")

"_Of the removing of Clerks' Concubines._"

"Although the governors of the church have always laboured
and enforced to drive and chase away from the houses of the
church that rotten contagiousness of pleasant filthiness
with the which the sight and beauty of the church is
grievously spotted and defiled, and yet could never hitherto
bring it to pass, seeing it is of so great a lewd boldness
that it thursteth in unshamefastly without ceasing; we,
therefore," &c. _Fol._ 114, _rect._

"_Of Concubines, that is to say of them that keep
Concubines._"

"How unbecoming it is, and how contrary to the pureness of
Christians, to touch sacred things with lips and hands
polluted, or any to give the laws and praisings of
cleanness, or to present himself in the Lord's temple, when
he is defiled with the spots of lechery, not only the divine
and canonical laws, but also the monitions of secular
princes, hath evidently seen by the judgment of holy
consideration, commanding and enjoining both discreetly and
also wholesomely, shamefacedness unto all Christ's faithful,
and ministers of the holy church." _Fol._ 131, _rect._
_Constitutions Provincialles, and of Otho aud [Transcriber's
Note: and] Octhobone._ Redman's edit. 1534, 12mo. On looking
into Du Pin's _Ecclesiastical History_, vol. ix., p. 58,
edit. 1699, I find that Hugh of Dia, by the ninth canon in
the council of Poictiers, (centy. xi.) ordained "That the
sub-deacons, deacons, and priests, shall have no concubine,
or any other suspicious women in their houses; and that all
those who shall wittingly hear the mass of a priest that
keeps a concubine, or is guilty of simony, shall be
excommunicated."]

PHIL. Shew me in what respect the gallant spirit of an ancient knight was hostile to the cultivation of the belles-lettres?

LYSAND. Most readily. Look at your old romances, and what is the system of education--of youthful pursuits--which they in general inculcate? Intrigue and bloodshed.[214] Examine your favourite new edition of the _Fabliaux et Contes_ of the middle ages, collected by Barbazan! However the editor may say that "though some of these pieces are a little too free, others breathe a spirit of morality and religion--"[215] the main scope of the poems, taken collectively, is that which has just been mentioned. But let us come to particulars. What is there in the _Ordene de Chevalerie_, or _Le Castoiement d'un Pere à son fils_ (pieces in which one would expect a little seriousness of youthful instruction), that can possibly excite a love of reading, book-collecting, or domestic quiet? Again; let us see what these chivalrous lads do, as soon as they become able-bodied! Nothing but assault and wound one another. Read concerning your favourite _Oliver of Castile_,[216] and his half-brother _Arthur_! Or, open the beautiful volumes of the late interesting translation of Monstrelet, and what is almost the very first thing which meets your eye? Why, "an Esquire of Arragon (one of your chivalrous heroes) named Michel D'Orris, sends a challenge to an English esquire of the same complexion with himself--and this is the nature of the challenge: [which I will read from the volume, as it is close at my right hand, and I have been dipping into it this morning in your absence--]

[Footnote 214: The celebrated LUDOVICUS VIVES has strung
together a whole list of ancient popular romances, calling
them "ungracious books." The following is his saucy
philippic: "Which books but idle men wrote unlearned, and
set all upon filth and viciousness; in whom I wonder what
should delight men, but that vice pleaseth them so much. As
for learning, none is to be looked for in those men, which
saw never so much as a shadow of learning themselves. And
when they tell ought, what delight can be in those things
that be so plain and foolish lies? One killeth twenty by
himself alone, another killeth thirty; another, wounded with
a hundred wounds, and left for dead, riseth up again; and on
the next day, made whole and strong, overcometh two giants,
and then goeth away loaden with gold and silver and precious
stones, mo than a galley would carry away. What madness is
it of folks to have pleasure in these books! Also there is
no wit in them, but a few words of wanton lust; which be
spoken to move her mind with whom they love, if it chance
she be steadfast. And if they be read but for this, the best
were to make books of bawd's crafts, for in other things
what craft can be had of such a maker that is ignorant of
all good craft? Nor I never heard man say that he liked
these books, but those that never touched good
books."--_Instruction of a Christian Woman_, sign. D. 1.
rev., edit. 1593. From the fifth chapter (sufficiently
curious) of "What books be to be read, and what not."]

[Footnote 215: Vol. ii., p. 39, edit. 1808.]

[Footnote 216: "When the king saw that they were puissant
enough for to wield armour at their ease, he gave them
license for to do cry a Justing and Tournament. The which
OLIVER and ARTHUR made for to be cried, that three
aventurous knights should just against all comers, the which
should find them there the first day of the lusty month of
May, in complete harness, for to just against their
adversaries with sharp spears. And the said three champions
should just three days in three colours: that is to wit, in
black, grey and violet--and their shields of the same hue;
and them to find on the third day at the lists. There justed
divers young knights of the king's court: and the justing
was more _asperer_ of those young knights than ever they had
seen any in that country. And, by the report of the ladies,
they did so knightly, every one, that it was not possible
for to do better, as them thought, by their strokes. But,
above all other, OLIVER and ARTHUR (his loyal fellow) had
the _bruit_ and _loos_. The justing endured long: it was
marvel to see the hideous strokes that they dealt; for the
justing had not finished so soon but that the night
_separed_ them. Nevertheless, the adversary party abode
'till the torches were light. But the ladies and
_damoyselles_, that of all the justing time had been there,
were weary, and would depart. Wherefore the justers departed
in likewise, and went and disarmed them for to come to the
banquet or feast. And when that the banquet was finished and
done, the dances began. And there came the king and the
valiant knights of arms, for to enquire of the ladies and
_damoyselles_, who that had best borne him as for that day.
The ladies, which were all of one accord and agreement, said
that Oliver and Arthur had surmounted all the best doers of
that _journey_. And by cause that Oliver and Arthur were
both of one party, and that they could find but little
difference between them of knighthood, they knew not the
which they might sustain. But, in the end, they said that
Arthur had done right valiantly: nevertheless, they said
that Oliver had done best unto their seeming. And therefore
it was concluded that the _pryce_ should be given unto
Oliver, as for the best of them of within. And another noble
knight, of the realm of Algarbe, that came with the queen,
had the pryce of without. When the pryce of the juste that
had been made was brought before Oliver, by two fair
_damoyselles_, he waxed all red, and was ashamed at that
present time; and said that it was of their bounty for to
give him the pryce, and not of his desert: nevertheless, he
received it; and, as it was of custom in guerdoning them, he
kissed them. And soon after they brought the wine and
spices; and then the dances and the feast took an end as for
that night." _Hystorye of Olyuer of Castylle, and of the
fayre Helayne, &c._, 1518, 4to., sign. A. v. vj. This I
suppose to be the passage alluded to by Lysander. The
edition from which it is taken, and of which the title was
barely known to Ames and Herbert, is printed by Wynkyn De
Worde. Mr. Heber's copy of it is at present considered to be
unique. The reader will see some copious extracts from it in
the second volume of the _British Typographical
Antiquities_.]

"First, to enter the lists on foot, each armed in the manner he shall please, having a dagger and sword attached to any part of his body, and a battle-axe, with the handle of such length as the challenger shall fix on. The combat to be as follows: ten strokes of the battle-axe, without intermission; and when these strokes shall have been given, and the judge shall cry out 'Ho!' ten cuts with the sword to be given without intermission or change of armour. When the judge shall cry out 'Ho!' we will resort to our daggers, and give ten stabs with them. Should either party lose or drop his weapon, the other may continue the use of the one in his hand until the judge shall cry out 'Ho!'" &c.[217] A very pretty specimen of honourable combat, truly!--and a mighty merciful judge who required even more cuts and thrusts than these (for the combat is to go on) before he cried out "Ho!" Defend us from such ejaculatory umpires!--

[Footnote 217: See _Monstrelet's Chronicles_, translated by
Thomas Johnes, Esq., vol. i., p. 8, edit. 1809, 4to. Another
elegant and elaborate specimen of the Hafod press; whose
owner will be remembered as long as literature and taste
shall be cultivated in this country.]

LIS. Pray dwell no longer upon such barbarous heroism! We admit that _Monachism_ may have contributed towards the making of bibliomaniacs more effectually than _Chivalry_. Now proceed--

These words had hardly escaped Lisardo, when the arrival of my worthy neighbour NARCOTTUS (who lived by the parsonage house), put a stop to the discourse. Agreeably to a promise which I had made him three days before, he came to play a GAME OF CHESS with Philemon; who, on his part, although a distinguished champion at this head-distracting game, gave way rather reluctantly to the performance of the promise: for LYSANDER was now about to enter upon the history of the Bibliomania in this country. The Chess-board, however was brought out; and down to the contest the combatants sat--while Lisardo retired to one corner of the room to examine thoroughly his newly-purchased volumes, and Lysander took down a prettily executed 8vo. volume upon the Game of Chess, printed at Cheltenham, about six years ago, and composed "by an amateur." While we were examining, in this neat work, an account of the numerous publications upon the Game of Chess, in various countries and languages, and were expressing our delight in reading anecdotes about eminent chess players, Lisardo was carefully packing up his books, as he expected his servant every minute to take them away. The servant shortly arrived, and upon his expressing his inability to carry the entire packet--"Here," exclaimed Lisardo, "do you take the quartos, and follow me; who will march onward with the octavos." This was no sooner said than our young bibliomaniacal convert gave De Bure, Gaignat, and La Valliere, a vigorous swing across his shoulders; while the twenty quarto volumes of Clement and Panzer were piled, like "Ossa upon Pelion," upon those of his servant--and

"Light of foot, and light of heart"

Lisardo took leave of us 'till the morrow.

Meanwhile, the chess combat continued with unabated spirit. Here Philemon's king stood pretty firmly guarded by both his knights, one castle, one bishop, and a body of common soldiers[218]--impenetrable as the Grecian phalanx, or Roman legion; while his queen had made a sly sortie to surprise the only surviving knight of Narcottus. Narcottus, on the other hand, was cautiously collecting his scattered foot soldiers, and, with two bishops, and two castle-armed elephants, were meditating a desperate onset to retrieve the disgrace of his lost queen. An inadvertent remark from Lysander, concerning the antiquity of the game, attracted the attention of Philemon so much as to throw him off his guard; while his queen, forgetful of her sex, and venturing unprotected, like Penthesilea of old, into the thickest of the fight, was trampled under foot, without mercy,[219] by a huge elephant, carrying a castle of armed men upon his back. Shouts of applause, from Narcottus's men, rent the vaulted air; while grief and consternation possessed the astonished army of Philemon. "Away with your antiquarian questions," exclaimed the latter, looking sharply at Lysander: "away with your old editions of the Game of Chess! The moment is critical; and I fear the day may be lost. Now for desperate action!" So saying, he bade the King exhort his dismayed subjects. His Majesty made a spirited oration; and called upon _Sir Launcelot_, the most distinguished of the two Knights,[220] to be mindful of his own and of his country's honour: to spare the effusion of blood among his subjects as much as possible; but rather to place victory or defeat in the comparative skill of the officers: and, at all events, to rally round that throne which had conferred such high marks of distinction upon his ancestors. "I needed not, gracious sire," replied Sir Launcelot--curbing in his mouth-foaming steed, and fixing his spear in the rest--"I needed not to be here reminded of your kindness to my forefathers, or of the necessity of doing every thing, at such a crisis, beseeming the honour of a true round-table knight.--Yes, gracious sovereign, I swear to you by the love I bear to THE LADY OF THE LAKE[221]--by the remembrance of the soft moments we have passed together in the honey-suckle bowers of her father--by all that an knight of chivalry is taught to believe the most sacred and binding--I swear that I will not return this day alive without the laurel of victory entwined round my brow. Right well do I perceive that deeds and not words must save us now--let the issue of the combat prove my valour and allegiance." Upon this, Sir Launcelot clapped spurs to his horse, and after driving an unprotected Bishop into the midst of the foot-soldiers, who quickly took him prisoner, he sprang forward, with a lion-like nimbleness and ferocity, to pick out _Sir Galaad_, the only remaining knight in the adverse army, to single combat. Sir Galaad, strong and wary, like the Greenland bear when assailed by the darts and bullets of our whale-fishing men, marked the fury of Sir Launcelot's course, and sought rather to present a formidable defence by calling to aid his elephants, than to meet such a champion single-handed. A shrill blast from his horn told the danger of his situation, and the necessity of help. What should now be done? The unbroken ranks of Philemon's men presented a fearful front to the advance of the elephants, and the recent capture of a venerable bishop had made the monarch, on Narcottus's side, justly fearful of risking the safety of his empire by leaving himself wholly without episcopal aid. Meanwhile the progress of Sir Launcelot was marked with blood; and he was of necessity compelled to slaughter a host of common men, who stood thickly around Sir Galaad, resolved to conquer or die by his side. At length, as Master Laneham aptly expresses it, "get they grysly together."[222] The hostile leaders met; there was neither time nor disposition for parley. Sir Galaad threw his javelin with well-directed fury; which, flying within an hair's breadth of Sir Launcelot's shoulder, passed onward, and, grazing the cheek of a foot soldier, stood quivering in the sand. He then was about to draw his ponderous sword--but the tremendous spear of Sir Launcelot, whizzing strongly in the air, passed through his thickly quilted belt, and, burying itself in his bowels, made Sir Galaad to fall breathless from his horse. Now might you hear the shouts of victory on one side, and the groans of the vanquished on the other; or, as old Homer expresses it,

Victors and vanquished shouts promiscuous rise.
With streams of blood the slippery fields are dyed,
And slaughtered heroes swell the dreadful tide.

_Iliad_ [passim].

[Footnote 218: "Whilst there are strong, able, and active
men of the king's side, to defend his cause, there is no
danger of [this] misfortune." _Letter to the Craftsman on
the Game of Chess_, p. 13.]

[Footnote 219: "When therefore the men of one party attack
those of the other, though their spleen at first may only
seem bent against a _Bishop_, a _Knight_, or an inferior
officer; yet, if successful in their attacks on that servant
of the king, they never stop there: they come afterwards to
think themselves strong enough even to attack _the Queen_,"
&c. _The same_, p. 12.]

[Footnote 220: "_The Knight_ (whose steps, as your
correspondent justly observes, are not of an ordinary kind,
and often surprise men who oppose him) is of great use in
extricating _the King_ out of those difficulties in which
his foes endeavour to entangle him.--He is a man whom a wise
player makes great use of in these exigences, and who
oftenest defeats the shallow schemes and thin artifices of
unskilful antagonists. They must be very bad players who do
not guard against the steps of _the Knight_." _The same_, p.
14.]

[Footnote 221: "The Lady of the Lake; famous in King Arthurz
Book"--says Master Laneham, in his Letter to Master Humfrey
Martin; concerning the entertainment given by Lord Leicester
to Q. Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle: A.D. 1575, edit. 1784,
p. 12. Yet more famous, I add, in a poem under this express
title, by WALTER SCOTT, 1810.]

[Footnote 222: See the authority (p. 40) quoted in the note
at page 157, ante.]

And, truly, the army of Narcottus seemed wasted with a great slaughter: yet on neither side, had the monarch been _checked_, so as to be put in personal danger! "While there is life there is hope," said the surviving Bishop[223] on the side of Narcottus: who now taking upon him the command of the army, and perceiving Sir Launcelot to be pretty nearly exhausted with fatigue, and wantonly exposing his person, ordered the men at arms to charge him briskly on all sides; while his own two castles kept a check upon the remaining castle, knight, and bishop of the opposite army: also, he exhorted the king to make a feint, as if about to march onwards. Sir Launcelot, on perceiving the movement of the monarch, sprang forward to make him a prisoner; but he was surprised by an elephant in ambuscade, from whose castle-bearing back a well-shot arrow pierced his corslet, and inflicted a mortal wound. He fell; but, in falling, he seemed to smile even sweetly, as he thought upon the noble speech of Sir Bohort[224] over the dead body of his illustrious ancestor, of the same name; and, exhorting his gallant men to revenge his fall, he held the handle of his sword firmly, till his whole frame was stiffened in death. And now the battle was renewed with equal courage and equal hopes of victory on both sides: but the loss of the flower of their armies, and especially of their beloved spouses, had heavily oppressed the adverse monarchs: who, retiring to a secured spot, bemoaned in secret the hapless deaths of their queens, and bitterly bewailed that injudicious law which, of necessity, so much exposed their fair persons, by giving them such an unlimited power. The fortune of the day, therefore, remained in the hands of the respective commanders; and if the knight and bishop, on Philemon's side, had not contested about superiority of rule, the victory had surely been with Philemon. But the strife of these commanders threw every thing into confusion. The men, after being trampled upon by the elephants of Narcottus, left their king exposed, without the power of being aided by his castle. An error so fatal was instantly perceived by the bishop of Narcottus's shattered army; who, like another Ximenes,[225] putting himself at the head of his forces, and calling upon his men resolutely to march onwards, gave orders for the elephants to be moved cautiously at a distance, and to lose no opportunity of making the opposite monarch prisoner. Thus, while he charged in front, and captured, with his own hands, the remaining adverse knight, his men kept the adverse bishop from sending reinforcements; and Philemon's elephant not having an opportunity of sweeping across the plain to come to the timely aid of the king,[226] the victory was speedily obtained, for the men upon the backs of Narcottus's elephants kept up so tremendous a discharge of arrows that the monarch was left without a single attendant: and, of necessity, was obliged to submit to the generosity of his captors.

[Footnote 223: "I think _the Bishops_ extremely considerable
throughout the whole game. One quality too they have, which
is peculiar to themselves; this is that, throughout the
whole game, they have a _steadiness_ in their conduct,
superior to men of any other denomination on the board; as
they never change their colour, but always pursue the path
in which they set out." _The same_ (vid. 206-7) p. 20.]

[Footnote 224: This truly chivalrous speech may be seen
extracted in Mr. Burnet's _Specimens of English Prose
Writers_, vol. i., 269. One of Virgil's heroes, to the best
of my recollection, dies serenely upon thinking of his
beloved countrymen:

----dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos!]

[Footnote 225: It is always pleasant to me to make
comparisons with eminent book-patrons, or, if the reader
pleases, bibliomaniacs. CARDINAL XIMENES was the promoter
and patron of the celebrated Complutensian Polyglott Bible;
concerning which I have already submitted some account to
the public in my _Introduction to the Classics_, vol. i.,
pp. 7, 8. His political abilities and personal courage have
been described by Dr. Robertson (in his history of Charles
V.), with his usual ability. We have here only to talk of
him as connected with books. Mallinkrot and Le Long have
both preserved the interesting anecdote which is related by
his first biographer, Alvaro Gomez, concerning the
completion of the forementioned Polyglott. "I have often
heard John Brocarius (says Gomez) son of Arnoldus Brocarius,
who printed the Polyglott, tell his friends that, when his
father had put the finishing stroke to the last volume, he
deputed _him_ to carry it to the Cardinal. John Brocarius
was then a lad; and, having dressed himself in an elegant
suit of clothes, he gravely approached Ximenes, and
delivered the volume into his hands. 'I render thanks to
thee, oh God!' exclaimed the Cardinal, 'that thou hast
protracted my life to the completion of these biblical
labours.' Afterwards, when conversing with his friends,
Ximenes would often observe that the surmounting of the
various difficulties of his political situation did not
afford him half the satisfaction which he experienced from
the finishing of his Polyglott. He died in the year 1517,
not many weeks after the last volume was published." Gomez,
or Gomecius's work "_de rebus gestis, à Francisco Ximenio
Cisnerio Archiepiscopo Complut_," 1569, fol., is a book of
very uncommon occurrence. It is much to be wished that Lord
Holland, or Mr. Southey, would give us a life of this
celebrated political character: as the biographies of
Flechier and Marsolier seem miserably defective, and the
sources of Gomez to have been but partially consulted. But I
must not let slip this opportunity of commemorating the
book-reputation of XIMENES, without making the reader
acquainted with two other singularly scarce and curious
productions of the press, which owe their birth to the
bibliomanical spirit of our Cardinal. I mean the "_Missale
mixtum secundun [Transcriber's Note: secundum] regulum B.
Isidori, dictum Mozarabes, cum præfat._" _A. Ortiz._ Toleti,
1500, fol. and the "_Breviarium, mixtum," &c._ _Mozarabes._
Toleti, 1502, fol.: of the former of which there was a copy
in the Harleian collection; as the ensuing interesting note,
in the catalogue of Lord Harley's books, specifies. I shall
give it without abridgment: "This is the scarcest book in
the whole Harleian collection. At the end of it are the
following words, which deserve to be inserted
here:--Adlaudem Omnipotentis Dei, nec non Virginis Mariæ
Matris ejus, omnium sanctorum sanctarumq; expletum est
Missale mixtum secundum regulam beati Isidori dictum
Mozarabes: maxima cum diligentia perlectum et emendatum, per
Reverendum in utroq; Jure Doctorem Dominum Alfonsum Ortiz,
Canonicum Toletanum. Impressum in regal. civitate Toleti,
Jussu Reverendissimi in Christo Patris Domini D. Francisci
Ximenii, ejusdem civitatis Archiepiscopi. Impensis Nobilis
Melchioris Gorricii Novariensis, per Magistrum Petrum
Hagembach, Almanum, anno salutis nostræ 1500, Die 29o
mensis Januarii." "This is supposed to be the ancient Missal
amended and purged by St. Isidore, archbishop of Sevil, and
ordered by the Council of Toledo to be used in all churches;
every one of which before that time had a missal peculiar to
itself. The Moors afterwards committing great ravages in
Spain, destroying the churches, and throwing every thing
there, both civil and sacred, into confusion, all St.
Isidore's missals, excepting those in the city of Toledo,
were lost. But those were preserved even after the Moors had
made themselves masters of that city; since they left six of
the churches there to the Christians, and granted them the
free exercise of their religion. Alphonsus the Sixth, many
ages afterwards, expelled the Moors from Toledo, and ordered
the Roman missal to be used in those churches where St.
Isidore's missal had been in vogue, ever since the council
above-mentioned. But the people of Toledo insisting that
their missal was drawn up by the most ancient bishops,
revised and corrected by St. Isidore, proved to be the best
by the great number of saints who had followed it, and been
preserved during the whole time of the Moorish government in
Spain, he could not bring his project to bear without great
difficulty. In short, the contest between the Roman and
Toletan missals came to that height that, according to the
genius of the age, it was decided by a single combat,
wherein the champion of the Toletan missal proved
victorious. But King Alphonsus, say some of the Spanish
writers, not being satisfied with this, which he considered
as the effect of chance only, ordered a fast to be
proclaimed, and a great fire to be then made; into which,
after the king and people had prayed fervently to God for
his assistance in this affair, both the missals were thrown;
but the Toletan only escaped the violence of the flames.
This, continue the same authors, made such an impression
upon the king that he permitted the citizens of Toledo to
use their own missal in those churches that had been granted
the Christians by the Moors. However, the copies of this
missal grew afterwards so scarce, that Cardinal Ximenes
found it extremely difficult to meet with one of them: which
induced him to order this impression, and to build a chapel,
in which this service was chanted every day, as it had at
first been by the ancient Christians. But, notwithstanding
this, the copies of the Toletan missal are become now so
exceeding rare that it is at present almost in as much
danger of being buried in oblivion as it was when committed
to the press by Cardinal Ximenes." _Bibl. Harl._, vol. iii.,
p. 117. But let the reader consult the more extended details
of De Bure (_Bibl. Instruct._, vol. i., no. 210, 211),
and De La Serna Santander (_Dict. Chois. Bibliogr. du_ xv.
_Siecle_, part iii., p. 178); also the very valuable notice
of Vogt; _Cat. Libror. Rarior._, p. 591; who mention a fine
copy of the missal and breviary, each struck off UPON
VELLUM, in the collegiate church of St. Ildefonso. If I
recollect rightly, Mr. Edwards informed me that an Italian
Cardinal was in possession of a similar copy of each. This
missal was republished at Rome, with a capital preface and
learned notes, by Lesleus, a Jesuit, in 1755, 4to.: and
Lorenzana, archbishop of Toledo, republished the breviary in
a most splendid manner at Madrid, in 1788. Both these
re-impressions are also scarce. I know not whether the late
king of Spain ever put his design into execution of giving a
new edition of these curious religious volumes; some ancient
MSS. of which had been carefully collated by Burriel.
Consult Osmont's _Dict. Typog._, vol. i., p. 477; _Cat. de
Gaignat_, nos. 179, 180; _Cat. de la Valliere_, nos.
271, 272; _Bibl. Solger._, vol. ii. no. 1280; and _Bibl.
Colbert_, nos. 342, 366. Having expatiated thus much, and
perhaps tediously, about these renowned volumes, let me
introduce to the notice of the heraldic reader the _Coat of
Arms_ of the equally renowned Cardinal--of whose genuine
editions of the Mozarabic Missal and Breviary my eyes were
highly gratified with a sight, in the exquisite library of
Earl Spencer, at Althorp.

]

[Footnote 226: Of the _Tower_ or _Rook_ (or _Elephant_) one
may indeed--to speak in the scripture style--(and properly
speaking, considering its situation) call this piece "the
head stone of the corner." There are two of them; and,
whilst they remain firm, his majesty is ever in safety. The
common enemies, therefore, of them and their king watch
their least motion very narrowly, and try a hundred tricks
to decoy them from the king's side, by feints, false alarms,
stumbling blocks, or any other method that can be contrived
to divert them from their duty. The _same_, p. 15. (vide.
159, ante.)]

Thus ended one of the most memorable chess contests upon record. Not more stubbornly did the Grecians and Romans upon Troy's plain, or the English and French upon Egypt's shores, contend for the palm of victory, than did Philemon and Narcottus compel their respective forces to signalize themselves in this hard-fought game. To change the simile for a more homely one; no Northamptonshire hunt was ever more vigorously kept up; and had it not been (at least so Philemon thought!) for the inadvertent questions of Lysander, respecting the antiquity of the amusement, an easy victory would have been obtained by my guest over my neighbour. Lysander, with his usual politeness, took all the blame upon himself. Philemon felt, as all chess-combatants feel upon defeat, peevish and vexed. But the admirably well adapted conversation of Lysander, and the natural diffidence of Narcottus, served to smooth Philemon's ruffled plumage; and at length diffused o'er his countenance his natural glow of good humour.

It was now fast advancing towards midnight; when Narcottus withdrew to his house, and my guests to their chambers.

To-morrow came; and with the morrow came composure and hilarity in the countenances of my guests. The defeat of the preceding evening was no longer thought of; except that Philemon betrayed some little marks of irritability on Lysander's shewing him the fac-simile wood-cuts of the pieces and men in Caxton's edition of the game of chess, which are published in the recent edition of the Typographical Antiquities of our country.

Lisardo visited us betimes. His countenance, on his entrance gave indication of vexation and disappointment--as well it might; for, on his return home the preceding evening, he found the following note from Lorenzo:--

"My dear Lisardo;

Our friend's visitors, Lysander and Philemon, are coming with their host to eat old mutton, and drink old sherry, with me to-morrow; and afterwards to discuss subjects of bibliography. I do not ask you to join them, because I know your thorough aversion to every thing connected with such topics. Adieu!

Truly yours,

LORENZO."

"Little," exclaimed Lisardo, "does he know of my conversion. I'll join you uninvited; and abide by the consequences."

At four o'clock we set off, in company with Lisardo, for Lorenzo's dinner. I need hardly add that the company of the latter was cordially welcomed by our host; who, before the course of pastry was cleared away, proposed a sparkling bumper of Malmsey madeira, to commemorate his conversion to Bibliomaniacism. By half-past-five we were ushered into THE LIBRARY, to partake of a costly dessert of rock melons and Hamburgh grapes, with all their appropriate embellishments of nectarines and nuts. Massive and curiously cut decanters, filled with the genuine juice of the grape, strayed backwards and forwards upon the table: and well-furnished minds, which could not refuse the luxury of such a feast, made every thing as pleasant as rational pleasure could be.

LIS. If Lorenzo have not any thing which he may conceive more interesting to propose, I move that you, good Lysander, now resume the discussion of a subject which you so pleasantly commenced last night.

PHIL. I rise to second the motion.

LOREN. And I, to give it every support in my power.

LYSAND. There is no resisting such adroitly levelled attacks. Do pray tell me what it is you wish me to go on with?

PHIL. The history of book-collecting and of book-collectors in this country.

LIS. The history of BIBLIOMANIA, if you please.

LYSAND. You are madder than the maddest of book-collectors, Lisardo. But I will gossip away upon the subjects as well as I am able.

I think we left off with an abuse of the anti-bibliomaniacal powers of chivalry. Let us pursue a more systematic method; and begin, as Lisardo says, "at the beginning."