the love affairs of a bibliomaniac(藏书癖者的爱情)-第16章
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！
immortalization of Marcus Varro。 I have had among； my papers for
thirty years the verses which Judge Methuen dashed off （for poets
invariably dash off their poetry）； and they are such pleasant verses that I
don't mind letting the world see them。
MARCUS VARRO
Marcus Varro went up and down The places where old
books were sold； He ransacked all the shops in town For
pictures new and pictures old。 He gave the folk of earth no peace；
Snooping around by day and night； He plied the trade in Rome and
Greece Of an insatiate Grangerite。
‘‘Pictures！'' was evermore his cry ‘‘Pictures of old or
recent date；'' And pictures only would he buy
Wherewith to ‘‘extra…illustrate。'' Full many a tome of ancient type
And many a manuscript he took； For nary purpose but to swipe
Their pictures for some other book。
While Marcus Varro plied his fad There was not in the
shops of Greece A book or pamphlet to be had That was not
minus frontispiece。 Nor did he hesitate to ply His baleful
practices at home； It was not possible to buy A perfect book in
all of Rome！
What must the other folk have done Who； glancing o'er
the books they bought； Came soon and suddenly upon The
vandalism Varro wrought！ How must their cheeks have flamed with
red How did their hearts with choler beat！ We can imagine
what they said We can imagine； not repeat！
Where are the books that Varro made The pride of
dilettante Rome With divers portraitures inlaid Swiped from
so many another tome？ The worms devoured them long ago
68
… Page 69…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
O wretched worms！ ye should have fed Not on the books ‘‘extended''
so； But on old Varro's flesh instead！
Alas； that Marcus Varro lives And is a potent factor yet！
Alas； that still his practice gives Good men occasion for regret！
To yonder bookstall； pri'thee； go； And by the ‘‘missing'' prints and
plates And frontispieces you shall know He lives； and ‘‘extra…
illustrates''！
In justice to the Judge and to myself I should say that neither of us
wholly approves the sentiment which the poem I have quoted implies。
We regard Grangerism as one of the unfortunate stages in bibliomania； it
is a period which seldom covers more than five years； although Dr。 O'Rell
has met with one case in his practice that has lasted ten years and still
gives no symptom of abating in virulence。
Humanity invariably condones the pranks of youth on the broad and
charitable grounds that ‘‘boys will be boys''； so we bibliomaniacs are
prone to wink at the follies of the Grangerite； for we know that he will
know better by and by and will heartily repent of the mischief he has done。
We know the power of books so well that we know that no man can have
to do with books that presently he does not love them。 He may at first
endure them； then he may come only to pity them； anon； as surely as the
morrow's sun riseth； he shall embrace and love those precious things。
So we say that we would put no curb upon any man； it being better
that many books should be destroyed； if ultimately by that destruction a
penitent and loyal soul be added to the roster of bibliomaniacs。 There is
more joy over one Grangerite that repenteth than over ninety and nine just
men that need no repentance。
And we have a similar feeling toward such of our number as for the
nonce become imbued with a passion for any of the other little fads which
bibliomaniac flesh is heir to。 All the soldiers in an army cannot be foot；
or horse； or captains； or majors； or generals； or artillery； or ensigns； or
drummers； or buglers。 Each one has his place to fill and his part to do；
and the consequence is a concinnate whole。 Bibliomania is beautiful as
an entirety； as a symmetrical blending of a multitude of component parts；
and he is indeed disloyal to the cause who； through envy or
69
… Page 70…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
shortsightedness or ignorance； argues to the discredit of angling； or
Napoleonana； or balladry； or Indians； or Burns； or Americana； or any other
branch or phase of bibliomania； for each of these things accomplishes a
noble purpose in that each contributes to the glory of the great common
cause of bibliomania； which is indeed the summum bonum of human life。
I have heard many decried who indulged their fancy for bookplates；
as if； forsooth； if a man loved his books； he should not lavish upon them
testimonials of his affection！ Who that loves his wife should hesitate to
buy adornments for her person？ I favor everything that tends to prove
that the human heart is swayed by the tenderer emotions。 Gratitude is
surely one of the noblest emotions of which humanity is capable； and he is
indeed unworthy of our respect who would forbid humanity's expressing
in every dignified and reverential manner its gratitude for the benefits
conferred by the companionship of books。
As for myself； I urge upon all lovers of books to provide themselves
with bookplates。 Whenever I see a book that bears its owner's plate I feel
myself obligated to treat that book with special consideration。 It carries
with it a certificate of its master's love； the bookplate gives the volume a
certain status it would not otherwise have。 Time and again I have fished
musty books out of bins in front of bookstalls； bought them and borne
them home with me simply because they had upon their covers the
bookplates of their former owners。 I have a case filled with these
aristocratic estrays； and I insist that they shall be as carefully dusted and
kept as my other books； and I have provided in my will for their perpetual
maintenance after my decease。
If I were a rich man I should found a hospital for homeless aristocratic
books； an institution similar in all essential particulars to the institution
which is now operated at our national capital under the bequest of the late
Mr。 Cochrane。 I should name it the Home for Genteel Volumes in
Decayed Circumstances。
I was a young man when I adopted the bookplate which I am still
using； and which will be found in all my books。 I drew the design myself
and had it executed by a son of Anderson； the first of American engravers。
It is by no means elaborate： a book rests upon a heart； and underneath
70
… Page 71…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
appear the lines：
My Book and Heart Must never part。
Ah； little Puritan maid； with thy dear eyes of honest blue and thy fair
hair in proper plaits adown thy back； little thought we that springtime
long ago back among the New England hills that the tiny book we read
together should follow me through all my life！ What a part has that
Primer played！ And now all these other beloved companions bear
witness to the love I bear that Primer and its teachings； for each wears the
emblem I plucked from its homely pages。
That was in the springtime； Captivity Waite； anon came summer； with
all its exuberant glory； and presently the cheery autumn stole upon me。
And now it is the winter…time； and under the snows lies buried many a
sweet； fair thing I cherished once。 I am aweary and will rest a little while；
lie thou there； my pen； for a dreama pleasant dreamcalleth me away。 I
shall see those distant hills again； and the homestead under the elms； the
old associations and the old influences shall be round about me； and a
child shall lead me and we shall go together through green pastures and by
still waters。 And； O my pen； it will be the springtime again！
71
… Page 72…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
XIII
ON THE ODORS WHICH MY BOOKS EXHALE
Have you ever come out of the thick； smoky atmosphere of the town
into the fragrant； gracious atmosphere of a library？ If you have； you
know how grateful the change is； and you will agree with me when I say
that nothing else is so quieting to the nerves； so conducive to physical
health； and so quick to restore a lively flow of the spirits。
Lafcadio Hearn once wrote a treatise upon perfumes； an ingenious and
scholarly performance； he limited the edition to fifty copies and published
it privatelyso the book is rarely met with。 Curiously enough； however；
this author had nothing to say in the book about the smells of books；
which I regard as a most unpardonable error； unless； properly estimating
the subject to be worthy of a separate treatise； he has postponed its
consideration and treatment to a time when he can devote the requisite
study and care to it。
We have it upon the authority of William Blades that books breathe；
however； the testimony of experts is not needed upon this point； for if
anybody be sceptical； all he has to do to convince himself is to ope
