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。