the love affairs of a bibliomaniac(藏书癖者的爱情)-第21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！
‘‘But properly treated；'' continues Dr。 O'Rell； ‘‘and particularly if his
spiritual needs be ministered to； he can be brought safely through this
period of collapse into a condition of reenforced exaltation； which is the
true； or secondary stage of； bibliomania； and for which there is no cure
known to humanity。''
I should trust Dr。 O'Rell's judgment in this matter； even if I did not
know from experience that it was true。 For Dr。 O'Rell is the most famous
authority we have in bibliomania and kindred maladies。 It is he （I make
the information known at the risk of offending the ethics of the
profession）it is he who discovered the bacillus librorum； and； what is
still more important and still more to his glory； it is he who invented that
subtle lymph which is now everywhere employed by the profession as a
diagnostic where the presence of the germs of bibliomania （in other words；
bacilli librorum） is suspected。
I once got this learned scientist to inject a milligram of the lymph into
the femoral artery of Miss Susan's cat。 Within an hour the precocious
65
… Page 66…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
beast surreptitiously entered my library for the first time in her life； and ate
the covers of my pet edition of Rabelais。 This demonstrated to Dr。
O'Rell's satisfaction the efficacy of his diagnostic； and it proved to Judge
Methuen's satisfaction what the Judge has always maintainedviz。； that
Rabelais was an old rat。
66
… Page 67…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
XII
THE PLEASURES OF EXTRA…ILLUSTRATION
Very many years ago we became convinced Judge Methuen and I
did that there was nothing new in the world。 I think it was while we
were in London and while we were deep in the many fads of bibliomania
that we arrived at this important conclusion。
We had been pursuing with enthusiasm the exciting delights of extra…
illustration； a practice sometimes known as Grangerism； the friends of the
practice call it by the former name； the enemies by the latter。 We were
engaged at extra…illustrating Boswell's life of Johnson； and had already got
together somewhat more than eleven thousand prints when we ran against
a snag； an obstacle we never could surmount。 We agreed that our work
would be incomplete； and therefore vain； unless we secured a picture of
the book with which the great lexicographer knocked down Osborne； the
bookseller at Gray's Inn Gate。
Unhappily we were wholly in the dark as to what the title of that book
was； and； although we ransacked the British Museum and even appealed
to the learned Frognall Dibdin； we could not get a clew to the identity of
the volume。 To be wholly frank with you； I will say that both the Judge
and I had wearied of the occupation； moreover； it involved great expense；
since we were content with nothing but India proofs （those before letters
preferred）。 So we were glad of this excuse for abandoning the practice。
While we were contemplating a graceful retreat the Judge happened to
discover in the ‘‘Natural History'' of Pliny a passage which proved to our
satisfaction that； so far from being a new or a modern thing； the extra…
illustration of books was of exceptional antiquity。 It seems that Atticus；
the friend of Cicero； wrote a book on the subject of portraits and portrait…
painting； in the course of which treatise he mentions that Marcus Varro
‘‘conceived the very liberal idea of inserting； by some means or another；
in his numerous volumes； the portraits of several hundred individuals； as
he could not bear the idea that all traces of their features should be lost or
that the lapse of centuries should get the better of mankind。''
‘‘Thus；'' says Pliny； ‘‘was he the inventor of a benefit to his fellow…
67
… Page 68…
THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
men that might have been envied by the gods themselves； for not only did
he confer immortality upon the originals of these portraits； but he
transmitted these portraits to all parts of the earth； so that everywhere it
might be possible for them to be present； and for each to occupy his
niche。''
Now； Pliny is not the only one who has contributed to the
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 se
