the love affairs of a bibliomaniac(藏书癖者的爱情)-第24章
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Pounce on these treasures like a vulture； Nay； give them half
My epitaph And let them share in my sepulture。
Then when the crack Of doom rolls back
The marble and the earth that hide me； I'll smuggle home
Each precious tome Without a fear a wife shall chide me。
The dread of being separated by death from the objects of one's love
has pursued humanity from the beginning。 The Hindoos used to have a
selfish fashion of requiring their widows to be entombed alive with their
corpses。 The North American Indian insists that his horse； his bow and
arrows； his spear； and his other cherished trinkets shall share his grave
with him。
My sister； Miss Susan； has provided that after her demise a number of
her most prized curios shall be buried with her。 The list； as I recall it；
includes a mahogany four…post bedstead； an Empire dresser； a brass
warming…pan； a pair of brass andirons； a Louis Quinze table； a Mayflower
teapot； a Tomb of Washington platter； a pewter tankard； a pair of her
grandmother's candlesticks； a Paul Revere lantern； a tall Dutch clock； a
complete suit of armor purchased in Rome； and a collection of Japanese
bric…a…brac presented to Miss Susan by a returned missionary。
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I do not see what Miss Susan can possibly do with all this trumpery in
the hereafter； but； if I survive her； I shall certainly insist upon a
compliance with her wishes； even though it involve the erection of a
tumulus as prodigious as the pyramid of Cheops。
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
XIV
ELZEVIRS AND DIVERS OTHER MATTERS
Boswell's ‘‘Life of Johnson'' and Lockhart's ‘‘Life of Scott'' are
accepted as the models of biography。 The third remarkable performance
in this line is Mrs。 Gordon's memoir of her father； John Wilson； a volume
so charmingly and tenderly written as to be of interest to those even who
know and care little about that era in the history of English literature in
which ‘‘crusty Christopher'' and his associates in the making of
‘‘Blackwood's'' figured。
It is a significant fact； I think； that the three greatest biographers the
world has known should have been Scotch； it has long been the fashion to
laugh and to sneer at what is called Scotch dulness； yet what prodigies has
not Scotch genius performed in every department of literature； and
would not our literature be poor indeed to…day but for the contributions
which have been made to it by the very people whom we affect to deride？
John Wilson was one of the most interesting figures of a time when
learning was at a premium； he was a big man amongst big men； and even
in this irreverential time genius uncovers at the mention of his name。 His
versatility was astounding； with equal facility and felicity he could
conduct a literary symposium and a cock…fight； a theological discussion
and an angling expedition； a historical or a political inquiry and a
fisticuffs。
Nature had provided him with a mighty brain in a powerful body； he
had a physique equal to the performance of what suggestion soever his
splendid intellectuals made。 To him the incredible feat of walking
seventy miles within the compass of a day was mere child's play； then；
when the printer became clamorous； he would immure himself in his
wonderful den and reel off copy until that printer cried ‘‘Hold； enough！''
It was no unusual thing for him to write for thirteen hours at a stretch；
when he worked he worked； and when he played he played that is
perhaps the reason why he was never a dull boy。
Wilson seems to have been a procrastinator。 He would put off his
task to the very last moment； this is a practice that is common with literary
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menin fact； it was encouraged by those who were regarded as authorities
in such matters anciently。 Ringelbergius gave this advice to an author
under his tuition：
‘‘Tell the printers；'' said he； ‘‘to make preparations for a work you
intend writing； and never alarm yourself about it because it is not even
begun； for； after having announced it you may without difficulty trace out
in your own head the whole plan of your work and its divisions； after
which compose the arguments of the chapters； and I can assure you that in
this manner you may furnish the printers daily with more copy than they
want。 But； remember； when you have once begun there must be no
flagging till the work is finished。''
The loyalty of human admiration was never better illustrated than in
Shelton Mackenzie's devotion to Wilson's genius。 To Mackenzie we are
indebted for a compilation of the ‘‘Noctes Ambrosianae；'' edited with such
discrimination； such ability； such learning； and such enthusiasm that； it
seems to me； the work must endure as a monument not only to Wilson's
but also to Mackenzie's genius。
I have noticed one peculiarity that distinguishes many admirers of the
Noctes： they seldom care to read anything else； in the Noctes they find a
response to the demand of every mood。 It is much the same way with
lovers of Father Prout。 Dr。 O'Rell divides his adoration between old Kit
North and the sage of Watergrass Hill。 To be bitten of either mania is bad
enough； when one is possessed at the same time of a passion both for the
Noctes and for the Reliques hopeless indeed is his malady！ Dr。 O'Rell is
so deep under the spell of crusty Christopher and the Corkonian pere that
he not only buys every copy of the Noctes and of the Reliques he comes
across； but insists upon giving copies of these books to everybody in his
acquaintance。 I have even known him to prescribe one or the other of
these works to patients of his。
I recall that upon one occasion； having lost an Elzevir at a book
auction； I was afflicted with melancholia to such a degree that I had to take
to my bed。 Upon my physician's arrival he made； as is his custom； a
careful inquiry into my condition and into the causes inducing it。 Finally；
‘‘You are afflicted；'' said Dr。 O'Rell； ‘‘with the megrims； which；
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fortunately； is at present confined to the region of the Pacchionian
depressions of the sinister parietal。 I shall administer Father Prout's
‘Rogueries of Tom Moore' （pronounced More） and Kit North's debate with
the Ettrick Shepherd upon the subject of sawmon。 No other remedy will
prove effective。'
