n eminent degree) could mistake oaths for
prayers, or boisterous treatment for calm and gentle usage.
If it be said--why

"draw his frailties from their drear abode?"

the answer is obvious, and, I should hope, irrefragable. A
duty, and a sacred one too, is due TO THE LIVING. Past
examples operate upon future ones: and posterity ought to
know, in the instance of this accomplished scholar and
literary antiquary, that neither the sharpest wit, nor the
most delicate intellectual refinement, can, alone, afford a
man 'PEACE AT THE LAST.' The vessel of human existence must
be secured by other anchors than these, when the storm of
death approaches!]

LOREN. You have seen a few similar copies in the library; which I
obtained after a strenuous effort. There was certainly a very great
degree of Book-Madness exhibited at the sale of Steevens's
library--and yet I remember to have witnessed stronger symptoms of
the Bibliomania!

LIS. Can it be possible? Does this madness

'Grow with our growth, and strengthen with our strength?'

Will not such volcanic fury burn out in time?

PHIL. You prevent Lysander from resuming, by the number and rapidity
of your interrogatories. Revert to your first question.

LIS. Truly, I forget it. But proceed with your history, Lysander; and
pardon my abruptness.

LYSAND. Upon condition that you promise not to interrupt me again this
evening?

LIS. I pledge my word. Proceed.

LYSAND. Having dispatched our account of the sale of the
last-mentioned distinguished book-collector, I proceed with my
historical survey: tho', indeed, it is high time to close this
tedious bibliomaniacal history. The hour of midnight has gone by:--and
yet I will not _slur over_ my account of the remaining characters of
respectability.

The collections of STRANGE[410] and Woodhouse are next, in routine, to
be noticed. The catalogue of the library of the former is a great
favourite of mine: the departments into which the books are divided,
and the compendious descriptions of the volumes, together with the
extent and variety of the collection, may afford considerable
assistance to judicious bibliomaniacs. Poor WOODHOUSE:[411] thy zeal
outran thy wit: thou wert indefatigable in thy search after rare and
precious _prints and books_; and thy very choice collection of both is
a convincing proof that, where there is wealth and zeal,
opportunities in abun