n object of elegant ornament as the head of a cane,
the hilt of a sword, or the latchet of a shoe.' _Lorenzo de
Medici_; vol. ii., 79, 8vo. edition. Did Geyler allude to
such bibliomaniacs in the following sentence? Sunt qui
libros inaurant et serica tegimenta apponunt preciosa et
superba. Grandis haec fatuitas! _Navicula, sive Speculum
Fatuorum_; (Navis Stultifera) _sign. B. v. rev._]

BELIN. For the benefit--not of the 'Country Gentlemen,' but--of the
'Country Ladies,' do pray translate these Latin words. We are always
interested about the pastoral life.

LIS. It only means, Belinda, that this said shepherd was blockhead
enough to keep gazing upon his beloved fair, although every glance
shot him through the heart, and killed him a hundred times. Still he
caressed the cause of his ruin. And so bibliomaniacs hug the very
volumes of which they oftentimes know they cannot afford the purchase
money! I have not forgotten your account of Dr. Dee:[444] but the
ladies were then absent.

[Footnote 444: See p. 262, ante.]

BELIN. Well, let us now go on to the explanation of the _fifth
symptom_ of the Bibliomania; which you have called, Copies PRINTED
UPON VELLUM!

LYSAND. A desire for books printed in this manner[445] is an equally
strong and general symptom of the Biblomania; but, as these works are
rarely to be obtained of modern date, the collector is obliged to have
recourse to specimens executed, three centuries ago, in the printing
offices of Aldus, Verard, or the Giunti. Although the _Bibliotheque
Imperiale_, at Paris, and the library of Count M'Carthy, at Toulouse,
are said to contain the greatest number of books, printed upon vellum,
yet, those who have been fortunate enough to see copies of this kind
in the libraries of his Majesty, the Duke of Marlborough, Earl
Spencer, Mr. Johnes, and the late Mr. Cracherode (which latter is now
in the British Museum) need not travel on the Continent for the sake
of being convinced of their exquisite beauty and splendour. An
_unique_ copy of the first Livy, upon vellum, (of which the owner has
excited the envy of foreigners) is a library of itself!--and the
existence of vellum copies of Wynkyn De Worde's reprint of _Juliana
Barnes's Book of Hawking, &c._, complete in every respect, (to say
nothing of his Majesty's similar copy of Caxton's _Doctrinal of
Sapience_, in the finest preservation) are sufficient demonstrations
of the prevalance of t