t considered to be
unique. The reader will see some copious extracts from it in
the second volume of the _British Typographical
Antiquities_.]

"First, to enter the lists on foot, each armed in the manner he shall
please, having a dagger and sword attached to any part of his body,
and a battle-axe, with the handle of such length as the challenger
shall fix on. The combat to be as follows: ten strokes of the
battle-axe, without intermission; and when these strokes shall have
been given, and the judge shall cry out 'Ho!' ten cuts with the sword
to be given without intermission or change of armour. When the judge
shall cry out 'Ho!' we will resort to our daggers, and give ten stabs
with them. Should either party lose or drop his weapon, the other may
continue the use of the one in his hand until the judge shall cry out
'Ho!'" &c.[217] A very pretty specimen of honourable combat,
truly!--and a mighty merciful judge who required even more cuts and
thrusts than these (for the combat is to go on) before he cried out
"Ho!" Defend us from such ejaculatory umpires!--

[Footnote 217: See _Monstrelet's Chronicles_, translated by
Thomas Johnes, Esq., vol. i., p. 8, edit. 1809, 4to. Another
elegant and elaborate specimen of the Hafod press; whose
owner will be remembered as long as literature and taste
shall be cultivated in this country.]

LIS. Pray dwell no longer upon such barbarous heroism! We admit that
_Monachism_ may have contributed towards the making of bibliomaniacs
more effectually than _Chivalry_. Now proceed--

These words had hardly escaped Lisardo, when the arrival of my worthy
neighbour NARCOTTUS (who lived by the parsonage house), put a stop to
the discourse. Agreeably to a promise which I had made him three days
before, he came to play a GAME OF CHESS with Philemon; who, on his
part, although a distinguished champion at this head-distracting game,
gave way rather reluctantly to the performance of the promise: for
LYSANDER was now about to enter upon the history of the Bibliomania in
this country. The Chess-board, however was brought out; and down to
the contest the combatants sat--while Lisardo retired to one corner of
the room to examine thoroughly his newly-purchased volumes, and
Lysander took down a prettily executed 8vo. volume upon the Game of
Chess, printed at Cheltenham, about six years ago, and composed "by an
amateur." While we were examining, in this neat work,