At four o'clock we set off, in company with Lisardo, for Lorenzo's
dinner. I need hardly add that the company of the latter was cordially
welcomed by our host; who, before the course of pastry was cleared
away, proposed a sparkling bumper of Malmsey madeira, to commemorate
his conversion to Bibliomaniacism. By half-past-five we were ushered
into THE LIBRARY, to partake of a costly dessert of rock melons and
Hamburgh grapes, with all their appropriate embellishments of
nectarines and nuts. Massive and curiously cut decanters, filled with
the genuine juice of the grape, strayed backwards and forwards upon
the table: and well-furnished minds, which could not refuse the luxury
of such a feast, made every thing as pleasant as rational pleasure
could be.

LIS. If Lorenzo have not any thing which he may conceive more
interesting to propose, I move that you, good Lysander, now resume the
discussion of a subject which you so pleasantly commenced last night.

PHIL. I rise to second the motion.

LOREN. And I, to give it every support in my power.

LYSAND. There is no resisting such adroitly levelled attacks. Do pray
tell me what it is you wish me to go on with?

PHIL. The history of book-collecting and of book-collectors in this
country.

LIS. The history of BIBLIOMANIA, if you please.

LYSAND. You are madder than the maddest of book-collectors, Lisardo.
But I will gossip away upon the subjects as well as I am able.

I think we left off with an abuse of the anti-bibliomaniacal powers of
chivalry. Let us pursue a more systematic method; and begin, as
Lisardo says, "at the beginning."

In the plan which I may pursue, you must forgive me, my friends, if
you find it desultory and irregular: and, as a proof of the sincerity
of your criticism, I earnestly beg that, like the chivalrous judge, of
whom mention was made last night, you will cry out "_Ho!_" when you
wish me to cease. But where shall we begin? From what period shall we
take up the history of BOOKISM (or, if you please, BIBLIOMANIA) in
this country? Let us pass over those long-bearded gentlemen called the
Druids; for in the various hypotheses which sagacious antiquaries have
advanced upon their beloved _Stone-henge_, none, I believe, are to be
found wherein the traces of a _Library_, in that vast ruin, are
pretended to be discovered. As the Druids were sparing of their
writing,[227] they probably read the more; but whether they carried
their books with them into tr