G."[275]

[Footnote 274: The entire passage is worth extraction: as it
well describes many an old stool which has served for many a
studious philosopher:

"Joint stools were then created: on three legs
Upborne they stood. Three legs upholding firm
A massy slab, in fashion square or round.
On such a stool immortal Alfred sat,
And sway'd the sceptre of his infant realms.
And such in ancient halls and mansions drear
May still be seen; but perforated sore,
And drilled in holes, the solid oak is found,
By worms voracious eating through and through."

_Task_: b. i., v. 19, &c.

It had escaped the amiable and sagacious author of these
verses that such tripodical seats were frequently introduced
into OLD BOOK-ROOMS; as the subjoined print--which gives us
also a curious picture of one of the libraries alluded to by
Lysander--may serve to shew:

[Illustration: _Revelaciones Sancte Birgitte; ed. 1521,
sign. z. 3 rev._]]

[Footnote 275: _Book of Martyrs_, vol. i., p. 927; edit.
1641.]

LIS. Now you have arrived at this period, pray concentrate your
anecdotes into a reasonable compass. As you have inveigled us into the
printing-office of Caxton, I am fearful, from your strong attachment
to him, that we shall not get over the threshhold of it, into the open
air again, until midnight.

PHIL. Order, order, Lisardo! This is downright rudeness. I appeal to
the chair!--

LORENZ. Lisardo is unquestionably reprehensible. His eagerness makes
him sometimes lose sight of good breeding.

LYSAND. I was going to mention some _Vellum_ and _Presentation_
copies--but I shall hurry forward.

LIS. Nay, if you love me, omit nothing about "vellum and presentation
copies." Speak at large upon these glorious subjects.

LYSAND. Poor Lisardo!--we must build an iron cage to contain such a
book-madman as he promises to become!

PHIL. Proceed, dear Lysander, and no longer heed these interruptions.

LYSAND. Nay, I was only about to observe that, as Caxton is known to
have printed _upon vellum_,[276] it is most probable that one of his
presentation copies of the romances of _Jason and Godfrey of Boulogne_
(executed under the patronage of Edward IV.), might have been printed
in the same manner. Be this as it may, it seems reasonable to conclude
that Edward the Fourth was not only fond