the library(图书馆)-第2部分
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critics who take this view of new books have no patience with persons
who care for 〃margins；〃 and 〃condition；〃 and early copies of old books。
We cannot hope to convert the adversary； but it is not necessary to be
disturbed by his clamour。 People are happier for the possession of a taste
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as long as they possess it； and it does not； like the demons of Scripture；
possess them。 The wise collector gets instruction and pleasure from his
pursuit； and it may well be that； in the long run； he and his family do not
lose money。 The amusement may chance to prove a very fair investment。
As to this question of making money by collecting； Mr。 Hill Burton
speaks very distinctly in 〃The Book…hunter：〃 〃Where money is the object
let a man speculate or become a miser。 。 。 Let not the collector ever； unless
in some urgent and necessary circumstances； part with any of his treasures。
Let him not even have recourse to that practice called barter； which
political philosophers tell us is the universal resource of mankind
preparatory to the invention of money。 Let him confine all his
transactions in the market to purchasing only。 No good comes of
gentlemen…amateurs buying and selling。〃 There is room for difference of
opinion here； but there seems to be most reason on the side of Mr。 Hill
Burton。 It is one thing for the collector to be able to reflect that the
money he expends on books is not lost； and that his family may find
themselves richer； not poorer； because he indulged his taste。 It is quite
another thing to buy books as a speculator buys shares； meaning to sell
again at a profit as soon as occasion offers。 It is necessary also to warn
the beginner against indulging extravagant hopes。 He must buy
experience with his books； and many of his first purchases are likely to
disappoint him。 He will pay dearly for the wrong 〃Caesar〃 of 1635； the
one WITHOUT errors in pagination； and this is only a common example
of the beginner's blunders。 Collecting is like other forms of sport； the aim
is not certain at first； the amateur is nervous； and； as in angling； is apt to
〃strike〃 （a bargain） too hurriedly。
I often think that the pleasure of collecting is like that of sport。 People
talk of 〃book…hunting；〃 and the old Latin motto says that 〃one never
wearies of the chase in this forest。〃 But the analogy to angling seems
even stronger。 A collector walks in the London or Paris streets； as he
does by Tweed or Spey。 Many a lordly mart of books he passes； like Mr。
Quaritch's； Mr。 Toovey's； or M。 Fontaine's； or the shining store of M。M。
Morgand et Fatout； in the Passage des Panoramas。 Here I always feel
like Brassicanus in the king of Hungary's collection； 〃non in Bibliotheca；
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sed in gremio Jovis；〃 〃not in a library； but in paradise。〃 It is not given to
every one to cast angle in these preserves。 They are kept for dukes and
millionaires。 Surely the old Duke of Roxburghe was the happiest of
mortals； for to him both the chief bookshops and auction rooms； and the
famous salmon streams of Floors； were equally open； and he revelled in
the prime of book…collecting and of angling。 But there are little tributary
streets； with humbler stalls； shy pools； as it were； where the humbler fisher
of books may hope to raise an Elzevir； or an old French play； a first edition
of Shelley； or a Restoration comedy。 It is usually a case of hope
unfulfilled； but the merest nibble of a rare book； say Marston's poems in
the original edition； or Beddoes's 〃Love's Arrow Poisoned；〃 or Bankes's
〃Bay Horse in a Trance；〃 or the 〃Mel Heliconicum〃 of Alexander Ross； or
〃Les Oeuvres de Clement Marot； de Cahors； Vallet de Chambre du Roy； A
Paris； Ches Pierre Gaultier； 1551；〃 even a chance at something of this sort
will kindle the waning excitement； and add a pleasure to a man's walk in
muddy London。 Then； suppose you purchase for a couple of shillings the
〃Histoire des Amours de Henry IV； et autres pieces curieuses； A Leyde；
Chez Jean Sambyx （Elzevir）； 1664；〃 it is certainly not unpleasant； on
consulting M。 Fontaine's catalogue； to find that he offers the same work at
the ransom of 10 pounds。 The beginner thinks himself in singular luck；
even though he has no idea of vending his collection； and he never reflects
that CONDITIONspotless white leaves and broad margins； make the
market value of a book。
Setting aside such bare considerations of profit； the sport given by
bookstalls is full of variety and charm。 In London it may be pursued in
most of the cross streets that stretch a dirty net between the British
Museum and the Strand。 There are other more shy and less frequently
poached resorts which the amateur may be allowed to find out for himself。
In Paris there is the long sweep of the Quais； where some eighty
bouquinistes set their boxes on the walls of the embankment of the Seine。
There are few country towns so small but that books； occasionally rare and
valuable； may be found lurking in second…hand furniture warehouses。
This is one of the advantages of living in an old country。 The Colonies
are not the home for a collector。 I have seen an Australian bibliophile
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enraptured by the rare chance of buying； in Melbourne； an early work on
the history of Port Jackson！ This seems but poor game。 But in Europe
an amateur has always occupation for his odd moments in town； and is for
ever lured on by the radiant apparition of Hope。 All collectors tell their
anecdotes of wonderful luck； and magnificent discoveries。 There is a
volume 〃Voyages Litteraires sur les Quais de Paris〃 （Paris； Durand； 1857）；
by M。 de Fontaine de Resbecq； which might convert the dullest soul to
book…hunting。 M。 de Resbecq and his friends had the most amazing good
fortune。 A M。 N… found six original plays of Moliere （worth perhaps as
many hundreds of pounds）； bound up with Garth's 〃Dispensary；〃 an
English poem which has long lost its vogue。 It is worth while； indeed； to
examine all volumes marked 〃Miscellanea；〃 〃Essays；〃 and the like； and
treasures may possibly lurk； as Snuffy Davy knew； within the battered
sheepskin of school books。 Books lie in out of the way places。 Poggio
rescued 〃Quintilian〃 from the counter of a wood merchant。 The best time
for book…hunting in Paris is the early morning。 〃The take；〃 as anglers say；
is 〃on〃 from half…past seven to half…past nine a。m。 At these hours the
vendors exhibit their fresh wares； and the agents of the more wealthy
booksellers come and pick up everything worth having。 These agents
quite spoil the sport of the amateur。 They keep a strict watch on every
country dealer's catalogue； snap up all he has worth selling； and sell it over
again； charging pounds in place of shillings。 But M。 de Resbecq vows
that he once picked up a copy of the first edition of La Rochefoucauld's
〃Maxims〃 out of a box which two booksellers had just searched。 The
same collector got together very promptly all the original editions of La
Bruyere； and he even found a copy of the Elzevir 〃Pastissier Francais；〃 at
the humble price of six sous。 Now the 〃 Pastissier Francais；〃 an ill…
printed little cookery…book of the Elzevirs； has lately fetched 600 pounds
at a sale。 The Antiquary's story of Snuffy Davy and the 〃Game of
Chess；〃 is dwarfed by the luck of M。 de Resbecq。 Not one amateur in a
thousand can expect such good fortune。 There is； however； a recent
instance of a Rugby boy； who picked up； on a stall； a few fluttering leaves
hanging together on a flimsy thread。 The old woman who kept the stall
could hardly be induced to accept the large sum of a shilling for an
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original quarto of Shakespeare's 〃King John。〃 These stories are told that
none may despair。 That none may be over confident； an author may
recount his own experience。 The only odd trouvaille that ever fell to me
was a clean copy of 〃La Journee Chretienne；〃 with the name of Leon
Gambetta； 1844； on its catholic fly…leaf。 Rare books grow rarer every
day； and of
