Bibliomania; or Book-Madness: A Bibliographical RomanceDibdin, Thomas Frognall
History
Bibliomania; or Book-Madness: A Bibliographical Romance
Dibdin, Thomas Frognall
Bibliography; Bibliomania; Book collecting; Books -- Prices
In _the first place_, the disease of the Bibliomania is materially
softened, or rendered mild, by directing our studies to _useful and
profitable_ works--whether these be printed upon small or large paper,
in the gothic, roman, or italic type; To consider purely the
_intrinsic_ excellence, and not the exterior splendour, or
adventitious value, of any production, will keep us perhaps wholly
free from this disease. Let the midnight lamp be burnt to illuminate
the stores of antiquity--whether they be romances, or chronicles, or
legends, and whether they be printed by Aldus or by Caxton--if a
brighter lustre can thence be thrown upon the pages of modern
learning! To trace genius to its source, or to see how she has been
influenced or modified, by "the lore of past times" is both a pleasing
and profitable pursuit. To see how Shakspeare has here and there
plucked a flower, from some old ballad or popular tale, to enrich his
own unperishable garland--to follow Spenser and Milton in their
delightful labyrinths 'midst the splendour of Italian literature--are
studies which stamp a dignity upon our intellectual characters! But,
in such a pursuit let us not overlook the wisdom of modern times, nor
fancy that what is only ancient can be excellent. We must remember
that Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Taylor, Chillingworth, Robertson, Hume,
Gibbon, and Paley, are names which always command attention from the
wise, and remind us of the improved state of reason and acquired
knowledge during the two last centuries.
In the _second place_, the re-printing of scarce and intrinsically
valuable works is another means of preventing the propagation of this
disorder. Amidst all our present sufferings under the BIBLIOMANIA, it
is some consolation to find discerning and spirited booksellers
re-publishing the valuable Chronicles of Froissart, Holinshed, and
Hall,[69] and the collections known by the names of "The Harleian
Miscellany," and "Lord Somer's Tracts." These are noble efforts, and
richly deserve the public patronage.
[Footnote 69: The re-publication of these chronicles is to
be followed by those of Grafton and Fabian. Meanwhile,
Hakluyt's Voyages, (projected by Mr. Evans), and Fuller's
Worthies (by Messrs. Longman, and Co.) will form admirable
acquisitions to these treasures of past times.]
In the _third place_, the editing of our best ancient authors, whether
in prose or poetry,[70] is another means of effectually counteracting
the progress of the Bibliomania, as it has been described under its
several symptoms.
[Footnote 70: The recent _Variorum_ editions of Shakspeare,
of which some yet prefer that of Steevens, 1793, 15 vols.
8vo.--Mr. Todd's editions of Milton and Spenser; Mr. G.
Chalmers' edition of Sir David Lyndsay's works; Mr.
Gifford's edition of Massinger; and Mr. Octavius
Gilchrist's, of Bishop Corbett's poems, exemplify the good
effects of this _third means of cure_.]
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