To this library, two years later, James, the pedant, who seemed determined to prove that a learned king, too, could be a crowned ass, paid a visit. After making an excessively feeble pun anent the bust of the founder in the large room, which had been sent there by the Earl of Dorset, Chancellor of the University, he looked at the book shelves, and remarked that he had often had proof from the University of the fruits of talent and ability, but had never before seen the garden where those fruits grew, and whence they were gathered. He examined various MSS. and discoursed wisely on them; took up the treatise by Gaguinus entitled "De puritate conceptionis Virginis Mariæ," and remarked that the author had so written about purity, as if he wished that it should only be found on the title of his book. The opportunity of thus displaying his learning was so grateful to the King, that he was moved to an astonishing act of generosity. He offered to present from all the libraries of the royal palaces whatever precious and rare books Sir T. Bodley might choose to carry away. It does not appear that the number or importance of books so granted was in the event very great. Upon leaving the room the King exclaimed, probably with sincerity, that were he not King James he would be a University man; and that were it his fate at any time to be a captive, he would wish to be shut up, could he but have the choice, in this place as his prison, to be bound with its chains, and to consume his days among its books as his fellows in captivity. To this library came James' ill-starred son, and here, it is said, he was tempted by Lord Falkland to consult the "Sortes Virgilianæ." The passage which first met his eye runs thus in Dryden's translation: "Let him for succour sue from place to place Torn from his subjects and his son's embrace. And when at length the cruel war shall cease On hard conditions may he buy his peace." Lord Falkland then opened the Virgil in his turn, hoping that his "lot" might remove the gloomy impression of this bad omen. [Illustration: The Gardens Exeter College] But the passage on which he lit dealt with the untimely death of Pallas: "O curst essay of arms, disastrous doom, Prelude of bloody deeds and fights to come."