The most meek Moses instructs us about making cases for books in the neatest manner, wherein they may be safely preserved from all damage. 'Take this book,' says he, 'and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God' (Deut. xxxi). O, befitting place, appropriate library, which was made of imperishable Shittim wood, and covered all over inside and out with gold! But our Saviour also, by his own example, precludes all unseemly negligence in the treatment of books, as may be read in Luke iv. For when he had read over the scriptural prophecy written about himself in a book debarred to him, he did not return it to the minister till he had first closed it with his most holy hands; by which act students are most clearly taught that they ought not in the smallest degree whatever to be negligent about the custody of books.--R. DE BURY. _Philobiblon._ Is not the leaf turned down Where I left reading? W. SHAKESPEARE. _Julius Caesar._ AN EDITION DE LUXE With that of the book loosened were the clasps-- The margin was illumined all with golden rails And bees, enpictured with grasshops and wasps, With butterflies and fresh peacock tails, Engloried with flowers and slimy snails; Ennyield pictures well touched and quickly; It would have made a man whole that had be right sickly To behold how it was garnished and bound, Encovered over with gold of tissue fine; The clasps and bullions were worth a thousand pound; With belassis and carbuncles the borders did shine; With aurum mosaicum every other line Was written. JOHN SKELTON. _A Replycacion agaynst certayne yong Scolers, &c._ CARE AS TO BINDINGS Have a care of keeping your books handsome, and well bound, not casting away overmuch in their gilding or stringing for ostentation sake, like the prayer-books of girls and gallants, which are carried to church but for their outsides. Yet for your own use spare them not for noting or interlining (if they be printed), for it is not likely you mean to be a gainer by them, when you have done with them: neither suffer them through negligence to mould and be moth-eaten or want their strings and covers. King Alphonsus, about to lay the foundation of a castle at Naples, called for Vitruvius his book of architecture; the book was brought in very bad case, all dusty and without covers; which the king observing said, 'He that must cover us all, must not go uncovered himself'; then commanded the book to be fairly bound and brought unto him. So say I, suffer them not to lie neglected, who must make you regarded; and go in torn coats, who must apparel your mind with the ornaments of knowledge, above the robes and riches of the most magnificent princes.--H. PEACHAM. _The Compleat Gentleman._ GOLD CLASPS AND A GOLDEN STORY