Bibliomania in the Middle Ages: Or, Sketches of Bookworms, Collectors, Bible Students, Scribes, and Illuminators, from the Anglo Saxon and Norman Periods, to the Introduction of Printing Into England ; with Anecdotes, Illustrating the History of the Monastic Libraries of Great Britain in the Olden Time

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Merryweather, 1849 - Bibliofília - 218 pages

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Page 85 - You will perhaps see a stiff-necked youth, lounging sluggishly in his study, while the frost pinches him in winter time, oppressed with cold, his watery nose drops, nor does he take the trouble to wipe it with his handkerchief till it has moistened the book beneath it with its vile dew.
Page 125 - The good man listened," as saith Venerable Bede, "like a clean animal ruminating; and his song and his verse were so winsome to hear, that his teachers wrote them down, and learned from his mouth." These teachers could not have learned more than they themselves had taught. We can only draw out of a cistern the waters which we have poured into it. Every succeeding day, however, swelled the Caedmonian Poem; assuredly there wanted neither zeal nor hands —for the glory of the monastery of Whitby.!
Page 192 - Titus, e la Vie Seint Nicolas, qe fust nez en Patras. E la Vie Seint Eustace. E la vie Seint Cudlac. E la Passioun n're Seygneur. E la Meditacioun Seint Bernard de n're Dame Seint Marie, e del Passioun sour deuz fiz Jesu Creist n're Seignr.
Page 146 - I proceeded during my domestic leisure, to inquire if anything concerning our own country could be found worthy of handing down to posterity. Hence it arose, that not content with the writings of ancient times, I began myself to compose, not indeed to display my learning, which is comparatively nothing, but to bring to light events lying concealed in the confused mass of antiquity.
Page 5 - Never had we bene offended for the losse of our lybraryes beynge so many in nombre and in so desolate places for the...
Page 81 - ... oblivion, the abodes of moths. Amongst these nevertheless, as time served, we sat down more voluptuously than the delicate physician could do amidst his stores of aromatics; and where we found an object of love, we found also an assuagement. Thus the sacred vessels of science came into the power of our disposal — some being given, some sold, and not a few lent for a time.
Page 145 - A LONG period has elapsed since, as well through the care of my parents as my own industry, I became familiar with books. This pleasure possessed me from my childhood : this source of delight has grown with my years. Indeed I was so instructed by my father, that, had I -turned aside to other pursuits, I should have considered it as jeopardy to my soul and discredit to my character. Wherefore mindful of the adage "covet what is necessary," I constrained my early age to desire eagerly that which it...
Page 6 - A greate nombre of them whyche purchased those superstycyouse mansyons (Monasteries) reserved of those librarye bookes some to serve their jakes, some to secure theyr candelstyckes, and some to rubbe theyr bootes. Some they solde to the grossers and sope sellers, and some they sent over see to y* booke bynders, not in small nombre, but at tymes whole shyppes full, to y* wonderynge of foren nacyons.
Page 21 - ... but to attend solely to the business of transcribing. To prevent distraction or interruption, no one was allowed to enter except the abbot, the prior, the sub-prior, and the armarian ; as the latter took charge of all the materials and implements used by the transcribers, it was his duty to prepare and give them out when required ; he made the ink, and cut the parchment ready for use. He was strictly enjoined, however, to exercise the greatest economy in supplying these precious materials, and...
Page 83 - In addition to this, we were charged with the frequent embassies of the said Prince, of everlasting memory, and, owing to the multiplicity of state affairs, were sent first to the Roman Chair, then to the Court of France, then to various other kingdoms of the world, on tedious embassies and in perilous times, carrying about with us, however, that fondness for books which many waters could not extinguish ; for this, like a certain drug, sweetened the wormwood of peregrination ; this, after the perplexing...

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