the library(图书馆)-第17节
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commences with； a Calendar； in which are written against certain days the
〃obits〃 of benefactors and others； so that a well… filled Psalter often
becomes a historical document of high value and importance。 The first
page of the psalms is ornamented with a huge B； which often fills the
whole page； and contains a representation of David and Goliath
ingeniously fitted to the shape of the letter。 At the end are usually to be
found the hymns of the Three Children； and others from the Bible together
with the Te Deum； and sometimes； in late examples； a litany。 In some
psalters the calendar is at the end。 These Psalters； and the Bibles
described above； are very frequently of English work； more frequently；
that is； than the books of Hours and Missals。 The study of the Scriptures
was evidently more popular in England than in the other countries of
Europe during the Middle Ages； and the early success of the Reformers
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here； must in part； no doubt； be attributed to the wide circulation of the
Bible even before it had been translated from the Latin。 I need hardly；
perhaps； observe that even fragments of a Psalter； a Testament； or a Bible
in English； are so precious as to be practically invaluable。
3。 We are indebted to Sir W。 Tite for the following collation of a
Flemish 〃Book of Hours〃：…
1。 The Calendar。
2。 Gospels of the Nativity and the Resurrection。
3。 Preliminary Prayers （inserted occasionally）。
4。 Horae（Nocturns and Matins）。
5。 （Lauds）。
6。 （Prime）。
7。 （Tierce）。
8。 （Sexte）。
9。 （None）。
10。 （Vespers）。
11。 （Compline）。
12。 The seven penitential Psalms
13。 The Litany。
14。 Hours of the Cross。
15。 Hours of the Holy Spirit。
16。 Office of the Dead。
17。 The Fifteen Joys of B。 V。 M。
18。 The seven requests to our Lord。
19。 Prayers and Suffrages to various Saints。
20。 Several prayers； petitions； and devotions。
This is an unusually full example； but the calendar； the hours； the
seven psalms； and the litany； are in almost all the MSS。 The buyer must
look carefully to see that no miniatures have been cut out； but it is only by
counting the leaves in their gatherings that he can make sure。 This is
often impossible without breaking the binding。
The most valuable 〃Horae〃 are those written in England。 Some are
of the English use （Sarum or York； or whatever it may happen to be）； but
were written abroad； especially in Normandy； for the English market。
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These are also valuable； even when imperfect。 Look for the page before
the commencement of the Hours （No。 4 in the list above）； and at the end
will be found a line in red；〃Incipit Horae secundum usum Sarum；〃 or
otherwise； as the case may be。
4。 Missals do not often occur； and are not only very valuable but
very difficult to collate； unless furnished with catch…words or signatures。
But no Missal is complete without the Canon of the Mass； usually in the
middle of the book； and if there are any illuminations throughout the
volume； there will be a full page Crucifixion； facing the Canon。 Missals
of large size and completeness contain（1） a Calendar； （2） 〃the proper of
the Season；〃 （3） the ordinary and Canon of the Mass； （4） the Communal of
Saints； （5） the proper of Saints and special occasions； （6） the lessons；
epistles； and gospels； with （7） some hymns； 〃proses；〃 and canticles。 This
is Sir W。 Tite's list； but； as he remarks； MS。 Missals seldom contain so
much。 The collector will look for the Canon； which is invariable。
Breviaries run to an immense length； and are seldom illuminated。 It
would be impossible to give them any kind of collation； and the same may
be said of many other kinds of old service…books； and of the chronicles；
poems； romances； and herbals； in which mediaeval literature abounded；
and which the collector must judge as best he can。
The name of 〃missal〃 is commonly and falsely given to all old service…
books by the booksellers； but the collector will easily distinguish one
when he sees it； from the notes I have given。 In a Sarum Missal； at
Alnwick； there is a colophon quoted by my lamented friend Dr。 Rock in
his 〃Textile Fabrics。〃 It is appropriate both to the labours of the old
scribes and also to those of their modern readers：…
〃Librum ScribendoJon Whas Monachus laborabat … Et mane
Surgendomultum corpus macerabat。〃
It is one of the charms of manuscripts that they illustrate； in their
minute way； all the art； and even the social condition； of the period in
which they were produced。 Apostles； saints； and prophets wear the
contemporary costume； and Jonah； when thrown to the hungry whale；
wears doublet and trunk hose。 The ornaments illustrate the architectural
taste of the day。 The backgrounds change from diapered patterns to
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landscapes； as the modern way of looking at nature penetrates the
monasteries and reaches the scriptorium where the illuminator sits and
refreshes his eyes with the sight of the slender trees and blue distant hills。
Printed books have not such resources。 They can only show varieties of
type； quaint frontispieces； printers' devices； and fleurons at the heads of
chapters。 These attractions； and even the engravings of a later day； seem
meagre enough compared with the allurements of manuscripts。 Yet
printed books must almost always make the greater part of a collection；
and it may be well to give some rules as to the features that distinguish the
productions of the early press。 But no amount of 〃rules〃 is worth six
months' practical experience in bibliography。 That experience the
amateur； if he is wise； will obtain in a public library； like the British
Museum or the Bodleian。 Nowhere else is he likely to see much of the
earliest of printed books； which very seldom come into the market。
Those of the first German press are so rare that practically they never
reach the hands of the ordinary collector。 Among them are the famous
Psalters printed by Fust and Schoffer； the earliest of which is dated 1457；
and the bible known as the Mazarine Bible。 Two copies of this last were
in the Perkins sale。 I well remember the excitement on that occasion。
The first copy put up was the best； being printed upon vellum。 The
bidding commenced at 1000 pounds； and very speedily rose to 2200
pounds； at which point there was a long pause； it then rose in hundreds
with very little delay to 3400 pounds； at which it was knocked down to a
bookseller。 The second copy was on paper； and there were those present
who said it was better than the other； which had a suspicion attaching to it
of having been 〃restored〃 with a facsimile leaf。 The first bid was again
1000 pounds； which the buyer of the previous copy made guineas； and the
bidding speedily went up to 2660 pounds； at which price the first bidder
paused。 A third bidder had stepped in at 1960 pounds； and now； amid
breathless excitement； bid 10 pounds more。 This he had to do twice
before the book was knocked down to him at 2690 pounds。
A scene like this has really very little to do with book…collecting。 The
beginner must labour hard
