The Love of Books
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The Love of Books
The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury
translated into english by
E. C. Thomas
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First published 1473
This edition 2003
by Type One, LLC
Madison, WI 53703
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“Take thou a book into thine hands as Simon the Just took the
child Jesus into his arms to carry Him and kiss Him. And when
thou hast finished reading, close the book and give thanks for
every word out of the mouth of God; because in the Lord’s field
thou hast found a hidden treasure.”
—Thomas à Kempis,
Doctrinale Juvenum
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c o n t e n t s
Preface
/
ix
Prologue
/
3
one That the treasure of wisdom is chiefly contained
in books
/
7
two The degree of affection that is properly due to books
/
11
three What we are to think of the price in the buying
of books
/
13
four The complaint of books against the clergy already
promoted
/
15
five The complaint of books against the possessioners
/
21
six The complaint of books against the mendicants
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23
seven The complaint of books against wars
/
27
eight Of the numerous opportunities we have had of collecting
a store of books
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31
nine How, although we preferred the works of the ancients,
we have not condemned the studies of the moderns
/
37
ten Of the gradual perfecting of books
/ 41
eleven Why we have preferred books of liberal learning to books
of law
/ 43
twelve Why we have caused books of grammar to be so diligently
prepared
/ 45
thirteen Why we have not wholly neglected the fables of the
poets
/ 47
fourteen Who ought to be special lovers of books
/ 49
fifteen Of the advantages of the love of books
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51
sixteen That it is meritorious to write new books and to renew
the old
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55
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seventeen Of showing due propriety in the custody of books
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59
eighteen Showeth that we have collected so great store of books
for the common benefit of scholars and