This extraordinary man, whom France may consider the first Bibliomaniac of the sixteenth century, died at Paris in the year 1565, and in the 86th of his age. Let us close this account of him with an extract from Marville's Melanges d'Histoire et de Litérature; "La Bibliothèque de M. Grollier s'est conservée dans l'Hôtel de Vic jusqu'à ces annêes dernieres qu'elle a été venduë à l'encan. Elle meritoit bien, étant une des premieres et des plus accomplies qu'aucun particulier se soit avisé de faire à Paris, de trouver, comme celle de M. de Thou, un acheteur qui en conservât le lustre. La plûpart des curieux de Paris ont profité de ses débris. J'en ai eu à ma part quelques volumes à qui rien ne manque: ni pour la bonté des editions de ce tems là, ni pour la beauté du papier et la propreté de la relieure. Il semble, à les voir, que les Muses qui ont contribué à la composition du dedans, se soient aussi appliquées à les approprier au dehors, tant il paroît d'art et d'esprit dans leurs ornemens. Ils sont tous dorez avec une delicatesse inconnuë aux doreurs d'aujourd'hui. Les compartemens sont pients de diverses couleurs, parfaitemente bien dessinez, et tous de differentes figures, &c.:" vol. i., p. 187, edit. 1725. Then follows a description, of which the reader has just had ocular demonstration. After such an account, what bibliomaniac can enjoy perfect tranquillity of mind unless he possess a Grollier copy of some work or other? My own, from which the preceding fac-simile was taken, is a folio edition (1531) of Rhenanus, de rebus Germanicis; in the finest preservation.
Phil. Lysander will best observe upon him.
Lysand. Nay; his character cannot be in better hands.
Phil. Grollier was both the friend and the treasurer of Francis the First; the bosom companion of De Thou, and a patron of the Aldine family. He had learning, industry, and inflexible integrity. His notions of Virtû were vast, but not wild. There was a magnificence about every thing which he did or projected; and his liberality was without bounds. He was the unrivalled Mecænas of book-lovers and scholars; and a more insatiable bibliomaniacal appetite was never, perhaps, possessed by any of his class of character.
Lis. I thank you for this Grollieriana. Proceed, Lysander with your large paper copies.
Alman. But first tell us—why are these copies so much coveted? Do they contain more than the ordinary ones?
Lysand. Not in the least. Sometimes, however, an extra embellishment is thrown into the volume—but this, again, belongs to the fourth class of symptoms, called Unique Copies—and I must keep strictly to order; otherwise I shall make sad confusion.
Belin. Keep to your large paper, exclusively.[430]
[430] Let us first hear Dr. Ferriar's smooth numbers upon this tremendous symptom of the Bibliomania:
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But devious oft, from ev'ry classic Muse, The keen collector meaner paths will choose: And first the Margin's breadth his soul employs, Pure, snowy, broad, the type of nobler joys. In vain might Homer roll the tide of song, Or Horace smile, or Tully charm the throng; If crost by Pallas' ire, the trenchant blade Or too oblique, or near, the edge invade, The Bibliomane exclaims, with haggard eye, 'No Margin!'—turns in haste, and scorns to buy. The Bibliomania; v. 34-43. |