(On the book-plate of Louis Mohr, 1879. See [page 237].)
The two epigrams below were written by Guillaume Colletet, and have been quoted on several ex-libris, though curiously enough their author did not use one, but was content to sign his name in his books, which were numerous:
“A mes Livres.
Chères delices de mon âme
Gardez vous bien de me quitter
Quoi qu’on vienne vous emprunter.
Chacun de vous m’est une femme
Qui peut se laisser voir sans blâme
Et ne se doit jamais préster.”
(Book-plate of Ch. Mehl, designed by Gustave Jundt, of Strasbourg.)
“Aux Emprunteurs de Livres qui ne les rendent point.
Emprunteurs, pour vous parler net,
Ma bibliothèque connue
Est un meuble de cabinet
Qu’on ne crotte point dans la rue.”
Both these verses were first published in the “Epigrammes du Sieur Guillaume Colletet.” Paris, 1653.
“Un livre preté, comme la vieille Garde, ne se rend pas.”