A Dechachordon of ten Quodlibetical Questions, by R. Persons. 1602.
Niobe dissolved into a Violin, or his Age drowned in his own Tears.
These are a few quaint things taken at hazard out of the Black Letter Bookseller’s catalogue; and it may be further observed on the subject, that all the books by Nash, Green, Withers, &c. then becoming very dear and rare, were distinguished by similarly eccentric appellations. Our Bookseller, with great sagacity and diligence, availed himself of the prevailing phantasy, and thus laid the foundation of emoluments which he did not live to enjoy.
A whimsical anecdote of this personage will serve to illustrate the temper of the times, as demonstrated among us at the commencement of the French Revolution.
On the murder of the unfortunate King of France, the Sexagenarian wrote a pamphlet, which he entitled “Brief Memoirs of the Chief of the French Regicides,” for which at that time he had access to curious and authentic documents. He offered it to the Black Letter Bookseller and his partner, who accepted it, paid the sum agreed upon, and advertised it for sale on a certain day.
A short time, however, before this day arrived, the more active of the partners called upon the author, and informed him, that they should feel themselves much obliged if he would change the title-page of the intended pamphlet. Our friend expressed great surprise, and desired an explanation of the motives which induced such a request. The reply was to this effect:—That it was hardly possible then to foresee how matters would ultimately turn out; that they had among their best customers individuals of strong political opinions, who might hereafter take great offence at their publishing a pamphlet with such a title. The author, who was loyal to the very core, endeavoured to argue and remonstrate, but all in vain. A new title was prefixed, the old one at some expence cancelled, and the brochure made its appearance with the more harmless and less offensive inscription of “Brief Memoirs of the Leaders of the French Revolution.” A large impression was very soon sold.
The scrupulous feelings on matters which regarded politics, rather increased than diminished on the part of this house. The author afterwards composed a waggish sort of parody, or rather commentary, on Paine’s Rights of Man, in which many of that writer’s doctrines and positions were turned to ridicule. He offered it to the Black Letter Bookseller, who ingenuously acknowledged that such was the spirit of the times, as to compel him to decline being the publisher of any works of a political tendency.
Adde vultum habitumque hominis.
Nam neque chorda sonum reddit quem vult manus et mens,