The Love of Books
The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury
from the Chatto & Windus Publication
London, 1909
see your Guide's feature,
Philobiblon.
"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 Á Kempis: Doctrinale Juvenum
Contents
- Preface
- The Author of the Book
The Bishop as Booklover
The Bishop's Books
Early Editions of the Philobiblon
Mr. E. C. Thomas' Text- Prologue
- Chapter I
- That the treasure of wisdom is chiefly contained in books
- Chapter II
- The degree of affection that is properly due to books
- Chapter III
- What we are to think of the price in the buying of books
- Chapter IV
- The complaint of books against the clergy already promoted
- Chapter V
- The complaint of books against the possessioners
- Chapter VI
- The complaint of books against the mendicants
- Chapter VII
- The complaint of books against wars
- Chapter VIII
- Of the numerous opportunities we have had of collecting a store of books
- Chapter IX
- How, although we preferred the works of the ancients, we have not condemned the studies of the moderns
- Chapter X
- Of the gradual perfecting of books
- Chapter XI
- Why we have preferred books of liberal learning to books of law
- Chapter XII
- Why we have caused books of grammar to be so diligently prepared
- Chapter XIII
- Why we have not wholly neglected the fables of the poets
- Chapter XIV
- Who ought to be special lovers of books
- Chapter XV
- Of the advantages of the love of books
- Chapter XVI
- That it is meritorious to write new books and to renew the old
- Chapter XVII
- Of showing due propriety in the custody of books
- Chapter XVIII
- Showeth that we have collected so great store of books for the common benefit of scholars and not only for our own pleasure
- Chapter XIX
- Of the manner of lending all our books to students
- Chapter XX
- An exhortation to scholars to requite us by pious prayers
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Find out more about Richard de
Bury in
Who's Who in Medieval History
