the most of the transient hour, and, by my enthusiasm, have perhaps atoned for my deficiency of information.

LIS. But cannot you resume this conversation on the morrow?

LYSAND. My stay with our friend is short, and I know not how he means to dispose of me to-morrow. But I have done-certainly done-with Personal History!

LOREN. That may be. Yet there are other departments of the Bibliomania which may be successfully discussed. The weather will probably be fine, and let us enjoy a morning conversazione in THE ALCOVE?

BELIN. Surely, Lysander may find something in the fruitful pigeon-holes of his imagination— as the Abbè Sieyes used to do-from which he may draw forth some system or another?

ALMAN. You have all talked loudly and learnedly of the BOOK-DISEASE; but I wish to know whether a mere collector of books be a bibliomaniac?

LYSAND. Certainly not.

There are SYMPTOMS of this disease within the very books themselves of a bibliomaniac.

ALMAN. And pray what are these?

LYSAND. Alas, madam!-why are you so unreasonable? And how, after knowing that I have harangued for more than seven hours by Westminster clock'-how can you have the conscience to call upon me to protract the oration? The night

has already melted into morning; and I suppose grey twilight is discoverable upon the summit of the hills. I am exhausted; and long for repose. · Indeed I must wish you all a good night.

BELIN. But you promise to commence your symptomatic harangue on the morrow?

LYSAND. If my slumbers are sound, lady fair, and I rise tolerably recruited in strength, I will surely make good my promise. Again, good night!

BELIN. Sir, a very good night: and let our best thanks follow you to your pillow.

ALMAN. Remember, as you sink to repose, what a quantity of good you have done, by haying imparted such useful information.

LYSAND. I shall carry your best wishes, and grateful mention of my poor labors, with me to my orisons. Adieu!-'tis very late.

Lisardo slept at

Here the company broke up. Lorenzo's. Philemon and Lysander accompanied me to my home; and as we past Lorenzo's outer gate, and looked backward upon the highest piece of rising ground, we fancied we saw the twilight of morning. Never was a mortal more heartily thanked for his colloquial exertions, than was Lysander. On reaching home, as we separated for our respective chambers, we shook hands most cordially; and my eloquent guest returned the

squeeze, in a manner which seemed to tell that he had no greater happiness at heart, than that of finding a reciprocity of sentiment among those whom he tenderly esteemed. At this moment, we could have given to each other the choicest volume in I our libraries; and I regretted that I had not contrived to put my black-morocco copy of the small Aldine Petrarch, printed upon VELLUM, under Lysander's pillow, as a Pignus Amicitiæ.'-But we were all to assemble together in Lorenzo's ALCOVE on the morrow; and this thought gave me such lively pleasure, that I did not close my eyes 'till the clock had struck five. Such are the bed-luxu

PART VI.

The Alcove.

SYMPTOMS OF THE BIBLIOMANIA.

OF ITS CURE.

PROBABLE MEANS

One saith this booke is too long; another, too short: the third, of due length; and for fine phrase and style, the like [of] that booke was not made a great while. It is all lies, said another; the booke is starke naught.'

Choice of Change; 1585. 4to. sign. N. i.