The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury | Page 4

and have become more fiercely thirsty by the
very taste. Though fit for the liberal arts and disposed to study the
sacred writings alone, being deprived of the aid of their friends, by a
kind of apostasy they return to the mechanical arts solely to gain a
livelihood, to the loss of the Church and the degradation of the whole
clergy. Thus Mother Church conceiving sons is compelled to miscarry,
nay, some misshapen monster is born untimely from her womb, and for
lack of that little with which Nature is contented, she loses excellent
pupils, who might afterwards become champions and athletes of the
faith. Alas, how suddenly the woof is cut, while the hand of the weaver
is beginning his work! Alas, how the sun is eclipsed in the brightness of
the dawn, and the planet in its course is hurled backwards, and, while it
bears the nature and likeness of a star suddenly drops and becomes a
meteor! What more piteous sight can the pious man behold? What can
more sharply stir the bowels of his pity? What can more easily melt a
heart hard as an anvil into hot tears? On the other hand, let us recall
from past experience how much it has profited the whole Christian
commonwealth, not indeed to enervate students with the delights of a
Sardanapalus or the riches of a Croesus, but rather to support them in
their poverty with the frugal means that become the scholar. How many
have we seen with our eyes, how many have we read of in books, who,
distinguished by no pride of birth, and rejoicing in no rich inheritance,
but supported only by the piety of the good, have made their way to

apostolic chairs, have most worthily presided over faithful subjects,
have bent the necks of the proud and lofty to the ecclesiastical yoke and
have extended further the liberties of the Church!
Accordingly, having taken a survey of human necessities in every
direction, with a view to bestow our charity upon them, our
compassionate inclinations have chosen to bear pious aid to this
calamitous class of men, in whom there is nevertheless such hope of
advantage to the Church, and to provide for them, not only in respect of
things necessary to their support, but much more in respect of the
books so useful to their studies. To this end, most acceptable in the
sight of God, our attention has long been unweariedly devoted. This
ecstatic love has carried us away so powerfully, that we have resigned
all thoughts of other earthly things, and have given ourselves up to a
passion for acquiring books. That our intent and purpose, therefore,
may be known to posterity as well as to our contemporaries, and that
we may for ever stop the perverse tongues of gossipers as far as we are
concerned, we have published a little treatise written in the lightest
style of the moderns; for it is ridiculous to find a slight matter treated of
in a pompous style. And this treatise (divided into twenty chapters) will
clear the love we have had for books from the charge of excess, will
expound the purpose of our intense devotion, and will narrate more
clearly than light all the circumstances of our undertaking. And because
it principally treats of the love of books, we have chosen, after the
fashion of the ancient Romans, fondly to name it by a Greek word,
Philobiblon.
CHAPTER I
THAT THE TREASURE OF WISDOM IS CHIEFLY CONTAINED
IN BOOKS
The desirable treasure of wisdom and science, which all men desire by
an instinct of nature, infinitely surpasses all the riches of the world; in
respect of which precious stones are worthless; in comparison with
which silver is as clay and pure gold is as a little sand; at whose
splendour the sun and moon are dark to look upon; compared with

whose marvellous sweetness honey and manna are bitter to the taste. O
value of wisdom that fadeth not away with time, virtue ever flourishing,
that cleanseth its possessor from all venom! O heavenly gift of the
divine bounty, descending from the Father of lights, that thou mayest
exalt the rational soul to the very heavens! Thou art the celestial
nourishment of the intellect, which those who eat shall still hunger and
those who drink shall still thirst, and the gladdening harmony of the
languishing soul which he that hears shall never be confounded. Thou
art the moderator and rule of morals, which he who follows shall not
sin. By thee kings reign and princes decree justice. By thee, rid of their
native rudeness, their minds and tongues being polished, the thorns of
vice being torn up by the roots, those men attain high places of honour,
and become fathers of their country,