nent literary characters; and whenever he gets a genuine
Vandyke, or Velasquez, he congratulates himself exceedingly upon his
good fortune.

[Footnote 168: The reader, who is partial to the
lucubrations of Thomas Hearne, may peruse a long gossipping
note of his upon the importance of _stained glass
windows_--in his account of Godstow nunnery. See his _Guil.
Neubrig._, vol. ii., 768.]

LIS. All this bespeaks a pretty correct taste. But I wish to know
something of the man.

PHIL. You shall, presently; and, in hearing what I am about to relate,
only let us both strive, good Lisardo, so to regulate our studies and
feelings that our old age may be like unto Orlando's.

Last year I went with my uncle to pay him our annual visit. He
appeared quite altered and shaken from the recent misfortune of losing
his wife; who had survived the death of her children fifteen years;
herself dying in the sixtieth of her own age. The eyes of Orlando were
sunk deeply into his forehead, yet they retained their native
brilliancy and quickness. His cheeks were wan, and a good deal
withered. His step was cautious and infirm. When we were seated in his
comfortable library chairs, he extended his right arm towards me, and
squeezing my hand cordially within his own--"Philemon," said he, "you
are not yet thirty, and have therefore sufficient ardour to enable you
to gratify your favourite passion for books. Did you ever read the
inscription over the outside of my library door--which I borrowed from
Lomeir's account of one over a library at Parma?[169]" On my telling
him that it had escaped me--"Go," said he, "and not only read, but
remember it."--The inscription was as follows:

INGREDERE MUSIS SACER, NAM
ET HIC DII HABITANT.
ITEM
NULLUS AMICUS MAGIS LIBET,
QUAM LIBER.

[Footnote 169: _De Bibliothecis_: p. 269, edit. 1680.]

"Have a care," said he, on my resuming my seat--"have a care that you
do not treat such a friend ill, or convert him into a foe. For myself,
my course is well nigh run. My children have long taken their leave of
me, to go to the common parent who created, and to the Saviour who has
vouchsafed to redeem, us all; and, though the usual order of nature
has been here inverted, I bow to the fate which Heaven has allotted me
with the unqualified resignation of a Christian. My wife has also
recently left me, for a better place; and I confess that I begin to
grow desolate, a