e must be supposed to allude to the
facility and beauty of publishing them by means of THE
PRESS: for at this period, abroad, the typographical
productions of Verard, Eustace, Vostre, Bonfons, Pigouchet,
Regnier, and many others ("quae nunc perscribere longum est")
were imitated, and sometimes equalled by W. de Worde,
Pynson, and Notary, at home. In regard to _intellectual_
fame, if my authority be good, "in the reign of Henry VII.
Greek was a stranger in both universities; and so little
even of Latin had Cambridge, of its own growth, that it had
not types sufficient to furnish out the common letters and
epistles of the University. They usually employed an
Italian, one Caius Auberinus, to compose them, whose
ordinarry [Transcriber's Note: ordinary] fee was twentypence
a letter." (MSS. in Benet College Library, lib. P. p. 194,)
_Ridley's Life of Ridley_, p. 22. "Greek began to be taught
in both universities: quietly at Cambridge, but ('Horresco
referens!') with some tumult at Oxford!" _ibid._]

PHIL. Before we proceed to discuss the bibliomaniacal ravages of this
age, we had better retire, with Lorenzo's leave, to the DRAWING-ROOM;
to partake of a beverage less potent than that which is now before us.

LORENZ. Just as you please. But I should apprehend that Lysander could
hold out 'till he reached the Reformation;--and, besides, I am not
sure whether our retreat be quite ready for us.

LIS. Pray let us not take leave of all these beauteous books, and
busts, and pictures, just at present. If Lysander's lungs will bear
him out another twenty minutes, we shall, by that time, have reached
the Reformation; and then "our retreat," as Lorenzo calls it, may be
quite ready for our reception.

LYSAND. Settle it between yourselves. But I think I could hold out for
another twenty minutes--since you will make me your only book-orator.

LORENZ. Let it be so, then. I will order the lamps to be lit; so that
Lisardo may see his favourite Wouvermans and Berghems, in company with
my romances, (which latter are confined in my satin-wood book-case) to
every possible degree of perfection!

LYSAND. Provided you indulge me also with a sight of these delightful
objects, you shall have what you desire:--and thus I proceed:

Of the great passion of HENRY THE VIITH for fine books, even before he
ascended the throne of England,[285] there is certainly no dou