作者：唐静
出版社：西安交通大学出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
藏书之乐——书架上的珍宝·新东方双语书话译丛试读：
前 言
在这个世界上，有这样一些人——他们一走近书店，心就怦怦乱跳，不管有多少琐事缠身，总忍不住进店转转；见到一本心仪的书，不弄到手就坐立难安，哪怕买了书就要挨饿，也觉得心满意足。他们最爱做的，是在午后时分沏一杯香茶，捧读一本墨香淡淡、诗意浓浓的好书；他们最难忍的，是眼见好书被人蹂躏却无可奈何，抑或爱书在眼皮底下被抢去借走；他们最渴望的，莫过于拥有一间窗明几净、翰墨芬芳的书房，坐拥书城、徜徉书海。这些人，便是所谓的爱书之人了。
许多名人亦为爱书人，他们会在文章中经意不经意地流露爱书之情。这些文章林林总总，篇幅不一，或论读书历程和体会，或谈购书方法与艰辛，或道藏书室中的轶闻趣事，或抒群书散尽的悲伤感触。这套专为爱书人准备的“新东方双语书话译丛”系列之中，就收录了百余篇这样的文章。
此套丛书共五本，分别是：
.探讨读书方法与阅读境界的《书林辟径——邂逅生命中挚爱的书》
.分享书海轶闻与随想感悟的《书海逸趣——有书陪伴的人生不寂寞》
.介绍书籍天敌与呵护爱书的《护书之苦——书若安好，便是晴天》
.讲述静处书斋与淘书苦乐的《藏书之乐——书架上的珍宝》
.谈及爱书缘起与书虫定义的《一派书心——缘何此生只爱书》
在这套书中，你将看见形形色色的爱书人。有些以清新隽永的文字，如炉边谈话般将阅读心得娓娓道来；有些以诙谐幽默的笔触，令你或是会心微笑或是心有戚戚；有
些担忧书的未来演进，如数家珍地罗列自己与书的陈年往事；有些则对此不以为然，并以各种事例证明，书籍永远是人类的挚友......同为爱书人的你，是否深有共鸣？
值得一提的是，为了让读者在文山书海遨游的同时，能够领略大师笔下清晰明澈的英文，“新东方双语书话译丛”系列特以中英对照的形式呈现。其中每一篇英文，无不经过多方查找、层层筛选，意图穷尽西方books about books的经典之作，以及《纽约书评》《伦敦书评》等报刊的最新评述；每一篇译文，也都经过反复修改、多重校对，力求在贴近原文风格的同时，更符合当代读者的眼光、口味。“新东方双语书话译丛”系列虽只有小小五本，但从策划、选文到翻译、注释再到编辑、出版却尝尽了“十月怀胎”的艰辛。在这漫长的征程中，我与王岑卉、钱卫、陈滢、姚洋、李鹏程等诸位优秀译者常常为一个句子的结构推敲再三，
也曾为一个短语的用法争执良久，为一个动词的译法辗转半宿更是稀松平常之事。足足十个月废寝忘食的坚持，才有了今天呈现于诸位眼前的精美小书。然而，书海无垠、译界无涯。该系列虽为悉心打造之作，但难免存在疏漏之处。如果您认为选取篇目尚可斟酌、译文质量仍可精进，欢迎随时与我们联系沟通！
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最后，要感谢俞敏洪老师的殷切鼓励，感谢新东方大愚文化传播有限公司的鼎力协助。没有你们的激励与帮助，就没有今天这套“新东方双语书话译丛”系列的诞生。
谨以此书献给天下爱书人！愿各位畅享阅读之乐！唐静第一章藏者如痴Bibliomania 藏书狂Thomas Frognall Dibdin托马斯・弗洛奈尔・狄布丁作者简介托马斯・弗洛奈尔・狄布丁（Thomas Frognall Dibdin，1776—1847），英国书话作家，其代表作《藏书狂》（The Bibliomania:or Book-Madness）至今仍为藏书爱好者津津乐道。书中收集了许多当时尚未公开的珍贵资料，作者诙谐幽默的文笔更为此书锦上添花。狄布丁还是罗克斯堡俱乐部（Roxburghe Club）的创立者之一。罗克斯堡通常被认为是世界上第一个读书俱乐部，引领了此后席卷欧洲的读书俱乐部风潮。本文选自1809年出版的《藏书狂》，后被选入威廉・塔格（William Targ）编辑的《爱书人狂欢宴》（Carrousel for Bibliophiles）。在本文中，狄布丁以轻松幽默的笔调，详细介绍了藏书狂的八大症状。藏书狂“追书”的热度足以媲美粉丝“追星”的狂热，简直让人瞠目结舌。他还指出，藏书狂有方可治，也有一定裨益，但凡事过犹不及——在食指大动之前，还是先掂量掂量自己的胃口吧！
The ingenious Peignot,in the first volume of his Dictionnaire de Bibliologie, p.51,defines the Bibliomania to be “a passion for possessing books; not so much to be instructed by them,as to gratify the eye by looking on them.He who is affected by this mania knows books only by their titles and dates,and is rather seduced by the exterior than interior.” This is,perhaps,too general and vague a definition to be of much benefit in the knowledge,and consequent prevention,of the disease:Let us,therefore,describe it more certainly and intelligibly.
Symptoms of this disease are instantly known by a passion for I.Large Paper Copies; II.Uncut Copies; III.Illustrated Copies; IV.Unique Copies; V.Copies Printed Upon Vellum; VI.First Editions; VII.True Editions; VIII.A General Desire for the Black Letter.We will describe these symptoms more particularly.
I.Large Paper Copies. These are,a certain set or limited number of the work printed in a superior manner,both in regard to ink and press work,on paper of a larger size,and better quality,than the ordinary copies.Their price is enhanced in proportion to their beauty and rarity.
This symptom of the Bibliomania is,at the present day,both general and violent,and threatens to extend still more widely.Even modern publications are not exempt from its calamitous influence; and when Mr.Miller,the bookseller,told me with what eagerness the large paper copies of Lord Valentia's Travels were bespoke,and Mr.Evans
智者佩格纳在《目录学辞典》第1卷第51页上，将藏书狂界定为“一种占有书籍的狂热。他们占有书籍不仅是为了汲取知识，更多的是为了大饱眼福。感染了这种狂热的人对书的了解仅停留在书名和出版日期上，且对装帧的关注远甚于内容”。这个定义或许太宽泛、太模糊，对于了解和预防这种疾病没有多少帮助。因此，让我们更准确、更清晰地描述描述吧。
藏书狂的症状直接表现为对以下事物的痴狂：一、大开本；二、毛边本；三、插图本；四、孤本；五、羊皮本；六、初版本；七、错版本；八、黑体字本。接下来，我们将更详细地描述这些症状。一、大开本
有些成套或限量版的书籍在用墨和印刷上均精益求精，比普通书籍开本更大、质量更高。它们的价格与其精美程度和稀有程度成正比。
藏书狂的这种症状在当下很普遍也很严重，而且有蔓延的趋势。哪怕是现代出版物，也无法逃脱其可怕的影响。书商米勒先生曾告诉我，人们是如何争相预购大开本的《瓦伦shewed me that every similar copy of his new edition of Burnett's History of His Own Times, was disposed of,I could not help elevating my eyes and hands,in token of commiseration at the prevalence of this symptom of the Bibliomania!
II.Uncut Copies. Of all the symptoms of the Bibliomania,this is probably the most extraordinary.It may be defined in a passion to possess books of which the edges have never been sheared by the binder's tools.And here,my dear Sir,I find myself walking upon doubtful ground—your Uncut Hearnes rise up in “rough majesty” before me,and almost “push me from my stool.” Indeed,when I look around in my book-lined tub,I cannot but be conscious that this symptom of the disorder has reached my own threshold; but when it is known that a few of my bibliographical books are left with the edges uncut merely to please my friends(as one must sometimes study their tastes and appetites as well as one's own),I trust that no very serious conclusions will be drawn about the probable fatality of my own case.As to uncut copies,although their inconvenience [an uncut lexicon to wit!] and deformity must be acknowledged,and although a rational man can want for nothing better than a book once well bound, yet we find that the extraordinary passion for collecting them,not only obtains with full force,but is attended with very serious consequences to those “qui n'ont point des pistoles”(to borrow the language of Clement; vol.vi.p.36).I dare say an uncut first Shakespeare, as well as an uncut first Homer would produce a little annuity!蒂亚勋爵游记》的；埃文斯先生也向我透露，新版的伯内特《当代史》已销售一空。我忍不住伸出双手仰望苍天，对藏书狂的这一症状如此流行表示怜悯！二、毛边本
在藏书狂的所有症状中，这可能是最特别的一种。有此种症状的人，渴望拥有未经装订工具裁剪的书籍。亲爱的读者，我写到这，发现自己的处境岌岌可危——你们这群“毛边党”纷纷对我“群起而攻之”，几乎把我批得体无完肤。确实，我在环顾自己的书架时，不禁意识到，这种混乱的症状已经蔓延到我家门口了；但看到我的一些目录学著作不裁页边只是为了取悦我的朋友们时（有时候，你必须像了解自己的口味一样研究朋友的口味），我确信自己的症状没有严重到致命的地步。尽管毛边本的缺陷和带来的不便已得到公认（试想一本没裁开页边的词典！），尽管理智的人都想要装订完好的书，但仍有人有收集毛边本的特殊狂热。他们不只是倾尽全力，还可能导致克莱门特所说的“身无分文”（语出克莱门特作品，第6卷，第36页）的严重后果。我敢说，莎士比亚或荷马著作的初版毛边本足以换来一小笔年金！
III.Illustrated Copies. A passion for books illustrated or adorned with numerous prints,representing characters or circumstances mentioned in the work,is a very general and violent symptom of the Bibliomania,which has been known chiefly within the last half century.The origin,or first appearance,of this symptom has been traced by some to the publication of Granger's Biographical History of England; but whoever will be at the pains of reading the preface of this work,will see that Granger sheltered himself under the authorities of Evelyn,Ashmole,and others; and that he alone is not to be considered as responsible for all the mischief which this passion for collecting prints has occasioned.Granger,however,was the first who introduced it in the form of a treatise,and surely “in an evil hour” was this treatise published—although its amiable author must be acquitted of “malice prepense.” His History of England, seems to have sounded the tocsin for a general rummage after,and slaughter of,old prints:Venerable philosophers and veteran heroes,who had long reposed in unmolested dignity within the magnificent folio volumes which recorded their achievements,were instantly dragged from their peaceful abodes to be inlaid by the side of some spruce,modern engraving,within an illustrated Granger!
Nor did the madness stop here.Illustration was the order of the day; and Shakespeare and Clarendon became the next objects of its attack.From these has glanced off in a variety of directions,to adorn the pages of humbler wights; and the passion,or rather this symptom of the Bibliomania,yet rages with undiminished force.If judiciously treated,it三、插图本
许多书里有大量用作插图或装饰的版画，以展示书中提及的人物或环境。对这类书的痴狂是一种非常普遍且极为严重的藏书狂症状，在最近半个世纪里，这种症状才广为人知。这种症状的起源或者说首次出现，可以追溯到格兰杰所著的《英国传记史》的出版。如果耐着性子读完该书的序言，你就会发现格兰杰不过是拾人牙慧，效仿了伊夫林、阿什莫尔和其他权威人士。收集插图本的狂热带来的危害，不能只归咎于格兰杰一个人。然而，格兰杰是第一个以专著形式引入插图本的人，而且该专著的出版时间无疑十分“不祥”——尽管和蔼可亲的作者本人并无“预谋”。他的《英国传记史》仿佛敲响了一记警钟，催人们去广泛搜查和毁灭古老的版画。许多受人尊敬的哲学家和昔日的英雄一直静静地躺在记录他们丰功伟绩的豪华对开本里，安享尊崇，如今却突然被人从宁静的住所里拖出来，和整洁漂亮的现代版画并置于格兰杰的插图本之中！
这种狂热远不止于此。插图本流行开来后，莎士比亚和克拉伦登成了接下来的攻击目标。自此，这种狂热向四面八方蔓延，装饰了许多谦卑之人的书页；而且藏书狂的这种狂热或曰症状持续肆虐。如果审慎处理，在藏书狂的所有症状里，这is,of all the symptoms,the least liable to mischief.To possess a series of well executed portraits of illustrious men,at different periods of their lives,from blooming boyhood to phlegmatic old age,is sufficiently amusing; but to possess every portrait,bad,indifferent,and unlike, betrays such a dangerous and alarming symptom as to render the case almost incurable !
There is another mode of illustrating copies by which this symptom of the Bibliomania may be known:It consists in bringing together,from different works,[by means of the scissors,or otherwise by transcription] every page or paragraph which has any connection with the character or subject under discussion.This is a useful and entertaining mode of illustrating a favourite author; and copies of works of this nature,when executed by skilful hands,should be preserved in public repositories.I almost ridiculed the idea of an Illustrated Chatterton,in this way,till I saw Mr.Haslewood's copy,in twenty-one volumes,which rivetted me to my seat!
IV.Unique Copies. A passion for a book which has any peculiarity about it,by either,or both,of the foregoing methods of illustration—-for which is remarkable for its size,beauty,and condition—-is indicative of a rage for unique copies, and is unquestionably a strong prevailing symptom of the Bibliomania.Let me therefore urge every sober and cautious collector not to be fascinated by the terms “Matchless,and Unique,” which,‘in slim Italicks’(to copy Dr.Ferriar's happy expression)are studiously introduced into booksellers'catalogues to lead the unwary astray.种症状的危害是最小的。想拥有一系列精致的名人画像，涵盖他们从青春到迟暮的每个时期，确实是赏心乐事；但想集齐每一张画像，无论是画得糟糕的、与本人无关的还是不像的，那么这种危险而惊人的症状就预示着你已经不可救药了！
另一种收集插图本的方式，也是广为人知的藏书狂症状：从不同著作中收集所有关于某一人物或某一话题的内容，甚至每一页纸、每个段落都不放过，并通过剪贴或誊写拼接在一起。用这种方式诠释自己最心爱的作家，既有趣又有意义。如果出自能工巧匠之手，这类作品甚至值得公共图书馆收藏。我本想嘲笑以这种方法诠释的查特顿插图本，但看见哈斯利伍德先生制作的21卷插图本后，我简直被钉在椅子上了！四、孤本
有些书拥有前面提及的独特插图方式，或是在开本、美感、品相上有独到之处，或是两者兼具。渴求这类书就是为孤本而痴狂，这无疑是一种极其流行的藏书狂症状。因此，我要劝诫每一位清醒谨慎的藏书家，不要被“罕见孤本”等术语冲昏头脑。这类书商目录里特意用“细长的斜体字”（这是费里亚博士巧妙的说法）标明的词，很容易让人不小心误入歧途。
V.Copies Printed Upon Vellum. A desire for works printed in this manner is an equally strong and general symptom of the Bibliomania; but as these works are rarely to be obtained of modern date,the collector is obliged to have recourse to specimens,executed three centuries ago,in the printing offices of Aldus,Verard,and the Juntæ.
Although the Bibliotheque Imperiale,at Paris,and the library of Count Macarty,at Toulouse,are said to contain the greatest number of books,printed upon vellum,yet,those who have been fortunate enough to see copies of this kind in the libraries of his Majesty,the Duke of Marlborough,Earl Spencer,Mr.Johnes,and the late Mr.Cracherode,(now in the British Museum)need not travel on the Continent for the sake of being convinced of their exquisite beauty and splendor.Mr.Edwards's unique copy(he will forgive the epithet)of the first Livy,upon vellum,is a library of itself!—-and the recent discovery of a vellum copy of Wynkyn De Worde's reprint of Juliana Barnes's book, complete in every respect,[to say nothing of his Majesty's similar copy of Caxton's Doctrinal of Sapience, 1489,in the finest preservation] are,to be sure,sufficient demonstrations of the prevalence of this symptom of the Bibliomania in the times of our forefathers; so that it cannot be said,as some have asserted,to have appeared entirely within the last half century.五、羊皮本
对羊皮本的渴望同样是普遍而严重的藏书狂症状；但由于这种书在现代很稀有，藏书家不得不求助于300年前奥尔达斯、维拉尔德、琼特等印刷所印制的作品样书。
据说，巴黎的帝国图书馆和图卢兹的马卡蒂伯爵的书房里羊皮本数量最多。但有幸在英国国王、马尔伯勒公爵、斯宾塞伯爵、琼斯先生和已故的克雷格科特先生的藏书（现存大英博物馆）中见过羊皮本的人，无需寻遍欧洲就能见证它们的精美与豪华。爱德华先生收藏的李维著作初版的羊皮书“孤本”（希望他不介意这个称呼），本身就称得上是一座图书馆！前不久发现了一本沃德版羊皮纸重印的朱莉安娜·巴恩斯的作品，从各方面看都保存得极为良好（更不必说国王陛下那本同样保存完好的1489年卡克斯顿版《贤明教义》了）。它们足以证明，这种藏书狂的症状在我们先祖的时代就很盛行了，因此，这种症状不像一些人断定的那样，是最近半个世纪才出现的。
VI.First Editions. From the time of Ancillon to Askew,there has been a very strong desire expressed for the possession of original or first published editions of works,as they are in general superintended and corrected by the author himself; and,like the first impressions of prints,are considered more valuable.Whoever is possessed with a passion for collecting books of this kind,may unquestionably be said to exhibit a strong symptom of the Bibliomania; but such a case is not quite hopeless,nor is it deserving of severe treatment or censure.All bibliographers have dwelt on the importance of these editions,for the sake of collation with subsequent ones,and detecting,as is frequently the case,the carelessness displayed by future editors.Of such importance is the first edition of Shakespeare considered,that a facsimile reprint of it has been published with success.In regard to the Greek and Latin Classics,the possession of these original editions is of the first consequence to editors who are anxious to republish the legitimate text of an author.Wakefield,I believe,always regretted that the first edition of Lucretius had not been earlier inspected by him.When he began his edition,the Editio Princeps was not(as I have understood)in the library of Earl Spencer—the storehouse of almost every thing that is exquisite and rare in ancient classical literature!
It must not however be forgotten,that if first editions are,in some instances,of great importance,they are in many respects superfluous,and an incumbrance to the shelves of a collector; inasmuch as the labours of subsequent editors have corrected their errors,and superseded,by a great fund of additional matter,the necessity of consulting them.六、初版本
从安齐隆的时代到阿斯丘的时代，人们对原版或初版书表现出了极其强烈的占有欲，因为这些书一般由作者亲自督印和校正；此外，它们也像版画的初印一样，让人觉得更有价值。凡是痴迷于收藏这种书的人，无疑都显示出藏书狂的严重症状。但这并非无药可医，也无需非难苛责。所有的书志学家都详细论述了初版本的重要性，因为它可以用作版本比对，核查后世编辑的疏忽（这是常有的事）。莎士比亚的初版本就被认为非常重要，连复制重印本出版后也大获成功。说到希腊语和拉丁语的经典名著，对于迫切想再版某位作家著作的编辑来说，拥有初版书更是头等大事。我相信，韦克菲尔德一直后悔没能尽早翻阅卢克莱修的初版本。当他开始推出自己的版本时，这部“初版”并不在（我是这么理解的）斯宾塞伯爵的书房里——那里几乎就是一切珍稀古典文学作品的宝库！
然而不该忘记的是，如果说初版本在某些情况下极其重要，大多数时候它们则是藏书家架上的累赘，因为后世编辑已经纠正了它们中的错误，而丰富的资料也让人无需参考初版本。
VII.True Editions. Some copies of a work are struck off with deviations from the usually received ones,and though these deviations have neither sense nor beauty to recommend them,[and indeed are principally defects!] yet copies of this description are eagerly sought after by collectors of a certain class! This particular pursuit may therefore be called another,or the seventh,symptom of the Bibliomania.
VIII.Books Printed in the Black Letter. Of all symptoms of the Bibliomania,this eighth symptom(and the last which I shall notice)is at present the most powerful and prevailing.Whether it was not imported into this country from Holland,by the subtlety of Schelhorn(a knowing writer upon rare and curious books)may be shrewdly suspected.Whatever be its origin,certain it is,my dear Sir,that books printed in the black letter are now coveted with an eagerness unknown to our collectors in the last century.If the spirits of West,Ratcliffe,Farmer and Brand,have as yet held any intercourse with each other,in that place “from whose bourne no traveller returns,” what must be the surprise of the three former,on being told by the latter,of the prices given for some of the books in his library,as mentioned below!?
But this symptom of the Bibliomania is,nevertheless,not to be considered as incurable,or wholly unproductive of good.Under a proper spirit of modification it has done,and will continue to do,essential service七、错版本
有些印本由于与普通印本不同而被晾在一边。尽管这些不同之处既无意义也不美观，不值得推荐，而且大部分确实是缺陷，但这种版本却受到了某类藏书家的热烈追捧！因而这种不同寻常的追捧可视作藏书狂的另一种症状，也就是第七种症状。八、黑体字本
在藏书狂的所有症状中，这第八种症状（也是我列举的最后一种症状）如今最为严重也最为普遍。这种症状是否是由舍尔霍恩（他是一位专写珍本和古本书的著名作家）从荷兰引入英国的，或许还存在一些疑问。亲爱的读者，无论其来源如何，有一件事可以确定：如今人们正以上个世纪的藏书家难以想象的热忱追寻黑体字本。如果威斯特、拉特克里夫、法玛尔和布兰德等人的灵魂在那“旅人有去无回”之处交谈，当布兰德谈及他某些藏书的高价时，前三位将会有多震惊！？
但藏书狂的这种症状并非不可救药，也非毫无益处。经过适当调整之后，它对英国文学的发展起到了关键作用，而to the cause of English literature.It stimulated the studies of Farmer and of Steevens,and enabled them to twine many a beauteous flower round the brow of their beloved Shakspeare.
In short,though this be also a strong and general symptom of the Bibliomania,it is certainly not attended with injurious effects when regulated by prudence and discretion.An undistinguishable voracious appetite,to swallow everything printed in the black letter,can only bring on inconquerable disease,if not death,to the patient!且这种作用将一直继续下去。它促进了法玛尔和斯蒂文斯的研究，让他们为心爱的莎士比亚戴上了美丽的花冠。
简而言之，尽管这也是一种严重且普遍的藏书狂症状，但如果小心谨慎地处理，它自然不会酿成恶果。如果看到黑体字印的东西就胃口大开、囫囵吞下，那么即便不死，也会染上无可救药的病症！
如果看到黑体字印的东西就胃口大开、囫囵吞下，那么即便不死，也会染上无可救药的病症！Thomas Frognall Dibdin 托马斯·弗洛奈尔·狄布丁A Song of Books 书之歌Sir John Lubbock约翰・卢伯克爵士作者简介约翰・卢伯克爵士（Sir John Lubbock，1834—1913），卓有声誉的英国银行家、政治家、自然主义者。作为政治家，他促成了公共假日（Bank Holiday）的设立，并为保护国家古迹做出了杰出贡献。作为自然主义者，他在昆虫学和人类学方面颇有研究，撰写了大量科普读物，如《史前时代》（Prehistoric Times）、《蚂蚁、蜜蜂和黄蜂》（Ants,Bees,and Wasps）、《昆虫的起源和变形》（The Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects）等。本文选自1889年出版的《人生的乐趣》（The Pleasures of Life）。该书本为卢伯克爵士的休闲之作，却成就了这位科学家在文学领域的名声。本文是卢伯克爵士旁征博引而成的书之赞歌，极尽所能地赞美了书籍的忠诚与伟大。“随心而读”是作者在文中再三推崇的阅读境界。书山无尽，书海无涯，与其漫天撒网，不如随心而读，享用适合自己的智慧之果。“Oh for a booke and a shadie nooke,Eyther in doore or out;With the grene leaves whispering overheadOr the streete cryes all about.Where I maie reade all at my ease,Both of the newe and old;For a jollie goode booke whereon to looke,Is better to me than golde.”--Old English Song
Of all the privileges we enjoy in this nineteenth century there is none,perhaps,for which we ought to be more thankful than for the easier access to books.
The debt we owe to books was well expressed by Richard de Bury,Bishop of Durham,author of Philobiblon,written as long ago as 1344,published in 1473,and the earliest English treatise on the delights of literature—“These,” he says,“are the masters who instruct us without rods and ferules,without hard words and anger,without clothes or money.If you approach them,they are not asleep; if investigating,you interrogate them,they conceal nothing; if you mistake them,they never grumble; if you are ignorant,they cannot laugh at you.The library,therefore,of wisdom is more precious than all riches,and nothing that can be wished for is worthy to be compared with it.Whosoever therefore acknowledges himself to be a zealous follower of truth,of happiness,of wisdom,of“手持书卷享阴凉，
屋中户外任徜徉；
绿叶私语添逸趣，
街中喧闹亦无妨。
在此休憩可阅读，
无论新书与旧书；
好书一册入眼帘，
千金不换乐无穷。”——古英语诗歌
在19世纪赋予我们的所有特权中，对书的获取更加容易这一点或许最值得感激。
我们欠书的债，达拉谟主教理查德·德·伯利解释得很清楚。他的《书之爱》早在1344年就已写成，并在1473年出版。该书是关于文学之乐的最早的英文专著。他说：“这些导师指导我们时不用教鞭戒尺，从不斥责怒骂，也无需金钱衣装。如果你找到它们，它们总是醒着；你在研究时请教它们，它们毫无保留；你误解它们，它们从不抱怨；你愚昧无知，它们也不嘲笑。因此，珍藏智慧的图书馆比任何财富都宝贵，任何事物都无法和它相提并论。所以，任何自认为是真理、science,or even of the faith,must of necessity make himself a lover of books.” But if the debt were great then,how much more now?
This feeling that books are real friends is constantly present to all who love reading.“I have friends,” said Petrarch,“whose society is extremely agreeable to me; they are of all ages,and of every country.They have distinguished themselves both in the cabinet and in the field,and obtained high honors for their knowledge of the sciences.It is easy to gain access to them,for they are always at my service,and I admit them to my company,and dismiss them from it,whenever I please.They are never troublesome,but immediately answer every question I ask them.Some relate to me the events of past ages,while others reveal to me the secrets of Nature.Some teach me how to live,and others how to die.Some,by their vivacity,drive away my cares and exhilarate my spirits; while others give fortitude to my mind,and teach me the important lesson how to restrain my desires,and to depend wholly on myself.They open to me,in short,the various avenues of all the arts and sciences,and upon their information I may safely rely in all emergencies.In return for all their services,they only ask me to accommodate them with a convenient chamber in some corner of my humble habitation,where they may repose in peace; for these friends are more delighted by the tranquility of retirement than with the tumults of society.”
“He that loveth a book,” says Isaac Barrow,“will never want a faithful friend,a wholesome counselor,a cheerful companion,an effectual comforter.By study,by reading,by thinking,one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself,as in all weathers,so in all fortunes.”
快乐、智慧、科学甚至信仰的忠实追随者之人，都有必要让自己成为爱书人。”但如果这笔债当时就已那么重，那么现在又该有多重？
书是真正的朋友这种感觉，爱读书的人往往深有体会。彼得拉克说过：“我有一些朋友，它们的圈子与我的完全一致。它们来自不同的年代、不同的国家。它们或在政坛和沙场为人所称道，或因其所知的科学知识而获得盛名。接近它们很容易，因为它们随时听我吩咐。只要我愿意，就能对它们招之即来，挥之即去。它们从不惹我厌烦，却能立刻解答我的每个问题。它们有些向我讲述昔日的往事，有些向我展示自然的奥秘；有些教我如何生活，有些教我如何死去。它们有些朝气蓬勃，驱散我的烦恼，让我精神振奋；有些让我学会坚强，教会我如何克制欲望、自强不息。简而言之，它们为我开辟了通往艺术和科学的条条大道，在各种紧急情况下，我能放心地依赖它们提供的信息。它们为我做了这么多，要求的回报不过是在我陋室的一角有个容身之所，可以在那里安静地休息。因为这些朋友不喜俗世的喧嚣，只爱隐居的宁静。”
伊萨克·巴罗说：“爱书之人永远不需要忠实的朋友、有益的顾问、快乐的伙伴和贴心的安慰者。通过学习、阅读和思考，一个人无论何时何地都能消遣娱乐。”
Southey took a rather more melancholy view:“My days among the dead are pass'd,Around me I behold,Where'er these casual eyes are cast,The mighty minds of old.My never-failing friends are they,With whom I converse day by day.”
“Imagine,” in the words of Aikin,“that we had it in our power to call
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