Here begynneth the Temple of Glass, _imp. by Wynkyn de Worde_.

The Castell of Pleasure, _imp. by ditto_.

Here begynneth a lyttell Treatise cleped La Conusauce D'Amours. _imp. by Pynson_.

The Spectacle of Lovers, _imp. by Wynkyn de Worde_.

History of Tytus and Gesippus, translated out of Latin into Englyshe, by Wyllyam Walter, sometime servaunte to Syr Henry Marney, Cnyght, Chaunceler of the Duchy of Lancastre, _imp.

by ditto_.

The Love and Complayntes betwene Mars and Venus.

The Fyrst Fynders of the VII Scyences Artificiall, _printed by Julian Notarye_.

Guystarde and Sygysmonde, translated by Wyllyam Walter, _imp. by Wynkyn de Worde_, 1532.

The Complaynte of a Lover's Lyfe, _imp. by ditto_.

Here begynneth a lytel Treatyse, called The Disputacyon of Complaynte [of] the Harte, thorughe perced with the lokynge of the Eye, _imp. by Wynkyn de Worde_.

This Boke is named the Beaultie of Women, translated out of French into Englyshe, _imp. by Wier_.

Here begynneth a lytel Treatise, called the Controverse betwene a Lover and a Jaye, lately compyled, _imp. by Wynkyn de Worde_.

_The above 12 very rare and ancient pieces of poetry are bound_ in one vol. _with curious wood-cuts, and in fine preservation._

'The Temple of Glass alone was sold for 3_l._ 15_s._ and the present vol. may, with propriety, be deemed matchless.' All in quarto. 26 5 0

[N.B. _These articles should have preceded_ no. 6608; at p. 423, ante.]

And here, benevolent reader, let us bid farewell to RICHARD FARMER of transcendant bibliomaniacal celebrity! It is in vain to look forward for the day when book-gems, similar to those which have just been imperfectly described from the _Bibl. Farmeriana_, will be disposed of at similar prices.

The young collector may indulge an ardent hope; but, if there be any thing of the spirit of prophecy in my humble predictions, that hope will never be realised. Dr. Farmer's copies were, in general, in sorry condition; the possessor caring little (like Dr. Francis Bernard; vide p. 316, ante) for large margins and splendid binding. His own name, generally accompanied with a bibliographical remark, and both written in a sprawling character, usually preceded the title-page. The science (dare I venture upon so magnificent a word?) of bibliography was, even in Farmer's latter time, but jejune, and of limited extent: and this will account for some of the common-place bibliographical memoranda of the owner of these volumes. We may just add that there are some few copies of this catalogue printed on _large paper_, on paper of a better quality than the small; which latter is sufficiently wretched. I possess a copy of the former kind, with the _prices_ and _purchasers' names_ affixed--and moreover, _uncut_!]

A poor eulogy, this, upon Farmer!--but my oratory begins to wax faint.

For this reason I cannot speak with justice of the friend and fellow-critic of Farmer--GEORGE STEEVENS[409]--of Shakspearian renown!

The Library of this extraordinary critic and collector was sold by auction in the year 1800; and, being formed rather after the model of Mason's, than of Farmer's, it was rich to an excess in choice and rare pieces. Nor is it an uninteresting occupation to observe, in looking among the prices, the enormous sums which were given for some volumes that cost Steevens not a twentieth part of their produce:--but which, comparatively with their present worth, would bring considerably higher prices! What arduous contention, "_Renardine shifts_," and bold bidding; what triumph on the one part, and vexation on the other, were exhibited at the book-sale!--while the auctioneer, like Jove looking calmly down upon the storm which he himself had raised, kept his even temper; and "ever and anon" dealt out a gracious smile amidst all the turbulence that surrounded him! Memorable aera!--the veteran collector grows young again in thinking upon the valour he then exhibited; and the juvenile collector talks "braggartly" of other times--which he calls the golden days of the bibliomania--when he reflects upon his lusty efforts in securing an _Exemplar Steevensianum_!

[Footnote 409: If Lysander's efforts begin to relax--what must be the debilitated mental state of the poor annotator, who has accompanied the book-orator thus long and thus laboriously? Can STEEVENS receive justice at _my_ hands--when my friends, aided by hot madeira, and beauty's animating glances, acknowledge their exhausted state of intellect?! However, I will make an effort:

'nothing extenuate Nor set down aught in malice.'

The respectable compiler of the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol.

lxx. p. 178, has given us some amusing particulars of Steevens's literary life: of his coming from Hampstead to London, at the chill break of day, when the overhanging clouds were yet charged with the 'inky' purple of night--in order, like a true book-chevalier, to embrace the first dank impression, or proof sheet, of his own famous octavo edition of _Shakspeare_; and of Mr. Bulmer's sumptuous impression of the text of the same. All this is well enough, and savours of the proper spirit of BIBLIOMANIACISM: and the edition of our immortal bard, in fifteen well printed octavo volumes, (1793) is a splendid and durable monument of the researches of George Steevens. There were from 20 to 25 copies of the octavo edition printed upon LARGE PAPER; and Lord Spencer possesses, by bequest, Mr. Steevens' own copy of the same, illustrated with a great number of rare and precious prints; to which, however, his Lordship, with his usual zeal and taste, has made additions more valuable even than the gift in its original form. The 8vo. edition of 1793 is covetted with an eagerness of which it is not very easy to account for the cause; since the subsequent one of 1803, in 21 octavo volumes, is more useful on many accounts: and contains Steevens's corrections and additions in every play, as well as 177, in particular, in that of Macbeth. But I am well aware of the stubbornness and petulancy with which the previous edition is contended for in point of superiority, both round a private and public table; and, leaving the collector to revel in the luxury of an uncut, half-bound, morocco copy of the same, I push onward to a description of the _Bibliotheca Steevensiana_. Yet a parting word respecting this edition of 1803. I learn, from unquestionable authority, that Steevens stipulated with the publishers that they should pay Mr. Reed 300_l._ for editorship, and 100_l._ to Mr. W. Harris, Librarian of the Royal Institution, for correcting the press: nor has the editor in his preface parted from the truth, in acknowledging Mr. Harris to be 'an able and vigiland [Transcriber's Note: vigilant] assistant.' Mr. H. retained, for some time, Steevens' corrected copy of his own edition of 1793, but he afterwards disposed of it, by public auction, for 28_l._ He has also at this present moment, Mr.

Josiah Boydell's copy of Mr. Felton's picture of our immortal bard; with the following inscription, painted on the back of the pannel, by Mr. Steevens:

_May, 1797._ _Copied by Josiah Boydell, at my request, from the remains of the only genuine Portrait of William Shakspeare._ GEORGE STEEVENS.

The engraved portrait of Shakspeare, prefixed to this edition of 1803, is by no means a faithful resemblance of Mr. Boydell's admirably executed copy in oil. The expenses of the edition amounted to 5844_l._; but no copies now remain with the publishers. We will now give rather a copious, and, as it must be acknowledged, rich, sprinkling of specimens from the _Bibliotheca Steevensiana_, in the departments of rare OLD POETRY and THE DRAMA. But first let us describe the title to the catalogue of the same. _A Catalogue of the curious and valuable Library of_ GEORGE STEEVENS, _Esq., Fellow of the Royal and Antiquary Societies (Lately deceased). Comprehending an extraordinary fine Collection of Books, &c._, sold by auction by Mr. King, in King Street, Covent Garden, May, 1800. 8vo. [1943 articles: amount of sale 2740_l._ 15_s._]

OLD POETRY.

NO. 867. Gascoigne's (Geo.) Workes, or a Hundreth sundrie Flowers bounde in one small Poesie, (including) Supposes, com. from Ariosto; Jocosta, Tr. from Euripides, &c. b.l.

_first edition. Lond. impr. by Bynneman_, 1572, 4to. 1 19_s._ 0_d._

'With MS. notes respecting this copy and edition by Mr.

Steevens.'

868. Another copy, 2d edition (with considerable additions); among other, the Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth Castle, the Steele Glass, the Complainte of Phylomene, b.l. _ib.

impr. by Abell Jeffes_, 1587, 4to., _with MS. references, by Messrs. Bowles and Steevens._ 4 4 0

869. Another copy, including all the aforementioned, and a Delicate Diet for Daintie Mouthde Droonkardes, b.l. _Lond.

impr. by Rich. Jhones_, 1576, 8vo.

The Glasse of Gouernement, 4to. _b.l. russia, with MS.

references_.

The Droome of Doomesday, 3 parts, b.l. _ib._ 1576, 4to. 'The above two volumes are supposed to comprise the compleatest collection of Gascoigne's works extant.' 5 15 6

876. Googe (Barnabe) Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonnettes newly written, b.l., _small 8vo. fine copy in Russia, Lond. impr.

by Tho. Colwell for Raffe Newbery, dwelynge in Fleet Streete a little above the Conduit, in the late shop of Tho.

Bartelet_. See Mr. Steevens's note to the above; in which he says there is no scarcer book in the English language, and that Dr. Farmer, Messrs. T. Warton and Js. Reed, had never seen another copy. 10 15 0

949. Lodge (Tho.) Life and death of William Longbeard, the most famous and witty English traitor, borne in the citty of London, accompanied with manye other most pleasant and prettie Histories, 4to. _b.l. printed by Rich. Yardley and Peter Short_, 1593. [cost Mr. Steevens 1_s._ 9_d._!] 4 7 0

995. The Paradyse of Dainty Devises, MS. a fac-simile of the first edition, in 1576, _finished with the greatest neatness by Mr. Steevens, 4to. in russia_. 5 15 0

996. The Paradice of Dainty Devises, devised and written for the most part by M. Edwardes, sometime of her Majestie's Chappell; the rest by sundry learned Gentlemen, both of Honor and worship. _Lond. printed by Edwd. Allde_, 1595, 4to. 4 6 0

997. The Paradice of Daintie Devises, b.l. interleaved, _ib.

printed for Edw. White_, 1600, 4to.

Breton (Nich.) Workes of a young Wyt, trust up with a Fardell of Prettie Fancies, profitable to young Poetes, prejudicial to no Man, and pleasant to every Man, to pass away Idle Tyme withal, _b.l. 4to. interleaved with a MS.

list of the Author's Works by Messrs. Steevens, Ritson, and Park: impr. at Lond. nigh unto the Three Cranes in the Vintree, by Tho. Dawson, and Tho. Gardyner_.

Soothern's Odes, 4to. b.l. interleaved with copious MS.

Notes, and an Extract from the European Magazine relative to the Author: _wants title, no date_.

Watson (Tho.) Passionate Centurie of Love, 4to. b.l.

interleaved: the 12 first sonnets, and the latter ones, from 78, in MS. _Lond. impr. by John Wolfe_.

"The above curious Collection of Old Poems are bound together in russia, with border of gold, and may be deemed with propriety, _Matchless_." 21 10 6

1037. Puttenham's Arte of English Poesie, in 3 bookes, with a wood-cut of Queen Elizabeth; _choice copy, in morocco, 4to. ib. printed by Rich. Field_, 1589. 7 10 0

1073. Roy (Will.) Satire on Cardinal Wolsey, a Poem; _b.l.

sm._ 8vo. _russia, no date nor place_. 7 7 0

1078. Skelton (Jo.) Poet Laureat, lyttle Workes, viz. Speake Parot. The Death of the Noble Prynce, King Edwarde the Fourthe. A Treatyse of the Scottes. Ware the Hawke, The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummyng, sm. 8vo. b.l. _Impr. at Lond.