The Love of Books : The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury

Translated into English by E. C. Thomas

“Take thou a book into thine hands as Simon the Just took the Child Jesus into his arms to carry Him and kiss Him. And when thou hast finished reading, close the book and give thanks for every word out of the mouth of God; because in the Lord’s field thou hast found a hidden treasure.”

THOMAS A KEMPIS: Doctrinale Juvenum

eBooks@Adelaide
2007

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Last updated Sunday April 29 2007.

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Table of Contents

Preface

Prologue

  1. That the treasure of wisdom is chiefly contained in books
  2. The degree of affection that is properly due to books
  3. What we are to think of the price in the buying of books
  4. The complaint of books against the clergy already promoted
  5. The complaint of books against the possessioners
  6. The complaint of books against the mendicants
  7. The complaint of books against wars
  8. Of the numerous opportunities we have had of collecting a store of books
  9. How, although we preferred the works of the ancients, we have not condemned the studies of the moderns
  10. Of the gradual perfecting of books
  11. Why we have preferred books of liberal learning to books of law
  12. Why we have caused books of grammar to be so diligently prepared
  13. Why we have not wholly neglected the fables of the poets
  14. Who ought to be special lovers of books
  15. Of the advantages of the love of books
  16. That it is meritorious to write new books and to renew the old
  17. Of showing due propriety in the custody of books
  18. Showeth that we have collected so great store of books for the common benefit of scholars and not only for our own pleasure
  19. Of the manner of lending all our books to students
  20. An exhortation to scholars to requite us by pious prayers

Last updated on Sun Apr 29 15:22:41 2007 for eBooks@Adelaide.