Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

Illuшiпatioп of Books

363

ticula1·ly stгuck ,Yith the matchless регsопаl eleшent ,vhich exists in а book ,vhicЬ is madc, as this ,vas, Ьу tЬе hand, fгom the first st1·oke to the last. The fiгst page showed а bold lette1·ing, tlie s,veep of the pen being fi1·m and f1·ee. Aniшal vigour was demonstгated in the steady lшпd and tl1e clear еуе. The illнminatioпs were daintily paiпted, апd the sure touch of the little ,vhite line used to ассепtнаtе the coloшs, was поtiсе­ аЫе. After seve1·al pages, tЬе lette1·s Ьесаше less tгuc and firш. The lines had а tendency to slant to the right; а weakпess could Ье detected in the foгmerly st1·011g шаn. Finally the ,v1·iting gгew positively shaky. The skill was lost. Sllddenly, on another page, саше а сЬапgе. А пеw hand had taken up the ,voгk - tlшt of а novice. Не had not the skill of the previous ,vorkeг in Ыs best days, Ьнt thc iпdecision of his lines ,vas that of inexpeгience, not of failing aЬility. G1·adually he improved. Нis colouгs ,vere clcareг and g1·otшd шо1·е smoothly; his gold showed а тоге glassy surfасе. The book ended as it Ьаd begun, а virile ,voгk of агt; but in the couгse of its шaking, one шап lшd grown old, Iost liis skill, and died, and аnоtЬег had stai·tecl iп his imшaturity, gained his education, and devotcd his best years to tЬis book. The printing press stands for all tlшt is progгessive and desiraЫe; modcrп lifе and thought hang upon this discovery. But in this gloгious пеw Ьirth there was sacrificed а ceгtain indescribaЫe chaгm which can never