The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

68 WAVERLEY OVEELS.
a quantity of miscellaneous papers, ancient and modern. But it was the
misfortune of this learned gentleman, as it may be that of many learned and
unlearned, that he frequently experienced, on such occasions, what Harlequin calls l'embarras des richesses; in other words, the abundance of his
collection often prevented him from finding the article he sought for. " Curse
the papers I -I believe," said Oldbuck, as he shuffled them to and fro -" I
believe they make themselves wings like grasshoppers, and fly away bodily
— but here, in the meanwhile, look at that little treasure." So saying, lhe
put into his hand a case made of oak, fenced at the corner with silver roses
and studs -" Pr'ythee, undo this button," said he, as he observed Lovel
fumbling at the clasp. He did so,-the lid opened, and discovered a thin
quarto, curiously bound in black shagreen - " There, Mr. Lovel - there is
the work I mentioned to you last night-the rare quarto of the Augsburgh
Confession, the foundation at once and the bulwark of the Reformation,
drawn up by the learned and.venerable Melancthon, defended by the Elector
of Saxony, and the other valiant hearts who stood up for their faith, even
against the front of a powerful and victorious emperor, and imprinted by
the scarcely less venerable and praiseworthy Aldobrand Oldenbuck, my
happy progenitor, during the yet more tyrannical attempts of Philip II. to
suppress at once civil and religious liberty. Yes, sir-for printing this
work, that eminent man was expelled from his ungrateful.country, and
driven to establish his household gods even here at Monkbarns, among the
ruins of papal superstition and domination. —Look upon his venerable effigies, Mri. Lovel, and respect the honourable occupation in which it presents
him, as labouring personally at the press for the diffusion of Christian and
political knowledge.-And see here his favourite motto, expressive of his independence and self-reliance, which scorned to owe anything to patronage that
was not earned by desert-expressive also of that firmness of mind and
tenacity of purpose recommended by Horace. He was indeed a man who
would have stood firm, had his whole printing-house, presses, fonts, forms,
great- and small pica, been shivered to pieces around him-Read, I say, his
motto,-for each printer had his motto, or device, when that illustrious art
was first practised. My ancestor's was expressed, as you see, in the Teutonic
phrase, KUNST MACHT GUNST —that is, skill, or prudence, in availing ourselves of our natural talents and advantages, will compel favour and patronage, even where it is withheld from prejudice or ignorance."
"And that," said Lovel, after a moment's thoughtful silence-"that,
then, is the meaning of these German words?"
"Unquestionably. You perceive the appropriate application to a consciousness of inward worth, and of eminence in an useful and honourable
art.- Each printer in those days, as I have already informed you, had his
device, his impresa, as I may call it, in the same manner as the doughty
chivalry of the age, who frequented tilt and tournament. My ancestor
boasted as much in his, as if he had displayed it over a conquered field of
battle, though it betokened the diffusion of. knowledge, not the effusion of
blood. And yet there is a family traditionwhich affirms him to have chosen
it from a more romantic circumstance."
"And what is -that said to have been, my good sir?" inquired his young
friend.
"Why, it rather encroaches on my respected predecessor's fame for prudence and wisdom - Sed semel insanivirnus onmnes -every body has played
the fool in their turn. It is said, my ancestor, during his apprenticeship
with the descendant of old Fust, whom popular tradition hath sent to the
devil under the name of Faustus, was attracted by a paltry slip of womankind, his master's daughter, called Bertha —they broke rings, or went
through some idiotical ceremony, as is usual on such idle occasions as the
plighting of a true-love troth, and Aldobrand set out on his journey through
Germany, as became an honest hand-toerker; for such was the custom of