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Of Libraries
91
men of letters will never cease to speak of the gift of so vast and splendid a library."
Consider, O Most Illustrious Prince, how this love of books brings favour and high renown,—such favour and renown as should be granted without limit to great men like yourself.
Those I have named, and a few besides, are known to have had notable libraries. There were, of course, many others of whom we know nothing. Seneca shows that the habit of book-collecting was very common in his time, and condemns it. You ask, why did he condemn it? "Because," he says, "they acquired books not that they might enjoy them, but simply for show. To most of
