INTRODUCTION lxix

am to save every farthing I can to collect a rich shelf of thirteenth-century manuscripts. There would be no stop to it, for I should always find the new ones illustrating all the rest. I believe I shall have to give up all idea of farther collection, and to rest satisfied with my treasures.”

Later letters confirm these good resolutions, if such they were, and one of them is further interesting as premonitory of feelings which were soon to grow in intensity:-

“Wednesday morning, 16th Nov.-... My next birthday is the keystone of my arch of life-my 35th-and up to this time I cannot say that I have in any way ‘taken up my cross’ or ‘denied myself’; neither have I visited the poor nor fed them, but have spent my money and time on my own pleasure or instruction. I find I cannot be easy in doing this any more, for I feel that, if I were to die at present, God might most justly say to me, ‘Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things.’ I find myself always doing what I like, and that is certainly not the way to heaven. I feel no call to part with anything that I have, but I am going to preach some most severe doctrines in my next book, and I must act up to them in not going on spending in works of art.”

The letter goes on to propound a scheme for ending and revising his collection, but a little loophole is allowed; “I won’t make a vow that if, by any chance, I should hear of some exquisite thirteenth-century work being in the market, I may not consider whether I should be justified in buying it to take care of it.”

The chance was soon to occur, and the temptation (or opportunity) was not allowed to pass. In his diary for 1854 is the following entry:-

“February 26.-On Friday the 24th I got the greatest treasure I have yet obtained in all my life-St. Louis’s Psalter.”

This exquisite Psalter was an unfailing delight to Ruskin. It was used to illustrate the Lectures here reported, and many references to it occur in his books.

Whatever Ruskin possessed, he desired to share. This desire, and the free scope he gave to it, saved him effectually from “getting to be a mere collector.” His books, he used to say, were “for use and not for curiosities.” He treated them in a way which can hardly be recommended for general practice. He annotated some of his

[Version 0.04: March 2008]