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as kill a good book。 Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature；
God's image； but he who destroys a good book； kills reason itself；
kills the image of God； as it were in the eye。 Many a man lives a
burden to the earth； but a good book is the precious life…blood of
a master spirit； embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life
beyond life。 'Tis true； no age can restore a life； whereof perhaps
there is no great loss； and revolutions of ages do not oft recover
the loss of a rejected truth； for the want of which whole nations
fare the worse。
We should be wary therefore what persecution we raise against
the living labours of public men； how we spill that seasoned life
of man； preserved and stored up in books； since we see a kind of
homicide may be thus committed； sometimes a martyrdom； and if it
extend to the whole impression； a kind of massacre； whereof the
execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life； but strikes
at that ethereal and fifth essence； the breath of reason itself；
slays an immortality rather than a life。 But lest I should be
condemned of introducing license； while I oppose licensing； I
refuse not the pains to be so much historical； as will serve to
show what hath been done by ancient and famous commonwealths
against this disorder； till the very time that this project of
licensing crept out of the Inquisition； was catched up by our
prelates； and hath caught some of our presbyters。
In Athens； where books and wits were ever busier than in any
other part of Greece； I find but only two sorts of writings which
the magistrate cared to take notice of； those either blasphemous
and atheistical； or libellous。 Thus the books of Protagoras were
by the judges of Areopagus commanded to be burnt； and himself
banished the territory for a discourse begun with his confessing
not to know WHETHER THERE WERE GODS； OR WHETHER NOT。 And
against defaming； it was decreed that none should be traduced by
name； as was the manner of Vetus Comoedia； whereby we may guess how
they censured libelling。 And this course was quick enough； as
Cicero writes； to quell both the desperate wits of other atheists；
and the open way of defaming； as the event showed。 Of other sects
and opinions； though tending to voluptuousness； and the denying of
divine Providence； they took no heed。
Therefore we do not read that either Epicurus； or that libertine
school of Cyrene； or what the Cynic impudence uttered； was ever
questioned by the laws。 Neither is it recorded that the writings
of those old comedians were suppressed； though the acting of them
were forbid； and that Plato commended the reading of Aristophanes；
the loosest of them all； to his royal scholar Dionysius； is
commonly known； and may be excused； if holy Chrysostom； as is
reported； nightly studied so much the same author and had the art
to cleanse a scurrilous vehemence into the style of a rousing
sermon。
That other leading city of Greece； Lacedaemon； considering that
Lycurgus their lawgiver was so addicted to elegant learning； as to
have been the first that brought out of Ionia the scattered works
of Homer； and sent the poet Thales from Crete to prepare and
mollify the Spartan surliness with his smooth songs and odes； the
better to plant among them law and civility； it is to be wondered
how museless and unbookish they were； minding nought but the feats
of war。 There needed no licensing of books among them； for they
disliked all but their own laconic apophthegms； and took a slight
occasion to chase Archilochus out of their city； perhaps for
composing in a higher strain than their own soldierly ballads and
roundels could reach to。 Or if it were for his broad verses； they
were not therein so cautious but they were as dissolute in their
promiscuous conversing； whence Euripides affirms in Andromache；
that their women were all unchaste。 Thus much may give us light
after what sort of books were prohibited among the Greeks。
The Romans also； for many ages trained up only to a military
roughness resembling most the Lacedaemonian guise； knew of learning
little but what their twelve Tables； and the Pontific College with
their augurs and flamens taught them in religion and law； so
unacquainted with other learning； that when Carneades and
Critolaus； with the Stoic Diogenes； coming ambassadors to Rome；
took thereby occasion to give the city a taste of their philosophy；
they were suspected for seducers by no less a man than Cato the
Censor； who moved it in the Senate to dismiss them speedily； and to
banish all such Attic babblers out of Italy。 But Scipio and others
of the noblest senators withstood him and his old Sabine austerity；
honoured and admired the men； and the censor himself at last； in
his old age； fell to the study of that whereof before he was so
scrupulous。 And yet at the same time Naevius and Plautus； the
first Latin comedians； had filled the city with all the borrowed
scenes of Menander and Philemon。 Then began to be considered there
also what was to be done to libellous books and authors； for
Naevius was quickly cast into prison for his unbridled pen； and
released by the tribunes upon his recantation； we read also that
libels were burnt； and the makers punished by Augustus。 The like
severity； no doubt； was used； if aught were impiously written
against their esteemed gods。 Except in these two points； how the
world went in books； the magistrate kept no reckoning。
And therefore Lucretius without impeachment versifies his
Epicurism to Memmius； and had the honour to be set forth the second
time by Cicero； so great a father of the Commonwealth； although
himself disputes against that opinion in his own writings。 Nor was
the satirical sharpness or naked plainness of Lucilius； or
Catullus； or Flaccus； by any order prohibited。 And for matters of
state； the story of Titus Livius； though it extolled that part
which Pompey held； was not therefore suppressed by Octavius Caesar
of the other faction。 But that Naso was by him banished in his old
age； for the wanton poems of his youth； was but a mere covert of
state over some secret cause： and besides； the books were neither
banished nor called in。 From hence we shall meet with little else
but tyranny in the Roman empire； that we may not marvel； if not so
often bad as good books were silenced。 I shall therefore deem to
have been large enough； in producing what among the ancients was
punishable to write； save only which； all other arguments were free
to treat on。
By this time the emperors were become Christians； whose
discipline in this point I do not find to have been more severe
than what was formerly in practice。 The books of those whom they
took to be grand heretics were examined； refuted； and condemned in
the general Councils； and not till then were prohibited； or burnt；
by authority of the emperor。 As for the writings of heathen
authors； unless they were plain invectives against Christianity； as
those of Porphyrius and Proclus； they met with no interdict that
can be cited； till about the year 400； in a Carthaginian Council；
wherein bishops themselves were forbid to read the books of
Gentiles； but heresies they might read： while others long before
them； on the contrary； scrupled more the books of heretics than of
Gentiles。 And that the primitive Councils and bishops were wont
only to declare what books were not commendable； passing no
further； but leaving it to each one's conscience to read or to lay
by； till after the year 800； is observed already by Padre Paolo；
the great unmasker of the Trentine Council。
After which time the Popes of Rome； engrossing what they pleased
of political rule into their own hands； extended their dominion
over men's eyes； as they had before over their judgments； burning
and prohibiting to be read what they fancied not； yet sparing in
their censures； and the books not many which they so dealt with：
till Martin V。； by his bull； not only prohibited； but was the first
that excommunicated the reading of heretical books； for about that
time Wickliffe and Huss； growing terrible； were they who first
drove the Papal Court to a stricter policy of prohibiting。 Which
course Leo X。 and his successors followed； until the Council of
Trent and the Spanish Inquisition engendering together brought
forth； or perfected； those Catalogues and expurging Indexes； that
rake through the entrails of many an old good author； with a
violation worse than any could be offered to his tomb。 Nor did
they stay in matters heretical； but any subject that was not to
their palate； they either condemned in a Prohibition； or had it
straight into the new purgatory of an index。
To fill up the measure of encroachment； their last invention was
to ordain that no book； pamphlet； or paper should be printed （as if
St。 Peter had bequeathed them the keys of the press also out of
Paradise） unless it were approved and