Thought for Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009

A Curse Against Book Stealers

For him that stealeth a book from this library,
let it change into a serpent in his hand and
rend him. Let him be struck with palsy and
all his members blasted. Let him languish in
pain crying aloud for mercy and let there be
no surcease to his agony till he sink to
dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw his entrails
in token of the worm that dieth not, and when
at last he goeth to his final punishment, let
the flames of hell consume him for ever and aye.

-poster reportedly from the
Monastery of San Pedro,
Barcelona (date unknown).

A Word A Day Mail Issue 344