[ 95 ] 
obftrved to me, that thefe remains would help the 
curious to form a more certain idea of the manner, 
in which the ancients affixed titles to their volumes, 
than they have hitherto been able to obtain. The 
moft complete defeription, that I can recollect, of 
an ancient book, with its appurtenances and decora- 
tions, is that of Martial addreffed to one of his own. 
Faujfini fug is in Jinum ? Sapijii . 
Cedro nunc licet ambules penmSius , 
Et front is gemino decens honor e 
Pidlis luxurieris umbilici s : 
Et te purpura delicata velet , 
Et cocco rubcat fuperbus index. L. iii. ep. 2. 
1 
Th t fuperbus index in the laft verfe, curioufly illu- 
minated with fcarlet, was undoubtedly the title of 
the book ; but to what part of it it was annexed has 
hitherto been difficult to afeertain : for as (according 
to the paintings under confideradon) it was inferibed 
on a detached piece of paper or parchment, it mult 
loon have been loft from the book ; efpecially if the 
latter had buffered by damps, or any other injuries 
limilar to thofe, that have affedted the volumes found 
in Herculaneum, of which not only the title, but 
even the umbilici, tho’ conftfting of more folid ma- 
terials, as horn, ivory, &c. are intirely deftroyed : 
fo that no light could be had from the original anti- 
quities with relation to this point. The only means, 
whereby the connoifteurs could form any conjectures 
in this cafe, muff: have been, I prefume, from the 
faffiion of books among the ancients, viz. their 
being long fcrolls rolled round upon a ftick with or- 
naments at each end, as deferibed in the epigram 
7 produced 
