commonplace books
As they flit like so many little bees between Greek and Latin authors of every species, here noting down something to imitate, here culling some notable saying to put into practice in their behavior, there getting by heart some witty anecdote to relate among their friends, you would swear you were watching the Muses at graceful play in the lovely pastures of Mount Helicon, gathering flowers and marjoram to make well-woven garlands.

The Renaissance humanist Erasmus on the subject of commonplace books, describing the activities of the famously well-educated daughters of his friend Thomas More. Blogging, they say, is a revitalised form of this past art.