{"id":6735,"date":"2016-04-12T00:47:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T00:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/?p=6735"},"modified":"2016-10-16T03:33:20","modified_gmt":"2016-10-16T03:33:20","slug":"part-leaf-from-a-large-format-lectionary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/part-leaf-from-a-large-format-lectionary\/","title":{"rendered":"Part-Leaf from a Large-Format Lectionary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parts of I Maccabees 10<\/em> and
\nHomily 38 on the Gospels<\/em> by Gregory the Great
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fragmentary leaf probably from a large-format Lectionary
\nParts of I Maccabees 10 and
\nHomily<\/em> XXXVIII on the Gospels<\/em> by Gregory the Great
\nReduced to the lower part of the former leaf
\nfor reuse as a wrapper or binder for unknown materials<\/h4>\n

Budny Handlist 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here is the next in our series of blogposts on Manuscript Studies<\/a>, which have an updated Contents List<\/a>. This time, Mildred Budny reports on another item in her Handlist<\/strong><\/span> of a set of materials in manuscript and print. Earlier posts considered its Numbers<\/strong><\/span> 4<\/a>, 7<\/strong><\/a>, 9<\/strong><\/strong><\/a>, 11<\/strong><\/a>, and 13<\/strong><\/a>. This time, we visit a 12th-century fragment found in Italy and published here for the first time.<\/em><\/p>\n

Data<\/h3>\n

\"Initial<\/a><\/p>\n

Circa 334 \u00d7 243 mm < written area now circa 234 \u00d7 222 mm >
\nDouble columns now of 25 lines (trimmed down at the top and side)<\/strong>
\n written in revived Caroline Minuscule in brown ink<\/strong>
\n Opening title or heading in 1 or 3 lines in red pigment<\/strong>
\n Inset 6-line initials in red pigment (I<\/em> for In<\/em> and T<\/em> for Textum<\/em>),<\/strong>
\n with embellishments in blue or green<\/strong>
\n for geometric and foliate ornament<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Probably Italy, perhaps Northern Italy, circa 1175<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sources<\/h3>\n

The fragment of a vellum leaf with double columns of text in Latin was acquired in Italy in its present fragmentary state, without any indications of its provenance, its original manuscript setting, or its former enclosed materials which it covered as a folder or wrapper in its secondary folded state.\u00a0 The fold-lines un-related to the original structure of the leaf attest mutely, but still manifestly, to that former state.<\/p>\n

Identifying the texts on the leaf makes it possible to ascertain, in its reduced state, which side was the recto and which was the verso originally.\u00a0 They show that the layout turned the smooth, whitish flesh-side of the animal skin to the recto, with the yellower hair-side on the verso.\u00a0 The peppered traces of hair follicles mark the latter.<\/p>\n

Up Front & Back<\/h3>\n

Recto
\n\"Recto<\/a><\/h4>\n

Verso<\/h4>\n

\"Verso<\/a>Shapes & Guides<\/h3>\n

Trimming the leaf unevenly for its reuse as a wrapper involved imposing roughly horizontal or vertical strokes at its new top and outer edges and a jagged contour along its inner margin, while appearing to leave the original lower margin more-or-less intact.\u00a0 The inner contour skirts an uneven line of more-or-less horizontal slits or pricks which runs down the full height of the surviving fragment.\u00a0 These marks, presumably the result of jabs of varying force with the point of a knife, do not represent any prickings which would have set out the grid to guide the rulings for the lines of original script.\u00a0 Their r\u00f4le remains uncertain.<\/p>\n

Two roughly horizontal and paired rows of gouge-like holes extend across the mid-section of the fragment.\u00a0 Presumably they were designed for stitching of some sort at both edges of the new spine or backing of the reused unit.<\/p>\n

Some original prickings are visible in the neatly rounded holes, resulting from the point of an awl.\u00a0 They guided the long vertical rulings for the columns; they extend far into the lower margin.\u00a0 Their neatness contrasts emphatically with the rows of rough gouges and slits.<\/p>\n

Transmission<\/h3>\n

The fragment was acquired as a separate leaf by purchase from the Libreria Leo S. Olschki in Florence, Italy, for US $10 on 20 June 1972, along with 4 other items with their own prices \u2014 including Budny Handlist Numbers 7<\/strong><\/a>,<\/span> 18<\/strong>, and<\/span> 20<\/strong><\/strong><\/span>; the last item is not yet identified.<\/p>\n

The Texts<\/h3>\n

The leaf not only carries portions of texts which begin or end abruptly, but also gathers texts, or extracts, from longer series or sets of texts.\u00a0 They circulated in their original contexts as part of Bibles (in small, medium, or large formats) or homiliaries (also in various formats).\u00a0 Here the headings which note lections designate selected readings, for comparison and contrast, in which an Old Testament reading preceded a patristic reading, in part or in full.<\/p>\n

1. I Maccabees 10:73 ([fu<\/em>-]\/giendi<\/em>) to 89 (possession<\/em>[em<\/em>])<\/h4>\n

The first text extends from within the last word of verse 73 in I Maccabees 10 in the Latin Vulgate Version<\/a> to the end of the chapter, that is, with verse 89, but the losses at the top and outer side of the leaf introduce gaps.\u00a0 They concern whole lines of text missing from within verse 82 (erant<\/em>) to within 86 (Ascolona<\/em>) at the lost top of column b, as well as a few letters \u2014 2 or more \u2014 at the lost ends of the lines in the rest of column b.\u00a0 This whole portion of the chapter<\/a> concerns the victory at Azotus\/Ashdod<\/a> (in 147 BCE) of Jonathan Apphus<\/a> over Apollonius Taos, Governor of Coele-Syria, with the acquisition of booty and the loss of 8,000 men.<\/p>\n

Text and Lacunae<\/h5>\n

For convenience, I offer a transcription of the surviving text, drawn from an online edition of the Latin Vulgate Bible<\/a>, but laid out according to the manuscript line-divisions.\u00a0 I add hyphens to the word-divisions from one manuscript line to the next.\u00a0 The customary verse numbers of the edition \u2014 a finding aid which the Bible text acquired at a somewhat later stage<\/a> in its transmission than this 12th-century witness \u2014 are retained as a guide. The lost parts of the text are indicated in red<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

[The preceding page would have ended thus, more-or-less, if it followed the standard text<\/em>:
\n73\u00a0 <\/sup>et nunc quomodo poteris sustinere equitatum exercitum tantum in campo ubi non est lapis neque saxum neque locus fu-<\/span>\/]
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

[Recto Column a begins midword<\/em>:]
\ngiendi 74\u00a0<\/sup>ut audivit autem Ionathas sermo-
\nnes Apollonii motus est animo et
\nelegit decem milia virorum et exiit
\nab Hierusalem et concurrit ei Simon frater eius in
\nadiutorium 75\u00a0<\/sup>et adplicuerunt castra
\nin Ioppen et exclusit eum a civitate quia
\ncustodia Apollonii Ioppe erat et ob-
\npugnavit eam 76\u00a0<\/sup>et exterriti qui erant
\nintra civitatem aperuerunt ei et obtinu-
\nit Ionathas Ioppen 77\u00a0<\/sup>et audivit Apollo-
\nnius et admovit tria milia equitum
\net exercitum multum 78\u00a0<\/sup>et abiit Azotum
\ntamquam iter faciens et statim exiit
\nin campum eo quod haberet multitudinem
\nequitum et confideret in eis et insecutus
\nest eum Ionathas in Azotum et proelium
\ncommiserunt 79\u00a0<\/sup>et reliquit Apollonius in cas-
\ntris mille equites post eos occulte
\n80\u00a0<\/sup>et cognovit Ionathas quoniam sunt insi-
\ndiae post se et circuierunt castra eius
\na mane usque ad vesperam 81\u00a0<\/sup>populus autem
\nstabat sicut praecepit Ionathas et labora-
\nverunt equi eorum 82\u00a0<\/sup>et eiecit Simon
\nexercitum suum et commisit contra
\nlegionem equites enim fatigati
\n[Recto Column a ends<\/em> \/]<\/p>\n

[The top of Recto Column b would have begun here<\/em>:]
\n[erant et contriti sunt ab eo et fugerunt
\n83\u00a0<\/sup>et qui dispersi sunt in campum fugerunt in Azotum et intraverunt in Bethdagon idolum suum ut se liberarent
\n84\u00a0<\/sup>et succendit Ionathas Azotum et civitates quae erant in circuitu eius et accepit spolia eorum et templum Dagon et eos qui fugerunt in illud succendit igni
\n85\u00a0<\/sup>et fuerunt qui ceciderunt gladio cum his qui succensi sunt fere octo milia virorum
\n86\u00a0<\/sup>et movit inde Ionathas castra et adplicuit ea Ascalona<\/span><\/p>\n

[The remaining part of this text in Recto Column b begins<\/em>:]
\net exierunt de civitate obviam illi<\/span>
\nin magna gloria 87\u00a0<\/sup>et reversus est Ionat<\/span>has<\/span>
\nin Hierusalem cum suis habentibus spolia<\/span>
\nmulta 88\u00a0<\/sup>et factum est ut audivit Ale-<\/span>
\nxander rex sermones istos addidit ad-<\/span>
\nhuc glorificare Ionathan 89\u00a0<\/sup>et misi<\/span>t ei<\/span>
\nfibulam auream sicuti est consuetudo dari<\/span>
\ncognatis regum et dedit ei Accaron<\/span>
\net omnes fines eius in possession<\/span>em<\/span><\/p>\n

The text is set out in long lines, with run-together sections (or verses), in space-saving fashion.\u00a0 For ease of legibility, the sections open with enlarged initials, written in the course of writing the text itself.\u00a0 Entered by the scribe at the same time, the punctuation, which indicates a hierarchy of pauses, from medial to final, corresponds to contemporaneous practices for the purpose of reading aloud in monastic settings.\u00a0 It marks the layout of the consecutive sense-units for enhanced, and immediate, ease of comprehension of the structure of the passage.\u00a0 Those marks comprise low or medial points and the punctus versus<\/em> (resembling an inverted semi-colon).<\/p>\n

\"Initial<\/a><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Homily 38 on the Gospels by Gregory the Great:
\nHabita ad populum in basilica beati Clementis martyris<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

\u00a0In the series of the Homilies on the Gospels<\/em> by Gregory the Great<\/a>, this is his Sermon<\/strong>
\n‘Delivered to the People at the Basilica of the Blessed Martyr Clemente’<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Photo by Sixtus via Wikipedia Commons<\/p><\/div>\n

This homily had its debut at the Basilica of San Clemente<\/a> in Rome.\u00a0 Much changed over the centuries, the interior of this early basilica of the Christian Church nowadays has this august and polychrome appearance, shown here in a public image.\u00a0 Visiting the place, including its subterranean structures, as I can attest, evokes an awareness of the majesty and tangibility of the place.<\/p>\n

I continue to remember, in my acute mind’s eye, the experience of walking through its different spaces, above and below ground level<\/a>, illuminated through time. Such visits occurred during my several visits to Rome, mainly for the purpose of studying manuscripts at the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana<\/a>, but also, during its closing hours, for the purpose of wandering around the majestic city and exploring its many vistas.\u00a0 Already I had learned, through listening to lectures or reading articles and books, about this church and its medieval history and transformations.<\/p>\n

On one of my visits, there was the good fortune of visiting the basilica in the company of Father Leonard Boyle<\/a> (1923\u20131999), after he had retired as Prefect of the Vatican Library, and returned to domicile in that establishment.\u00a0 My visits to him and his Library during his Prefecture are also worth recording, but they belong to another story of research and consultation.<\/p>\n

Despite the many changes wrought upon the church, as a living and venerable entity, it may be worthwhile for us to experience the sense of location, however we might, up close or from afar, or in a combination of those processes.\u00a0 Sights, sounds, smells, touch.\u00a0 That’s how we taste the materials in their settings, anyway in our vivid, vigorous, and informed imagination.<\/p>\n

Once upon a Time, Long Ago, Homily 38 by Gregory the Great had its first hearing in the space of this place.\u00a0 Across time, its reverberation in many other other spaces depended mainly upon the transmission of the text in manuscript and, then, in print.\u00a0\u00a0 As a popular text, its copies are many and the variants in their readings are plentiful.\u00a0 A vibrant text.<\/p>\n

Some manuscripts contain, or retain, either Book I or II.\u00a0 Some, as here, intersperse its readings with other texts.\u00a0 Also, they exhibit, as here, some liberty with the text of Matthew, that is, by varying the Gregorian version with one more familiar, for whatever reason.<\/p>\n

Arrangement and Presentation<\/h3>\n

Similar layout and punctuation as for the Maccabees portion pertains to the next text on ‘our’ leaf.\u00a0 However, there are the further elements of rubricated titles in 1 or 3 lines, prominent bi-chrome initials for both its opening title and the opening of the homily (I<\/em> for In<\/em> and T<\/em> for Textum<\/em>), and strokes of red pigment enlivening some of their next letters.\u00a0 The geometric and floral ornament which embellish the initials allow for some grace within a work-a-day copy destined for day-to-day use in the course of the liturgical and communal year.\u00a0 Examples of such destinations, in various ways and for various purposes, are revealed in reports of A New Leaf from ‘Otto Ege Manuscript 14’<\/a> and A Part-Leaf from the ‘Life of Saint Blaise’<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a><\/p>\n

Author and Reception<\/h3>\n

Gregory the Great<\/a> (circa 540 \u2013 604), Pope from 590\u2013604, composed his series of 40 Homilies on the Gospels<\/strong>, designed for the liturgical year, by 593.\u00a0 The ensemble is divided symmetrically into 2 Books, with 20 Homilies each.\u00a0 The Homilies as a whole were delivered during the years 591 and 592, variously by their author and by a proxy during his illness.\u00a0\u00a0 Those conditions of delivery are recorded.\u00a0 A popular text, or set of texts, in the Middle Ages, the series circulated as a whole or \u2014 as here \u2014 individually, or, it may be, in parts, in the context of some other text(s).\u00a0 Some manuscripts contain, or retain, Books I or II.\u00a0 Some intersperse readings from one or another Homily with other texts, as here.<\/p>\n

A future Blogpost will consider an earlier fragment from Carolingian realms (with portions from Book I).\u00a0\u00a0 They call for detailed consideration about the nature and transmission of Gregory’s text, in more than one recension.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as reference points, I offer citations of editions and of translations into French or English, more-or-less readily available:<\/p>\n