Manuscript leaf from a Paris Bible, in Latin, produced in France (probably Paris)

MS 5650/120

Manuscript leaf from a Paris Bible, in Latin, produced in France (probably Paris)

c.1280

Text: From a Paris Bible, in Latin

Script: Praegothica

The leaf is from a Paris Bible and shows part of the Book of Micah and the start of the Book of Nahum. There is a prologue, which may have been written by Saint Jerome, to the Book of Nahum and it is followed by an argument.

The text is in double columns of forty-eight lines, written in black ink in a fine, small, early gothic bookhand.

The text of the first chapter of Nahum starts with a fine eight-line initial ‘O’ containing a dragon with two tails with foliate terminations. The ‘O’ is painted in blue on a rectangular pink ground, the whole being adorned with burnished gold and white tracery. The prologue to Nahum starts with a four-line puzzle initial ‘N’ in red and blue, with red pen work in the bowl of the initial and blue penwork extending into the margin. There are four two-line initials, all in blue or red with intricate penwork. Numerous capital letters are touched in red. Corrections to the text are written in the margins in red-edged boxes. Rubrics are in red.

The recto side is headed “CHEAS”, being the right hand part of the name “MICHEAS” (i.e. Micah), and the verso side is headed “P(RO)LOGUS” for the prologue to Nahum. The heading letters are alternately red and blue.

The leaf belongs to a stage in Bible production when the chapter numbers and prologues have yet to be standardized. The last chapter of Micah is shown as “VIII” whereas in the modern Bible this is incorporated in Chapter 7.

It is now thought that this leaf came from the same Paris Bible as MS 5650/99 and that both leaves are from the same manuscript that Otto F. Ege used for Leaf No. 19 in his forty sets of “Fifty Manuscript Leaves”. Christopher de Hamel has written a good account of the Paris Bible.

Chapter and verse are shown below, in the transliteration, in square brackets.

References:

1 Micah: Migne J.-P. Patrologia Latina (Patrologiae Cursus Completus), Paris 1844-55, Vol. 28, p. 1107.

2 Nahum: Stegmüller F. Repertorium Biblicum Medii Aevi. Madrid 1950, 527 and 528. Migne J.-P. Patrologia Latina (Patrologiae Cursus Completus), Paris 1844-55, Vol. 28, p. 1107.

3 Christopher de Hamel, The Book. A History of The Bible, Phaidon, London, 2001.

Recto side, column 1:

1 [5:6] . . . nib(us) n(ost)ris . [5:7] Et eru(n)t reliquie iacob i(n) me- [Book of Micah

2 dio p(o)p(u)lor(um) multor(um) . q(uas)i ros a d(omi)no : (et) q(uas)i

3 stille s(upe)r herbam q(ue) n(on) expectat viru(m) . et

4 n(on) p(re)stolatur filios ho(m)i(n)um . [5:8] Et eru(n)t reli-

5 quie iacob . in medio p(o)p(u)lor(um) multor(um) .

6 q(uas)i leo in ium(en)tis silvar(um) . (et) q(uas)i catulus

7 leonis i(n) g(re)gib(us) pecor(um) : q(ui) cu(m) transierit . et

8 co(n)culcaverit . (et) cep(er)it . no(n) e(st) qui eruat . [5:9] Et ex-

9 altabi(tur) manus tua s(upe)r hostes tuos : [(et) hos-] [deletion

10 [stes] (et) o(mne)s inimici tui int(er)ibu(n)t . [5:10] Et erit in [deletion

11 die illa dic(it) do(minus) aufera(m) equos tuos de me-

12 dio tui . (et) disp(er)da(m) q(ua)drigas tuas . [5:11] Et p(er)da(m)

13 civitates t(er)re tue : (et) destrua(m) o(mne)s munit(i)o(n)es

14 tuas . Et auferam malitia(m)a de manu t(ua) :

15 (et) divinat(i)o(n)es n(on) eru(n)t i(n) te . [5:12] Et p(er)ire faciam

16 sculptilia tua . (et) statuas tuas d(e) medio

17 tui : (et) n(on) adorab(is) ultra op(er)a manuu(m) tuar(um)

18 [5:13] Et evella(m) lucos tuos de medio tui . (et) (con)te-

19 ra(m) civitates tuas . [5:14] Et facia(m) in furore . (et)

20 i(n)dignat(i)o(n)e ult(i)o(n)em : i(n) o(mn)ib(us) g(en)tib(us) q(ue) n(on) au-

21 dieru(n)t . VI

22 [6:1] A Udite q(ue) loq(ui)t(ur) do(minus) . Surge (con)tende iudici-

23 um adv(er)su(m) mo(n)tes : (et) audia(n)t colles vo-

24 ce(m) tuam . [6:2] Audia(n)t montes iudiciu(m) d(omi)ni

[(et) fortia fu(n)dam(en)ta terre . q(uia) iudiciu(m) d(omi)ni] [inserted line

25 cu(m) p(o)p(u)lo suo . (et) cum isr(ahe)l diiudicab(itu)r . [6:3] P(o)p(u)l(u)s

26 m(eu)s quid feci t(ibi) ? aut q(ui)d molestus fui t(ibi) :

27 r(espond)e m(ihi) . [6:4] Q(ui)a eduxi te de t(er)ra egypti . (et) d(e) do-

28 mo s(er)vitutis lib(er)avi te . (et) misi an(te) faciem

29 tua(m) moysen . (et) aaron (et) maria(m) ? [6:5] P(o)p(u)l(u)s m(eu)s

30 mem(en)to q(ue)so q(ui)d cogitav(er)it balach rex o

31 moab . (et) quid r(espo)nderit ei balaam filiu(s)

32 beor de sethym us(que) ad galgala(m) : ut cog(no)-

33 sc(er)et iustitias d(omini) . [6:6] Quid dignu(m) offeram

34 d(omi)no ? Curvabo genu d(e)o excelso ? Nu(m)q(ui)d

35 offeram ei holocaustomata . (et) vitulos a(n)-

36 niculos . [6:7] Nu(m)q(ui)d placari po(tes)t do(minus) i(n) milibus

37 arietum : aut i(n) multis milib(us) hyrcor(um)

38 pinguiu(m) ? Nu(m)q(ui)d dabo primogenitum

39 m(eu)m p(ro) scel(er)e m(e)o (et) fructu(m) ventris m(e)i p(ro) p(ec)-

40 cato a(n)i(m)e mee . [6:8] Indicabo t(ibi) o h(om)o q(ui)d sit bo-

41 nu(m) : (et) quid do(minus) requirat a te . Utiq(ue) fac(er)e

42 iudiciu(m) (et) dilig(er)e mi(sericordi)am : (et) sollicitu(m) am-

43 bulare cu(m) d(e)o tuo . [6:9] Vox d(omini) ad civitate(m) cla-

44 mat (et) salus erit [om(n)ib(us)] tim(en)tib(us) nom(en) tuu(m) . Au- [insert

45 dite trib(us) . Et quis approbabit ill(u)d ? [6:10] Ad-

46 huc ignis in domo i(m)pii . thesauri iniq(ui)-

47 tatis . (et) m(en)sura minor . ire plena . [6:11] Nu(m)q(ui)d [See Note Z

48 iustificabo statera(m) i(m)pia(m) . (et) sac(c)elli ponde(r)a

Recto side, column 2:

1 dolosa [6:12] i(n) quib(us) divites ei(us) repleti sunt

2 iniquitate . (et) h(ab)itantes in ea loq(ue)bant(ur)

3 m(en)daciu(m) : (et) li(n)gua eor(um) fraudule(n)ta i(n) ore

4 ip(s)or(um) . [6:13] Et ego ergo cepi p(er)cut(er)e te p(er)dit(i)o(n)e :

5 sup(er) pecc(at)is tuis . [6:14] Tu co(m)edes . (et) n(on) satiab(er)is : [saturaberis ?

6 (et) humiliatio tua in medio tui . (et) ap-

7 p(re)hendes (et) n(on) salvab(is) : (et) quos salvav(er)is

8 in gladium dabo . [6:15] Tu seminab(is) (et) non

9 metes : tu calcab(is) oliva(m) . (et) n(on) ungueris

10 oleo : (et) mustu(m) . (et) n(on) bibes vinum . [6:16] Et c(us)to-

11 disti p(re)cepta amri . (et) om(n)e op(us) domus a-

12 chab : (et) ambulasti in voluptatib(us) eor(um) :

13 ut dare(m) te i(n) p(er)dit(i)o(n)em et h(ab)ita(n)tes i(n) ea in si-

14 bilu(m) (et) obp(ro)brium p(o)p(uli) m(e)i portabitis . VII

15 [7:1] U E m(ihi) q(uia) f(a)c(tu)s [sum] sic(ut) qui colligit i(n) autu(m)no [insert

16 racemos vindemie . Non e(st) botrus ad

17 comede(n)du(m) . Precoq(ua)s fic(us) desid(er)avit a(n)i(m)a

18 m(e)a . [7:2] Periit s(an)c(tu)s de t(er)ra : (et) rect(us) i(n) ho(min)ib(us) n(on) e(st) .

19 O(mne)s i(n) sa(n)guine i(n)sidiantur : vir f(rat)rem suu(m)

20 venatur ad morte(m) . [7:3] Malu(m) manuum

21 suar(um) dicu(n)t bonu(m) . Princeps postulat :

22 (et) iudex i(n) reddendo e(st) . Et magnus locut(us)

23 e(st) desideriu(m) a(n)i(m)e sue : (et) (con)turbaveru(n)t eam .

24 [7:4] Qui optimus i(n) eis e(st) q(uas)i palliurus : et

25 qui rectus q(uas)i spina de sepe . Dies specu-

26 lat(i)onis tue : visitat(i)o tua ve(n)it . Nunc

27 erit vastitas eor(um) . [7:5] Nolite c(re)d(er)e amico : (et)

28 nolite (con)fid(er)e i(n) duce . Ab ea q(ue) dormit i(n) si-

29 nu tuo custodi claust(r)a oris tui [7:6] q(uia) fili(us)

30 (con)tumelia(m) facit patri : filia (con)s(ur)git adv(er)-

31 sus matre(m) sua(m) : (et) nurus (contra) socrum suam .

32 Inimici ho(min)is domestici ei(us) . [7:7] Ego aut(em) ad

33 d(omi)n(u)m aspiciam : (et) expectabo d(eu)m salvato(r)em

34 m(eu)m . Audiet me d(omin)o d(eu)s m(eu)s . VIII

35 [7:8] N E leteris inimica m(e)a s(upe)r me q(uia) cecidi :

36 (con)s(ur)ga(m) . Cu(m) sed(er)o i(n) tenebris : d(omi)n(u)s lux m(e)a

37 e(st) . [7:9] Iram d(omini) portabo . q(uonia)m peccavi ei : donec

38 iudicet c(aus)am m(e)a(m) . (et) faciat iudiciu(m) m(eu)m .

39 Et ducet me in luce(m) : videbo iustitiam

40 ei(us) . [7:10] Et aspici(et) inimica m(e)a . (et) op(er)iet(ur) (con)fu-

41 sio(n)e : q(ue) dicit ad me . U(bi) e(st) do(minus) d(eu)s tuus ? Ocu-

42 li m(e)i videbu(n)t in ea(m) : nu(n)c erit i(n) co(n)culca-

43 t(i)o(n)em ut lutu(m) platearu(m) . [7:11] Dies : ut hedifi-

44 centur macerie tue i(n) die illa : lo(n)ge fiet

45 lex . [7:12] [In die illa :] us(que) ad te veni(et) assur . (et) us(que) ad civi- [insert

46 tates munitas . (et) a civitatib(us) muniti(s)

47 us(que) ad flum(en) : (et) ad mare de mari . (et) ad

48 monte(m) de mo(n)te . [7:13] Et erit t(er)ra i(n) desolat(i)o(n)em .

Verso side, column 1:

1 p(ro)pt(er) h(ab)itatores suos : (et) p(ro)pt(er) fructu(m) cogita-

2 t(i)onum eor(um) . [7:14] Pasce p(o)p(u)l(u)m tuu(m) i(n) virga

3 tua g(re)gem hereditatis tue h(ab)ita(n)tes so-

4 los i(n) saltu . In medio carmeli pascent(ur)

5 basan (et) galaad : iux(ta) dies antiq(uo)s [7:15] s(ecundu)m

6 dies eg(re)ssionis sue de t(er)ra egypti . Osten-

7 dam mirabilia . [7:16] Videbu(n)t g(en)t(e)s : (et) (con)fun-

8 de(n)tur s(upe)r om(n)i fortitudine sua . Pone(n)t

9 manus s(upe)r os : aures eor(um) surde erunt .

10 [7:17] Li(n)ge(n)t pulvere(m) sic(ut) s(er)pentes : velud rep-

11 tilia t(er)re p(ro)turbabuntur de edib(us) suis

12 D(omi)n(u)m d(eu)m n(ost)r(u)m n(on) desiderabu(n)t : (et) [te] time- [insert

13 bu(n)t . [7:18] Quis d(eu)s simil(is) tui . q(ui) aufe(r)s iniq(ui)-

14 tate(m) : (et) tr(an)sis pecc(atu)m reliq(ui)ar(um) h(er)editatis

15 tue ? No(n) inmittet ultra furore(m) suum :

16 q(uonia)m vole(n)s mi(sericordi)am e(st) . [7:19] Rev(er)tet(ur) (et) mis(er)ebit(ur)

17 n(ost)ri . Deponet [om(ne)s] iniq(ui)tates n(ost)ras : (et) p(ro)iciet [insert

18 i(n) p(ro)fundu(m) maris om(n)ia pecc(at)a n(ost)ra . [7:20] Da-

19 bis v(er)itate(m) iacob . mi(sericordi)am abraha(m) que

20 iurasti patrib(us) n(ost)ris a dieb(us) antiq(ui)s .

21 Explic(it) micheas p(ro)ph(et)a . Incip(it) . p(ro)lo(gus) . s(ancti) [Prologue to Nahum

22 N Aum . Iero(nimi) p(res)b(yter)i i(n) naum p(ro)ph(et)i

23 p(ro)ph(et)a an(te) adventu(m) regis assy-

24 rior(um) qui p(o)p(u)l(u)m isr(ahe)l captivu(m)

25 in sua(s) regione(s) t(ra)nstul(er)at fu-

26 isse . hebreor(um) tradit(i)o (con)firmat . Siq(ui)dem [?

27 in fine hui(us) lect(i)onis . p(re)dicti regis adv-

28 entum ide(m) p(ro)ph(et)a annu(n)tiare mo(n)strat(ur)

29 S(ed) cu(m) h(ab)itatores ninive iona in(s)tit(ut)um [?

30 civitatis p(re)dice(n)te . ne divina ira denu(n)-

31 tiatu(m) in(s)ti(tu)tu(m) sustinere(n)t pecc(at)or(um) (et) i(m)pie- [ ?

32 tatis p(ecu)niam egisse(n)t : accepta [dei] mi(sericordi)a gra- [insert

33 viorib(us) se criminib(us) i(m)plicueru(n)t . Qua

34 deca(m) memorat(ur) p(ro)ph(et)a sp(irit)u [s(an)c(t)o] d(e)i plen(us) iudi- [insert

35 ciu(m) d(e)i annu(n)tia(n)s : ita e(st) locutus . D(eu)s ze-

36 la(n)s (et) ulcisce(n)s d(e)o . Iam e(nim) . x . trib(us) ab assi- [‘x’ = ten

37 riis ducte fuera(n)t i(n) captivitate(m) sub eze-

38 chia rege iuda . Sub quo (et) n(un)c i(n) (con)sola-

39 t(i)o(n)e p(ro)p(ter) transmig(ra)ti(onem) . adv(er)su(m) ninive(m) visi- [?

40 o cernitur . Nec erat p(er)p(et)ua (con)solat(i)o t(err)a h(u)i(us)

41 qui assyriis s(er)vieba(n)t . q(uam) reliq(uii)s q(ui) sub e-

42 zechia de tribu iuda (et) beniamin ab ei(s)-

43 de(m) hostib(us) obsidiebantur : ut audire(n)t

44 assyrios quoque/quomodocumque a chaldeis e(ss)e capiendos .

45 sic(ut) in (con)seq(ue)ntib(us) libri h(uius) demonstrabit(ur)

46 [in( )] Sciendu(m) aut(em) q(uod) ninive i(n) n(ost)ra li(n)gua [deletion

47 de hebreo spec(i)osa so(n)at . Spec(i)osus aut(em)

48 h(ic) mundus d(icitu)r . un( ) ap(ud) g(re)cos . K O E A I O C . [?

Verso side, column 2:

1 ab ornatu nom(en) accepit . Et q(ui)cq(ui)d nu(n)c

2 adv(er)su(m) ninive(m) dicitur . de mundo figu-

3 ralit(er) p( )se p(re)dicari sniam( ) . Qua(m) ob c(aus)am [?

4 et assu(m)pt(i)o q(uam) septuginta int(er)p(re)tes : dic(un)t

5 A H N N A A A . ap(u)d hebreos massa po-

6 nitur . ide(m) grave onus . eo q(uod) eam adv(er)- [q(uam) ?

7 sus q( ) p(ro)ph(et)atur p( )mat . nec sinat eleva- [?

8 re cervicem . Simulq(ue) hic attende(n)du(m) e(st) [hoc ?

9 q( ) haec ip(s)a v(el) assu(m)pt(i)o v(el) onus v(el) pondu(s) [?

10 p(ro)phete visio sit . No(n) enim loquitur i(n) ex-

11 tasi . ut montanus (et) priscilla maxilla( )- [?

12 que delira(n)t . s(ed) q(uo)d p(ro)ph(et)at lib(er) e(st) visionis . i(n)-

13 tellige(n)s univ(er)sa q(uae) loquitur . (et) pondus

14 hostiu(m) facie(n)s suo p(o)p(u)lo visio(n)e . De (con)su(m)a-

15 t(i)o(n)e utiq(ue) mundi s( )m anagoge(m) i(n) (con)sola- [?

16 t(i)o(n)e s(an)c(t)or(um) p(ro)ph(et)ia testatur . ut quaecumque i(n) mu(n)-

17 do videt(ur) q( ) p(re)t(er)euntia (et) caduca (con)te(m)pna(n)t

18 (et) p(re)pare(n)t se ad iudicii die(m) u(t) ultor adve(r)-

19 sum viros assyrior(um) futurus e(st) do(minus) .

20 Explic(it) p(ro)logus . Incip(it) argum(en)tum . [Start of Argument

21 G Aum (con)solator urb(is) int(er)p(re)tatur i(n)cre- [should be ‘N’

22 pat civitate(m) sanguinu(m) : (et) p(os)t ev(er)sio(n)em

23 illi(us) loquitur . Ecce s(upe)r montes pedes eva(n)-

24 g(e)lizantis . (et) p(re)dicantis pacem . Explic(it) [End of the Argument

25 argum(en)tu(m) . Incip(it) naum p(ro)ph(et)am .

26 [1:1] O NUS NINIVE [Book of Nahum

27 lib(er) visionis naum

28 helcesei . [1:2] D(eu)s emula-

29 tor . (et) ulcisce(n)s do(minus) . Ul-

30 cisce(n)s d(omi)n(u)s : (et) h(abe)ns fu-

31 rore(m) . Ulcisce(n)s d(omi)n(u)s

32 i(n) hostes suos : (et) ira-

33 sce(n)s ip(s)e inimicis s(ui)s .

34 [1:3] D(omi)n(u)s patie(n)s (et) magnus fortitudine : (et)

35 munda(n)s n(on) faciet innocente(m) . D(omi)n(u)s i(n) te(m)-

36 pestate (et) turbine via ei(us) : (et) nebule pul-

37 vis pedu(m) ei(us) . [1:4] Increpa(n)s mare (et) exsiccans

38 illud : (et) o(mn)ia flumina ad des(er)tu(m) deducens .

39 Infirmatus e(st) basan (et) charmelus : (et)

40 flos libani ela(n)guit . [1:5] Mo(n)tes com(m)oti su(n)t

41 ab eo . (et) colles desolati su(n)t . Et (con)tremuit

42 t(er)ra a facie ei(us) : (et) orb(is) . (et) o(mne)s h(ab)itantes in eo .

43 [1:6] An(te) facie(m) indignat(i)o(n)is ei(us) q(ui)s stabit ? Et

44 q(ui)s resistet ire furoris ei(us) ? Indignat(i)o ei(us)

45 effusa e(st) ut ignis : (et) petre dissolute su(n)t

46 ab eo . [1:7] Bonus d(omi)n(u)s (et) (con)forta(n)s in die t(ri)bu-

47 lat(i)o(n)is : (et) scie(n)s sp(er)antes i(n) se . [1:8] (et) i(n) diluvio p(re)-

48 tereunte (con)sum(m)at(i)o(n)em faciet loci ei(us) . (et) ini-

Notes:

A Letters: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u/v,x,y,z.

Capitals: A,B,D,E,I,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U/V.

B Versals: A,G,I,N,O,U,V.

C Alternative forms of letters ‘m’(2), ‘r’(3) and ‘s’(3).

Note the occasional use of a sideways ‘m’, written rather like a ‘3’, at the end

of words, e.g. in ‘socrum’ and ‘suam’ (recto 2, line 31).

Note the use of a small capital ‘R’, e.g. in ‘responderit’ (recto 1, line 31).

Note the use of a trailing ‘s’, e.g. in ‘equos’ and ‘tuos’ (recto 1, line 11).

D Fusion between letters ‘bo’, ‘de’, ‘do’, ‘ho’, ‘oc’, ‘oe’, ‘og’, ‘os’, ‘pe’, ‘po’ and

‘pp’, and possibly others.

E Ligature between letters ‘st’, e.g. in ‘stille’ (recto 1, line 3).

F Frequent use of an uncrossed Tironian ‘et’ (e.g. recto 1, line 2).

Note the use of a Tironian ‘et’ as last two letters in a word, e.g. in ‘aspiciet’

(recto 2, line 40), and ‘veniet’ (recto 2, line 45).

G Abbreviation of ‘quasi’ (recto 1, line 2).

H Abbreviation of ‘omnes’ (recto 1, line 10).

I Abbreviation of ‘con’ in ‘contende’ (recto 1, line 22).

J Abbreviation of ‘tibi’ (recto 1, line 26).

K Abbreviation of ‘domini’ (recto 1, line 33).

L Abbreviation of ‘pro’ (recto 1, line 39).

M Abbreviation of ‘misericordiam’ (recto 1, line 42).

N Abbreviation of ‘eorum’ (recto 2, line 3).

O Abbreviation of ‘populi’ (recto 2, line 14).

P Abbreviation of ‘mihi’ (recto 2, line 15).

Q Abbreviation of ‘contra’ formed by the abbreviation for ‘con’ with a line

above it (recto 2, line 31).

R Abbreviation of ‘quoniam’ (recto 2, line 37).

S Abbreviation of ‘secundum’ (verso 1, line 5).

T Abbreviation of ‘nostrum’ (verso 1, line 12).

U Abbreviation of ‘presbyteri’ (verso 1, line 22).

V Abbreviation of ‘propheta’ (verso 1, line 34).

W Abbreviation of ‘sancto’ (verso 1, line 34).

X Abbreviation of ‘enim’ (verso 1, line 36).

Y Abbreviation of ‘post’ (verso 2, line 22).

Z In recto side, column 1, line 47, the scribe originally wrote ‘plene’ but corrected

this to ‘plena’ by placing a dot under the final ‘e’ and writing ‘a’ above the word.

MS 5650/99

MS 120

Latin

1 leaf

Material: Vellum leaf