Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 33

Diktyon no.: 11896

Introduction: This manuscript on paper is one of the two manuscripts in Greek of Queens' College, Cambridge. It contains a late 15th- or early 16th-century collection of the Artes rhetoricae and rhetorical treatises by or attributed to Demetrius Phalereus (c. 350-283 BCE), Dionysius of Halicarnassus (c. 60 - after 7 BCE), Alexander of Ephesus, son of Numenius, called Lychnos (2nd cent. CE), Menander Rhetor of Laodicea (3rd cent. CE), Apsines of Gadara (3rd cent. CE), Pseudo-Aelius Aristides, and Phoebammon (5th-6th cent. CE ?). The copying of Menander's second treatise ends incompletely where another manuscript, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, grec 1741 , also ends, and it has been proposed that the entire manuscript is actually a copy of the Paris manuscript. The texts are in the collection Rhetores Graeci printed in Venice by Aldus Manutius in 1508. The first part of the codex is written by Nikolaos (RGK I 330), a scribe who also copied Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.1.24 and Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 76/43 (ff. 35r-66v). The second part, by another copyist, continues and completes the first part. It was bequeathed to Queens' College by Thomas Church who was the tutor of the previous owner, Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon (1535-1595) .

Language(s): Greek with few notes in Latin

1. ff. [1]r-[35]v

Dionysius, of Halicarnassus, Art of Rhetoric Ars rhetorica

Rubric: f. [1]r Διονισίου Ἁλικαρνασέως[sic] τέχνη περὶ τῶν πανηγυρικῶν

Incipit: f. [1]r Πανηγύρεις εὕρημα μὲν καὶ δῶρον θεῶν εἰς ἀνάπαυσιν τῶν περὶ τὸν βίον

Explicit: f. [35]v τὸ ποικίλως. οὗτος ὁ περὶ τῶν λόγων ἐξετάσεως λόγος

Attributed to Dionysius of Halicarnassus (c. 60 - after 7 BCE)

TLG 0081.016

2. ff. [36]r-[59]v

Demetrius Phalereus, c. 350-c. 283 BCE, On Style De elocutione

Rubric: f. [36]r Δημητρίου Φαλληρέως[sic] περὶ ἐρμηνείας ὅ ἐστι περὶ φράσεως

Incipit: f. [36]r Ὥσπερ ἡ ποίησις διαιρεῖται τοῖς μέτροις, οἷον ἡμιμέτροις ἢ ἑξαμέτροις

Explicit: f. [59]v ὥστε καὶ ἄχαριν τὸν λόγον ἅμα καὶ ψυχρὸν γίγνεσθαι παράκειται δέ πως ἀλλήλοις, ταῦτα ἀμφότερα

Attributed to Demetrius Phalereus (c. 350-283 BCE)

TLG 0613.001

3. ff. [60]r-71r

Alexander Ephesius, 2nd cent. CE, On Figures De figuris

Rubric: f. [60]r Ἀλεξάνδρου περὶ τῆς διανοίας σχημάτων καὶ περὶ τῶν τῆς λέξεως σχημάτων

Incipit: f. [60]r Ἔστι μὲν οὐχ ἡ τυχοῦσα δυσιφλία περὶ τῶν τοῦ λόγου σχημάτων εἰπεῖν

Explicit: f. 71r ἀλλ’ ἐμαίνετο· καὶ πάλιν, οὐ πατὴρ ἦν, μὰ Δία, ἀλλὰ τύραννος

TLG 0594.002

4. ff. 71r-[76]r

Phoebammo Sophistes, ca. 5th-6th cent. CE, On Figures De figuris

Rubric: f. 71r Σχόλια περὶ σχημάτων ῥητορικῶν

Incipit: || f. 71r Ὅτι χρήσιμος ἐστιν ἡ περὶ τούτων γνώσις πρὸς τὸ μὴ διαφθεῖραι τὰ τῶν ἀρχαίων

Explicit: f. [76]r τίς ὁ βασιλέα καταναυμαχήσας Θεμιστοκλῆς· ἐναλλάττει δὲ τὸ κατ’ ἐρώτησιν καὶ ἀπόκρισιν σχήμα

The author's name is added in the margin by a western hand, along with a note by a different hand

TLG 2596.001

5. ff. [76]v-[90]r l. 11

Menander, of Laodicea, 3rd cent. CE, Treatise I: Division of Epiditic Speeches De genere demonstrativo

Rubric: f. [76]v Μενάνδρου ῥήτορος γενεθλίων διαίρεσις τῶν ἐπιδεικτικῶν

Incipit: f. [76]v Τῆς ῥητορικῆς ἁπάσης τριχῶς διαιρουμένης, ὡς μέρεσιν ἢ εἴδεσιν

Explicit: f. [90]r ll. 10-11 τὰ Πύθια καὶ Ὀλύμπια καὶ Δέδαλα ἐν Πλαταιαῖς· διέκοντα γὰρ ἐτῶν ἄγεται

TLG 2586.001

After f. [90]r l. 11 ἄγεται, the text continues with the following item

6. ff. [90]r l. 11-[92]r

Alexander Ephesius, 2nd cent. CE, Fragment

Incipit: f. [90]r l. 11 Ὁ Ἀλέξανδρός φησιν, ὡς δύο ὄντων τῶν ἀνωτάτω προβλημάτων

Explicit: f. [92]r καὶ μετὰ τίνων θεῶν ἐστιν, ὡς Ἀπόλλων μετὰ τῶν Μουσῶν

Spengel 1856, Rhetores Graeci, vol. iii, p. 1-6

TLG 0594.001

7. ff. [92]r-[116]v

Menander, of Laodicea, 3rd cent. CE, Treatise II: On Epiditic Speeches De demonstrativis

Rubric: f. [92]r Μενάνδρου ῥήτορος περὶ ἐπιδεικτικῶν

Incipit: f. [92]r Ὁ βασιλικὸς λόγος ἐγκώμιόν ἐστι βασιλέως· οὐκοῦν αὔξησιν ὁμολογουμένην

Explicit: f. [116]v διαφθείρων παντοδαπῶς τοὺς πολεμίους. εἶτα μετὰ τοῦτο τὸ κεφάλαιον (Spengel 1856, Rhetores Graeci, vol. iii, p. 441, 6) ||

The last folio is misplaced: the correct reading sequence is ff. [114]v, [116]r-v, [115]r (πάλιν διαιρήσεις - ἀρετῶν ἀρχόμενος αὐτοῦ). On the latter only 11 lines were copied and a later hand wrote ‘λείπει Aldus’, and ‘λείπει’ on f. [116]v; f. [115]v is blank

TLG 2586.002

8. ff. [117]r-[150]v

Pseudo-Aelius Aristides, Art of Rhetoric Ars rhetorica

Rubric: f. [117]r Ἀριστείδου περὶ πολιτικοῦ λόγου

Incipit: f. [117]r Τάδε σοι περὶ τῶν ἰδεῶν καὶ ἀρετῶν ἐξ ὧν συνίσταται ὁ πολιτικὸς λόγος

Explicit: f. [150]v καὶ περὶ κάλλους ἐν λόγῳ, καὶ ταῦτα καθ’ ἕκαστον εἴρηται

Book 1: ff. [117]r-[135]v
Book 2: ff. [136]r-[150]v

TLG 0284.056

9. ff. [151]r-177r

Apsines, of Gadara, 3rd cent. CE, Art of Rhetoric (defective at the end) Ars rhetorica

Rubric: f. [151]r Αυινου[sic] τεχνη ρητορικη περι προοιμιου (added by a western reader)

Incipit: f. [151]r ⟨Ε⟩ἴρηται μέν τινα καὶ τοῖς πρὸ ἡμῶν περὶ προοιμίου τί τέ ἐστι προοίμιον

Explicit: f. 177r ὅθεν ἤδη καὶ περὶ ταύτης λεκτέον οἷον τέ ἐστι, καὶ τὶς ἡ δύναμις αὐτῆς (Walz 1836, Rhetores Graeci, vol. ix, p. 567, 11) ||

TLG 2027.001

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: ff. [1]r-177v Western paper, folded in folio. Watermarks: Crossbow ( 48 × 48 mm. ) middle of the folio, on a chainline comparable to Sosower, Arbalète 3 , dated the beginning of the 16th century; Arrows ( 50 × 25 mm. ) middle of the folio, on a chainline comparable to Sosower, Flèche 1 but smaller; Mountains ( 68 × 40 mm. ) middle of the folio, on a chainline comparable to Harlfinger, Monts 90 , dated the beginning of the 16th century; Anchor ( 45 × 45 mm. ) middle of the folio, on a chainline comparable to Sosower, Ancre 4 , dated the beginning of the 16th century.

Extent: Codex: 4 + 177 + 3. 345 × 250 mm.

Foliation:

[i-iv] + [1-10], 11, [12-20], 21, [22-30], 31, [32-40], 41, [52-50], 51, [52-60], 61, [62-70], 71, [72-80], 81, [82-90], 91, [92-100], 101, [102-110], 111, [112-120], 121, [122-130], 131, [132-140], 141, [142-148], 149, [150-156], 157, [158-164], 165, [166-172], 173, [174-176], 177 + [v-vii]

The first folio of quires 2-20, and the last folio of quire 20 are foliated in brown ink in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner, recto.

Folio [100a] is a slip of paper inserted between ff. [100]v and [101]r

Collation

The manuscript consists of 21 quires:

Quire 1^8-4 (ff. [i] recto - [iv] verso)
Quires 2-15¹⁰ (ff. [1]r-[140]v)
Quires 16-19⁸ (ff. 141r-[172]v)
Quire 20^8-3 (ff. 173r-177v)
Quire 21^4-1 (ff. [v] recto - [vii] verso)

Vertical catchwords in the hand of the second scribe, placed continuously with the last line; the first word is written horizontally, the second vertically reading from top to bottom: quires 16-19, ff. [148]v, [156]v, [164]v, [172]v. Bifolium signatures by the first hand on quires 2-15, in Greek numerals on each bifolio, recto, bottom right, from α to ιδ, followed by β, γ, δ and ε. Some have never been executed: γε, δβ, δε, εγ, εε, θδ, ιαγ, ιββ. Quires written by the second hand (16-20) numbered in Greek numerals in pencil from ιε to ιθ, on the first folio of each quire, recto, lower corner right.

Condition

In fair condition, occasional stains throughout the manuscript; the corners of the book block are rounded.

Layout

ff. [1]r-177r: 220-230 × 135 mm. The text is arranged by both copyists in 30 lines. The final part of the texts is shaped cul-de-lampe.

Hand(s)

ff. [1]r-[140]v

The manuscript is written by the scribe Nikolaos (RGK I 330) in a minuscule vertical or slightly slanted to the right, with modest variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings usually appear only at the end of lines, but occasionally elsewhere. Breathings are courved and joined to accents; mute iota is present but not always used. Accents are often joined to alpha, upsilon and omega.

Nikolaos' handwriting is characterized by the beta with long vertical stroke, pi in 'omega-like' shape, under a long and often curved horizontal stroke, rho straight or slightly curved to the left, enlarged lunate sigma.

The ligatures are frequently traced from below. Ligatures with rho are drawn up, traced in a single line and often with small closed loops.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point, lower comma and full stop.

ff. 141r-177r

The second part of the manuscript is written by Hand B in a scribal mixed minuscule script, upright or slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink. There is only moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscription usually appear only at the ends of lines. Breathings are round and mute iota is present.

Empty space is left for titles, decorations and rubricated letter never executed. Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point, middle and lower comma (rarely), and full stop.

Decoration

Headpieces are drawn in red ink at the beginning of some works: ff. [1]r, [36]r, [60]r, [76]v.

Several red-ink major initials mark the start of works or sections of texts copied by Nikolaos. The more elaborated ones are on ff. [1]r, [2]r, [3]v, [10]v, [18]r, [28]v, [36]r, [43]r, [45]v, [47]r, [48]v, 51v, [60r], [66]v, [76]v, [117]r, [136]r

Additions

Notes on the contents of the manuscript on f. [i] verso.

Bookplate with coat of arms of Queens' College (dated 1700), glued on f. [1]r.

Readers' notes on ff. 71r, [115]r, [116]v, [117]r, [151]r.

Variant readings on ff. [103]v, [104]v.

Chapter titles in Apsines' treatise (e.g. ff. [151]r, [152]v, [155]v) added from Aldus Manutius' edition (1508)

Binding

Limp vellum binding with tackets and no boards or pastedowns.

345 × 253 × 55 mm.

Accompanying Material

A slip of paper (69 x 36 mm) is preserved between ff. 100v and 101r. The title of the manuscript is on the recto: ‘Τέχναι sive de Arte Rhetorica libri XVI century’.

History

Origin: The scribe of the first part of the manuscript, Nikolaos, was active in Venice and Padua between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th. The second part of the manuscript can be dated shortly after the first.

Provenance and Acquisition

The manuscript was owned by Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon (1535-1595) ; his name and the year 1585 remain on f. [1]r.

Huntingdon gave the manuscript to his tutor Thomas Church . It did not belong to the collection of 102 books donated by Huntingdon to Queens' College (all these books are bound with his armorial stamp and motto, “honorantes me honorabo”).

Thomas Church left the manuscript to the Queens' College at his death, in 1606. He wrote on the inside of the left cover: ‘Tho: Church moriens legavit’.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2019) draws on M.R. James, A descriptive catalogue of the western manuscripts in the library of Queen's College, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1905, pp. 24-25.

Availability

For further information on the availability of the manuscript, please contact Queens' Old Library and Special Collections.

Bibliography

A descriptive catalogue of the western manuscripts in the library of Queen's College, Cambridge / described by Montague Rhodes James., (London, Cambridge University Press, 1905)

Specimen eines Repertoriums der griechischen Kopisten Jahrbuch der österreichischen Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (27, 293-322, 1978)

Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600. I. Grossbritannien Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981)

Du style / Démétrios, (Paris, Belles Lettres, 1993)

Arts rhétoriques / Pseudo-Aelius Aristide, (Paris, 1, Belles lettres, 2002)

L'application des programmes de reconstruction phylogénétique sur ordinateur à l'étude de la traduction manuscrite d'un texte: l'exemple du chapitre XI de l'Ars Rhetorica du Pseudo-Denys d'Halicarnasse Revue d'histoire des textes, Woerther, FrédériqueKhonsari, Hossein (227-240, 2003)

The Logos Basilikós text of Menander Rhetor Revue d'Histoire des Textes, Hernández Muñoz, Felipe G. (8, 371-385, 2013)

Creta y el itinerario de los textos griegos hacia Occidente. El caso de los manuscritos de Matteo Dandolo Scripta, Martínez Manzano, Teresa (7, 159-184, 2014)

Creta y el itinerario de los textos griegos hacia Occidente. El caso de los manuscritos de Matteo Dandolo Scripta, Martínez Manzano, T. (7, 159-184, 2014)

Alejandro Rétor, De materiis rhetoricis: nueva edición crítica Manuscritos griegos en España y su contexto europeo: Greek Manuscripts in Spain and their European Context, Hernández Muñoz, Felipe G. (Madrid, 143-158, Dykinson, 2016)

Para una nueva edición crítica de Menandro Rétor Manuscritos griegos en España y su contexto europeo: Greek Manuscripts in Spain and their European Context, Muruzábal Rodríguez, Beatriz (Madrid, 279-292, Dykinson, 2016)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, Queens' College, MS 33

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