Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.7.3

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 11912

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript consists of two parts, containing commentaries by Gregory of Nyssa and Polychronius Diaconus on the Song of Songs. The first part, in particular, is elegantly decorated with polychrome friezes. The present ff. 237 and 238 belonged to the first part of the manuscript, but were misbound at the end of the manuscript and replaced by a new bifolium in the position in which they were originally located. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 1r-238v: Parchment, medium thickness, medium quality, arranged flesh-to-flesh and hair-to-hair with flesh outermost (FHHF).
Extent: Codex: iii + 239 + ii leaves. 220 × 156 mm.
Foliation: [i-iii] + 1-236, 236a, 237-238 + [iv-v]. Modern foliation in brown ink in Arabic numerals, recto, upper right corner; 236a added in pencil.

Collation

1-238 | 24-298, 308-3, 312

Condition

In fair condition, ff. 237-238 are damaged and fragile.

Binding

Millboards covered with brown leather, edges are tooled in blind. Spine is in light brown leather.

235 × 175 × 70 mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

The manuscript comes from the Pantokratoros Monastery on Mount Athos (see notes on f. 236a recto: possession note ‘Βιβλίον τῆς ἱερᾶς μονῆς τοῦ παντοκράτορος χ(ριστο)ῦ γρηγορίου νύσσης εἰς τὰ τῶν ἀσμάτων ἄσματα’).

Purchased from Pantokratoros by Richard Bentley (1662-1742) , Master of Trinity College

Bequeathed by Bentley to the College Library after his death.

Part 1 [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.7.3, ff. 1r-184v, 237r-238v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. 1r-184v
Gregory of Nyssa, In Canticum canticorum (homiliae 1-15)
Rubric: f. 1r Γρηγορίου Νύσης ἐξήγησις καί λεπτομέρεια μετὰ φυσιολογίας. εἰς τὰ του̑ Σολομῶντος ἄσματα τῶν ίσμάτων. Ὀλυμπιάδι Γρηγόριος
Incipit: f. 1r Ἀπεδεξάμην ὡς πρέπουσαν τῷ σεμνῷ σου βίῳ καὶ τῇ καθαρᾶ σου ψυχῆ, τὴν περὶ τοῦ ἄσματος τῶν ἀσμάτων σπουδήν
Explicit: f. 184r γένηται ὁ θ(εὸ)ς τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς διὰ τῆς ἑνότητος ἀλλήλοις ἐν τῇ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ κοινωνίᾳ συγκεκραμένοις ἐν χ(ριστ)ῷ ἰ(ησο)ῦ τῷ κ(υρί)ῳ ἡμῶν ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος σὺν τῶ ἀχρὰντῳ π(ατ)ρὶ· καὶ τῶ παναγίῳ· καὶ ζωοποιῷ πν(εύματ)ι· νῦν καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν

  • Prologue: ff. 1r-4v
  • Hom. 1: ff. 5r-15v
  • Hom. 2: ff. 15v-26r
  • Hom. 3: ff. 26r-37v
  • Hom. 4: ff. 38-52r
  • Hom. 5: ff. 52r-65v
  • Hom. 6: ff. 66r-76r
  • Hom. 7: ff. 76r-92v
  • Hom. 8: ff. 92v-98r
  • Hom. 9: ff. 98v-110v
  • Hom. 10: ff. 111r-118v
  • Hom. 11: ff. 119r-128v
  • Hom. 12: ff. 128v-141r
  • Hom. 13: ff. 141r-152r
  • Hom. 14: ff. 152r-165v
  • Hom. 15: ff. 165v-184r

PG 44, 756-1120

CPG 3158

TLG 2017.032

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 1r-184v, 237r-238v: Parchment, medium thickness, medium quality, arranged flesh-to-flesh and hair-to-hair with flesh outermost (FHHF).

Collation

The part consist of 23 quaternions: quires 1-238 ff. 1-184; the two innermost leaves of quire 19 (ff. 145-152) were detached and replaced: the original leaves are now placed at the end of the manuscript (ff. 237r-238v), the replacement are ff. 148r-149v.

Early quire signatures in brown ink, in Greek numerals, on upper external corner of the first folio recto of quires from αʹ to κγʹ. On f. 1r the numeral αʹ is in black ink on lower external corner; the signature is trimmed on f. 57r.

Consistent quire signatures in red and brown ink, in Greek numerals, remain on lower external corner of the last folio verso of quires 1-14, from ff. 8v (αʹ) to 112v (ιδʹ); it is lost in trimming on ff. 56v and 96v.

Modern quire signatures in pencil, in Arabic numerals, on lower external corner of the first folio recto of quires from f. 9r (2) to f. 177r (23), continuing in Part II.

Condition

In fair condition, ff. 237-238 are damaged and fragile.

Layout

ff. 1r-99v, ff. 101v-120v: written space 160-165 × 110 mm. 27-28 lines per page Pricking is not visible Ruled in hardpoint, system not identifiable, type barely visible comparable to Leroy 31D1b .

ff. 99v-101r: written space 160 × 105 mm. 27 lines per page Pricking is not visible Ruled in hardpoint, system not identifiable, type barely visible comparable to Leroy 31D1b .

ff. 121v-147v, ff. 150r-160v, ff. 237r-238v: written space 160 × 110 mm. 26-27 lines per page Pricking is not visible Ruled in hardpoint, system Leroy 9, type Leroy 21D1b , but the lines for writing are often not ruled.

ff. 148r-149v, ff. 161r-184v: written space 160 × 110 mm. 26-27 lines per page Pricking is not visible Ruled in hardpoint, system Leroy 9, type Leroy 21D1b , but the lines for writing are often not ruled.

Hand(s)

Hand A: ff. 1r-99v l. 17, ff. 101v-120v: Hand A uses a mixed minuscule script upright or slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, pending from the ruling line. There is only moderate variation in letter size. Beta is in u-shape. There is some flourishing in lower margins.

The rubrics and quotations are in Alexandrinan majuscule.

Syllabic abbreviations are rare, and mute iota is present without consistency.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point and full stop.

Hand B: ff. 99v l. 18-101r: The second hand uses a mixed minuscule script, upright, in black ink. There is only moderate variation in letter size. Ny is modern.

Syllabic abbreviations are rare, and mute iota is not in use.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point and full stop.

Hand C: ff. 121v-147v, ff. 150r-160v, ff. 237r-238v: Hand C uses a mixed minuscule script slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with cursive ductus. There is a marked variation in letter size. The horizontal stroke of tau is enlarged and circumflex accent are wide. The rubrics are in the same script.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point and full stop.

Hand D: ff. 148r-149v, ff. 161r-184v: Hand D uses a mixed minuscule script slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, of the same model as Hand C.

Decoration

Decorated headpiece in red, blue, green and gold introduce Gregory of Nyssa's homilies up to f. 119r. From f. 128v the homilies are introduce by a small colored mark in the same style.

Decorated initials Gregory of Nyssa's homilies in red ink, covered by gold ink or blue and red ink.

Minor initial in red ink Gregory of Nyssa's homilies up to f. 119r.

Titles written in chrysography on f. 1r.

Additions

The contents are listed on the pastedown.

f. 1r: A scribal epigram on upper margin: ‘ἀρχὴν παράσχε χ(ριστ)ὲ χρηστὴν τῆ βίβλω’ (DBBE Type 2222); the name Ἀρσε⟨νίου⟩ on the lower margin.

On f. 184v a later Greek hand added two line on the Thekaras attributed to Manuel Philes . The Thekaras is a manual and collection of prayers perhaps compiled by an anonymous Constantinopolitan monk of the late 13th or early 14th century: ‘+ θ(εο)ῦ τὸ πν(εῦμ)α ρΐτρας ἐξ ἁλοι αἴων· καὶ θηκαρουργοὺς οἷδε δρὰν ὑμνογράφους’, see London, British Library, Egerton MS 2339, f. 189r: Θ(εο)ῦ τὸ πν(εῦμ)α ῥήτρας ἐξ ἁλιέων, καὶ θηκαρουργοὺς οἶδε δρᾶν ὑμνογράφους, and Athens, Mouseio Benaki, Kuriazè 13 (Zizica-Couroupou 38), f. 262r.

Leaf tab markers in brown leather remain on the fore-edge to mark the beginnings of each homilies.

History

Origin: The manuscript part was copied in the 13th century.

Part 2 [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.7.3, ff. 185r-236av]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

2. ff. 185r-213r
Commentary on Ecclesiastes
Rubric: f. 185r Ῥήματα ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δα(υί)δ· βασιλέως Ἰ(σρα)ὴλ ἐν Ἰ(ερουσα)λήμ. Ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστὴς φυσιολογίας ἁπτόμενος ἀποκαλύπτει τοῦ παρόντος βίου τὸ μάταιον
Incipit: f. 185r Τὰ ῥήματα συμβουλὰς οὐ πρόσταξιν ἐμφαίνει· ἐκκλησιαστοῦ δὲ, διὰ τὸ μὴ καθ' ἕνα ταῦτα παραδεδωκέναι
Explicit: f. 213r ἐσθίει δέ τις καὶ πίνει πν(ευματ)ικῶς ἐργαζόμενος, τὰς ἐντολὰς κ(υρίο)υ· τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν μένουσαν, εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον· ἐμὸν γάρ φῆσι βρῶμα ἐστὶν, ἵνα ποιῶ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ π(ατ)ρ(ὸ)ς μου
3. ff. 213r-236r
Polychronius Diaconus, Catena in Canticum canticorum
Rubric: f. 213r Τὰ πρόσωπα τοῦ βιβλίου τοῦ ἄσματος. Νυμφίος ὁ κ(ύριο)ς ἡμῶν· νύμφη, ἡ ἐκκλησία· φίλοι τοῦ νυμφίου, ἄγγελοι καὶ ἅγιοι· νεάνιδες, αἱ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἀκόλουθοι. Ἆσμα ἀσμάτων, ὅ ἐστι Σαλομῶν. ἀρχὴ τοῦ ἄσματος
Incipit: f. 213r Φιλησάτω με, ἀπὸ φιλημάτων στόματος αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ἀγαθοὶ μαστοί σου ὑπὲρ οἶνον· καὶ ὀσμὴ μύρων σου, ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ ἀρώματα Τὸ ἆσμα τῶν ἀσμάτων, τὸν τρόπον ὑποδείνυσι, τῆς τῶν ψυχῶν τελειότητος· ἐν σχήματι νυμφίου καὶ νύμφης, πρὸς Θ(εὸ)ν λόγον, τῆς ψυχῆς περιέχον οἰκείωσιν
Explicit: f. 236r τάδε τελευταῖα περὶ τῆς νύμφης, τὸ, φύγε· ὡς ἂν ἔπεσθαι καὶ αὐτῆς, διὰ τὸ τέλειον δυναμένης

Type I in G. Karo-I. Lietzmann, Catenarum graecarum catalogus, in Nachrichten von der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Philologischhistorische Klasse (1902), p. 313-314; type D in M. Faulhaber, Hohelied-, Proverbien- und Prediger-Catenen, pp. 148-154

CPG C 83

4. ff. 237r-238v
Gregory of Nyssa, Fragment from In Canticum canticorum, homilia 13
Incipit: || f. 237r παριοῦσι διὰ γεννήσεως, ὡς ἂν μή τις σαρκὸς γένεσιν περὶ τὸ μυστήριον τῆς εὐσεβείας παραδεξάμενος
Explicit: f. 238v εὐπρεπεῖς τε βοστρύχους καὶ λίθους τιμίους δι’ ἑαυτῶν τὴν κεφαλὴν καλλωπίζοντας· ἀκόλουθον δ’ ἂν εἴη καὶ τὰ περὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν||

The leaves were originally placed after f. 147v. Thought lost, they were replaced and only later were found to have been misbound at the end of the manuscript.

PG 44, 1052,39 - 1057,13

H. Langerbeck, Gregorii Nysseni opera, vol. 6 (1960), pp. 387,15-393,12

CPG 3158

TLG 2017.032

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 185r-236av: Parchment, medium thickness, medium quality, arranged flesh-to-flesh and hair-to-hair with flesh outermost (FHHF).

Collation

The part consist of 7 quaternions and a bifolium from Part I:

  • Quires 24-298 ff. 185-232
  • Quire 308-3 ff. 233-236a
  • Quire 312 ff. 237-238

Early quire signatures in brown ink, in Greek numerals, on lower inner corner of the first folio recto and last verso of quires from αʹ (f. 192v) to ζʹ (f. 233r).

Modern quire signatures in pencil, in Arabic numerals, on lower external corner of the first folio recto of quires from f. 185r (24) to f. 233r (30), continuing from Part I.

Condition

In fair condition

.

Layout

ff. 185r-236v: written space 170 × 110 mm. 28 lines per page Pricking survives on edges. Ruled in hardpoint, quires 24-26 (ff. 185r-208v): system not identifiable, type barely visible comparable to Leroy 31D1b , quires 27-30 (ff. 209r-236v): system Leroy 1, type Leroy 00D1 .

Hand(s)

Hand E: ff. 185r-236v are in a mixed minuscule script, upright or slanting slightly to the right, in black ink. The hand shows cursive-like ductus with marked variation in letter size. Ligatures and abbreviations in use, common and very clear.

Tau is high, breathings are curved; accents do not join to letters or breathings.

Decoration

A frieze with palmette on f. 213r in red ink.

Minor initial in red ink throughout the part.

Additions

Ownership note on f. 236ar.

History

Origin: The manuscript part was copied in the late 13th century.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2020) draws on M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1900), vol. 1, pp. 231-232.

Availability

Visitors to Trinity College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Trinity College: Information for Readers.

Bibliography

    The western manuscripts in the library of Trinity College: a descriptive catalogue, James, M.R. (Cambridge, 1, Cambridge University Press, 1900) Gregorii Nysseni Opera, Vol 6: In Canticum Canticorum., Langerbeck, H. (Leiden, Brill, 1960) La provenance athonite des manuscrits grecs legues par R. Bentley a Trinity College, Cambridge et en particulier de l'oncial 0131 du Nouveau Testament Studies in the history and text of the New Testament in honor of Kenneth Willis Clark, Duplacy, Jean (Salt Lake City, 113-126, University of Utah Press, 1967) Verzeichnis der griechischen Handschriften des Alten Testaments Bible. Old Testament. Supplementum. Greek. Septuagint. 1931, Rahlfs, AlfredRahlfs, Alfred (Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2004) Origene, Commentario al Cantico dei cantici, Barbàra, Maria Antonietta (Bologna, Bologna : EDB, c2005., 2005) Nouveaux témoins manuscrits de la chaîne de Polychronios sur le Cantique (CPG C 83) Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Ceulemans, Reinhart (104, 2, 2012, https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/byzs/104/2/article-p603.xml)

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The Polonsky Foundation

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