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 R.3.31

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12034

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript transmits the three tragedies by Sophocles - Ajax, Electra and Oedipus Rex - which were part of the Byzantine triad, a selection of tragedies usually read in the late Byzantine period. The core of the manuscript dates from the 14th century and consists of ff. 22-32 and 34-94. To compensate for the initial and final losses, the missing parts of the texts have been added from at least two later manuscripts. This manuscript therefore consists of three parts:
  • an addition from a 16th-century manuscript: ff. 1-21, 33
  • the manuscript core, 14th century: ff. 22-32, 34-94
  • an addition from 14th/15th-century manuscript: ff. 95-98.
The additions were not written specifically to make up for losses of the manuscript core, as indicated by the repeated lines and deletions between the fascicles. On f. 32v the hand D (14th century) breaks off at Ajax line 1359, but why this happened is unclear. The hand E (14th century) seems to have intervened to complete Ajax and continue with Electra by adding the quire beginning with f. 34r, probably already existing. If this were the case, the manuscript core would also be internally divided into two sections, the first formed by ff. 22r-32v and 55r-94v, the second by ff. 34r-54v. The two sections appear distinct both in writing and in the mise-en-page, but do not appear to be distant in time. The textual gap (Ajax, 1360-1396) between ff. 32v and 34r has been filled (perhaps by the same hand E) in the second half of f. 32v, by arranging the lines in two columns due to lack of sufficient space. This addition suggests that the quire of ff. 34-41 and the two subsequent ones were already copied and only later attached to the manuscript after f. 32v. The second half of f. 32v was probably crossed out when f. 33 was added: the ink stroke eliminating the verses which cuts out the verses continues in fact from f. 32v to 33r. Folios 33r-33v (16th century) contain the same verses as the second half of f. 32v. The addition of ff. 33r-33v may have been made with the intention of completing a mutilated fascicle, or, more probably, because of the lack of space on f. 32v for the scholia, which appear to be written by the same hand on ff. 33v and 34r. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek and Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: Codex: ii + 98 + ii leaves. 210 × 140 mm.
Foliation:

[i-ii] + 1-98 + [iii-iv]. Foliated in pencil in Arabic numerals in the top right-hand corner, recto.

Collation

14, 28, 38+1 | 44?, 58?, 6-78, 84+1, 9-138 | 144

Condition

The manuscript is badly damaged, the leaves are fragile and worn. There are large tears and stains.

Binding

Couched-laminated board binding, sheepskin with blind embossing reused from a previous boards (probably 16th or 17th century).

215 × 155 × 30 mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

The provenance of the manuscript os unknown. Three names appear:

  • f. 68r Κωνσταντίνος ὁ καὶ παδιάτης (cf. Vogel-Gardthausen 1909, p. 247): it is not clear whether he was an owner or a scribe
  • f. 13r Johannes Gibbonius
  • f. 98v Thomas Throckmaton

Donated to Trinity College in 1667 by James Duport (1606-1679) , Dean of Peterborough and college head, vice-master of Trinity, as stated on f. 1v: ‘Trin(itatis) Coll(egii) Cant(abrigiensis) A(nno) 1667. Ex dono R(evere)ndi Doctissimique D(oct)ris Duport Dec(ani) Petroburg(i) huius Coll(eg)ii nuper Vice-Magistri’

The manuscript is listed in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (1697), tom. I part III, p. 101 no. 613.

Part 1a [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.3.31, ff. 1r-21v, 33r-33v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek and Latin

1. f. 1v
Hypothesis on Ajax followed by the list of characters of the play
Rubric: f. 1v Ὑπόθεσις Αἰάντος Μαστιγοφόρου
Incipit: f. 1v πεπτωκότος ἐν τῆ μάχη Ἀχιλλέως, ἐδόκουν Αἴας τε καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐπ’ αὐτῶ πλέον τι ἀριστεύειν καὶ κρινομένων
Explicit: f. 1v καθὼς ἐν τῆ ποιήσει εὐρισκομεν· ἐστὶ γὰρ ὁ Σοφοκλῆς πάνυ φιλόμηρος

cf. TLG 5037.001

2. ff. 2r-21v
Sophocles, Ajax, lines 1-810 Ajax
Rubric: f. 2r Τοῦ Σοφωκλέους[sic] Αἴας μαστιγοφόρος
Incipit: f. 2r Ἀεὶ μέν ὦ παῖ Λαρτίου δέδορκά σε Πεῖράν τιν’ ἐχθρῶν ἁρπάσαι θηρώμενον
Explicit: f. 21v οἴμοι τί δράσω τέκνον οὐχ ἱδρυτέον ἀλλ’ εἶμι κἀγὼ, κεῖσ’ ὅποιπερ ἂν σθένω||

with scholia

TLG 0011.011

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 1r-21v Western paper, folded in octavo. Watermark: Fleur-de-lys ( 44 × 50 mm. ) on the top edge comparable to Piccard, 13-2-916 ; Watermarks of this shape are in use in late 16th century.

Collation

  • Quire 14 ff. 1-4
  • Quire 28 ff. 5-12
  • Quire 38+1 ff. 13-21

Quire signature in minuscule Latin letters on the first recto, lower margin in pencil on f. 5r (b), in brown ink and pencil on f. 13r (c), and in brown ink on f. f. 21r (d).

Condition

In good condition, yellowed and stained by time; f. 1 is fragile and two holes are present, upper corner of f. 4 is torn away and repaired.

Layout

ff. 1v-21v and 33r-33v: written space 158 × 76 mm. 20-21 lines per page

Hand(s)

Hand A: f. 1v, scholia and interlinear glosses in upright mixed minuscule of 16th century.

Hand B: ff. 2r-21v, mixed minuscule of 16th century. Upright or slanting slightly to the right, ligatures are rare and letters are isolated. The general aspect is of modest execution.

Decoration

Decorated large initial in red ink on f. 2r.

Two cross-shaped flowers on f. 2r.

Additions

Title added on [i] recto: ‘Sophoclis tres priores Tragoediae, Ajax Μαστιγ, Electra, Oedipus’.

Several notes and signatures in Greek and Latin on f. 1r.

Note of donation on f. 1v.

Notes and names in Latin on margins throughout the part (e.g. ff. 11r, 16r).

History

Origin: Probably produced in the 16th century, on the basis of the style of script and the watermarks.

Part 2 [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.3.31, ff. 22r-32v, 34r-94v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

3. ff. 22r-34v
Sophocles, Ajax, lines 811-1420 Ajax
Incipit: f. 22r χωρῶμεν ἐγκονῶμεν, οὐχ ἕδρας ἀκμή. σώζειν θέλοντες ἄνδρα γ’ ὃς σπεύδη θανεῖν
Explicit: f. 34v ἦ πολλὰ βροτοῖς ἔστιν ἰδοῦσιν γνῶναι· πρὶν ἰδεῖν δ’ οὐδεὶς μάντις τῶν μελλόντων ὅ τι πράξει
Final rubric: f. 34v Τέλος Αἴαντος Μαστιγοφόρου

lines 1360-1395 on f. 32v were canceled and duplicated on f. 33r, which belong to Part I

TLG 0011.011

4. f. 34v
Hypothesis on Electra followed by the list of characters of the play
Rubric: f. 34v Ὑπόθεσις τοῦ δευτέρου δράματος Σοφοκλέους (by a later hand on external margin)
Incipit: f. 34v Ὑπόκειται ὧδε τροφεὺς δεικνὺς Ὀρέστη τὰ ἐν Ἄργει
Explicit: f. 34v ὁ δὲ χορὸς συνέστηκεν ἐξ ἐπιχωρίων παρθένων. προλογίζει δὲ παιδαγωγὸς Ὀρέστου

cf. TLG 5037.007

5. ff. 34v-67v
Sophocles, Electra Electra
Rubric: f. 34v Σοφοκλέους Ἠλέκτρα
Incipit: f. 34v Ὦ τοῦ στρατηγήσαντος ἐν Τροία ποτὲ Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ· νῦν ἐκεῖν’ ἔξεστί σοι
Explicit: f. 67v ὦ σπέρμ’ Ἀτρέως ὡς πολλὰ παθὸν δι’ ἐλευθερίας μόλις ἐξῆλθες τῆ νῦν ὁρμῆ τελεωθέν
Final rubric: f. 67v Τέλος τῆς Ἠλέκτρας τοῦ δευτέρου δράματος

TLG 0011.012

6. f. 67v
Aristophanes of Byzantium, 257 B.C.-180 B.C., Hypothesis on Oedipus Tyrannus (Arg. I, ed. Dindorf 1852)
Rubric: f. 67v Στίχοι περὶ τῆς τοῦ Οἰδίποδος ὑποθέσεως· Σοφοκλέους ὑπόθεσις Οἰδίποδος ἔμμετρος
Incipit: f. 67v Λιπὼν Κόρινθον Οἰδίπους πατρὸς νόθος
Explicit: f. 67v αὐτὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἀγχόναις διώλετο

The explicit is written within a cross

TLG 0644.007

7. f. 67v
On why the tragedy is titled Tyrant (Arg. II, ed. Dindorf 1852)
Incipit: f. 67v Ὁ τύραννος Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ διακρίσει θατέρου ἐπιγέγραπται
Explicit: f. 67v τὸ πρότερον αἰσυμνήτας προσαγορεύεσθαι. εὐφημότερον γ' ἐκείνο τοὔνομα

cf. W. Dindorf, Poetarum scenicorum Graecorum Aeschyli, Sophoclis, Euripidis et Aristophanis fabulae superstites, Leipzig 1869, vol. 2 pp. 32-33

8. f. 68r
Handwriting exercise (Electra lines 1496-1497)
Incipit: f. 68r πατέρα τὸν ἀμόν ὡς ἂν ἐν ταὐτῶ θάνης. ἦ πᾶσ’ ἀνάγκη τήνδε τὴν στέγην

Copied twice

9. f. 68r
Hypothesis on Oedipus Tyrannus
Incipit: f. 68r Ὁ Λάιος ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ταῖς Θήβαις· ἔσχε δὲ τὴν Ἰοκάστην γυναῖκα
Explicit: f. 68r πρὸς τὸν Ἀπόλλωνα ἐρωτήσων

Cfr. hypothesis II on Aeschylus' The Seven Against Thebes (ed. Smith 1982)

TLG 5010.001

10. ff. 68v-94v
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, lines 1-1355 (preceded by the list of characters of the play) Oedipus Tyrannus
Rubric: f. 68v Σοφοκλέους Οἰδίπους Τύραννος· προλογίζει ὁ Οἰδίπους
Incipit: f. 68v Ὦ τέκνα Κάδμου τοῦ πάλαι νέα τροφή· τίνας ποθ’ ἕδρας τάς δὲ μοι θοάζετε
Explicit: f. 94v τότε γὰρ ἂν θανὼν οὐκ ἦ φίλοισιν οὐδ’ ἐμοὶ τοσόνδ’ ἄχος

TLG 0011.013

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 22r-27v and 55r-94v: Western paper, folded in octavo. Watermark: Bull's head ( 50 × 45 mm. ) on the gutter comparable to Briquet 14115-14116, 14120 ; Watermarks of this shape are in use in mid-14th century. ff. 28r-32v Western paper, folded in octavo, not watermarked. ff. 34r-54v Western paper, folded in octavo. Watermark: shield ( 45 × 30 mm. ) on the gutter comparable to Briquet 872 ; Watermarks of this shape are in use in mid-14th century.

Collation

The part consists of 10 quires: the first two quire comprise 12 leaves in all and have been rearranged with different stubs thus it is not possible to give a sequence with certainty. The sewn threads are visible between ff. 23-24 and 27-28, but their position does not correspond to the signatures. A folio from part I was intersed after f. 32v:

  • Quire 44? ff. 22r-25v,
  • Quire 58? ff. 26r-32v with the addiction of f. 33r-33v,
  • Quires 6-78 ff. 34r-49v,
  • Quire 84+1 ff. 50r-54v,
  • Quires 9-13 8 ff. 55r-94v,

Quire signature in Greek numerals in red ink on the first recto and last verso, lower margin on ff. 34r and 41v (εʹ), 42r and 49v (ϛʹ), 50r (ζʹ).

Two isolated Greek numerals (α and β) in brown ink on f. 62v and 63r.

An early modern quire signature in Latin letters in brown ink on the first recto, lower margin on ff. 31r (f), 34r (g), 42r (h), 50r (i, nearly lost in trimming), 55r (k, nearly lost in trimming), 63r (l), 71r (m), 79r (n), 87r (o).

A modern quire signature in Latin letters in pencil on the first recto, lower margin on ff. 34r (f), 42r (g), 50r (h), 55r (i), 63r (k), 71r (l), 79r (m), 87r (n).

Condition

In fair condition; yellowed pages with some extensive spots. The corners of the book block are worn and rounded, some repaired (e.g. ff. 23-24)

Layout

ff. 22r-27v and 55r-94v: written space 160 × 75 mm. 19-22 lines per page.

ff. 28r-32v: written space 170 × 85 mm. 22 lines per page. Second half of f. 32v in two columns.

ff. 34r-54v: written space 175 × 105 mm. 22 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Hand C: ff. 22r-27v and 55r-94v, in a mixed minuscule of the 14th century, upright or slanting slightly to the right, with marked variation in letter size. Ligatures and abbreviations are present.

Beta is bilobate, ny is modern, psi has a cross-like shape and omega has the shape of "pain belge". The threma is in use above iota and ypsilon, the iota mutum is in use. Breathings are curved; accents do not join to letters or breathings but circumlex is joint to omega.

Hand D: ff. 28r-32v, are in a mixed minuscule of the 14th century, upright, with marked variation in letter size. Ligatures and abbreviations are present but letter are mostly isolated.

Omega could be enlarged and wth inclusion of the following letter.

Hand E: f. 32v, Hand F: ff. 34r-54v, the two hands use a mixed minuscule of the 14th century, there are little differences, so that the folios might have been written by the same scribe.

Decoration

Rope motif in red ink on f. 34v; palmette-scroll headpiece in red ink on f. 68r; headpiece with carving motif in red ink on f. 68v.

Decorated initials in red ink on ff. 34v, 68r, f. 68v (with human figure).

Two crosses on f. 34v.

Sketches drawn in the outer margins margins of ff. 55r, 65v. On f. 68r a picture of the Sphinx, in brown ink decorated in red, with a human face, four legs, two wings and a serpent as tail. Some faces on ff. 80r and 93v. On ff. 81v, 82r and 85v there are some sketches of cities.

Explanatory diagrams decorated and recoloured in red on ff. 56r, 74r.

Additions

A monocondyle ‘Ἰωάννης’ on f. 56r.

History

Origin: The part was written in the 14th century.

Part 1b [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.3.31, 1r-21v, 33r-33v]

Contents

Introduction: ff. 33r-33v inserted from Part I

Language(s): Greek and Latin

11. ff. 33r-33v
Sophocles, Ajax, lines 1360-1395 Ajax
Incipit: || f. 33r τοιούσδ’ ἐπαινεῖς δῆτα σὺ κτᾶσθαι φίλους;
Explicit: f. 33v μὴ τῶ θανόντι τοῦτο δυσχερὲς ποιῶ||

TLG 0011.011

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 33r-33v Western paper, folded in octavo. no watermark visible (cf. above).

Hand(s)

Copied by Hand B, see ff. 2r-21v.

Part 3 [Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.3.31, ff. 95r-98v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek and Latin

11. ff. 95r-98v
Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, lines 1332-1530 Oedipus Tyrannus
Incipit: f. 95r οὔτις ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τλάμων τί γὰρ ἔδει μ’ ὁρᾶν
Explicit: f. 98v ἡμέραν ἐπισκοποῦντα μηδέν’ ὀλβίζειν, πρὶν ἂν τέρμα τοῦ βίου περάση μηδὲν ἀλγεινὸν παθών
Final rubric: f. 98v Τέλος Οἰδίποδος τυράννου

f. 95r lines 1332-1355 cancelled with strokes of the pen

TLG 0011.013

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 95r-96v and 98r-98v: Western paper, folded in octavo. Watermark: similat to the shield ( 45 × 30 mm. ) on the gutter present on Part II, but it is not clearly visible.

Collation

The part consists of 1 quaternion: Quire 144 ff. 95r-98v.

An early modern quire signature in Latin letters in brown ink on the first recto, lower margin on f. 95r (p).

A modern quire signature in Latin letters in pencil on the first recto, lower margin on f. 95r (o).

Condition

In fair condition; yellowed pages with some spots. The corners of the book block are worn and rounded.

Layout

ff. 95r-96v and 98r-98v: written space 175 × 90 mm. 25 lines per page.

ff. 97r-97v: written space 165 × 80 mm. 26 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Hand G: ff. 95r-96v and 98r-98v, are in a mixed minuscule of the 14th or 15th century.

Hand H: ff. 97r-97v, are in mixed minuscule of the 14th or 15th century.

Decoration

Two lozanges on f. 98v.

Rope motif in red ink on f. 98v.

Explanatory diagrams on f. 95r.

History

Origin: The part was written between the late 14th and the early 15th 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, 1901), vol. 2, pp. 108-109, and A. Turyn, Studies in the manuscript tradition of the tragedies of Sophocles (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1952), pp. 150-151.

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

    On the ms. of Sophocles in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge Journal of Philology, Campbell, L. (8, 87-95, 1879) The western manuscripts in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge: a descriptive catalogue, James, M.R. (Cambridge, 2, Cambridge University Press, 1901) Die griechischen Schreiber des Mittelalters und der Renaissance, Vogel, MarieGardthausen, Victor (Leipzig, O. Harrassowitz, 1909) The Manuscripts of Sophocles Traditio, Turyn, Alexander (2, 1-41, 1944) Studies in the manuscript tradition of the tragedies of Sophocles, Turyn, Alexander (Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1952)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge