Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

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

Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12152

Contents

Introduction: The manuscript contains a Greek philosophical miscellany, comprising treatises and extracts mainly deriving from Aristotle. It is composed of three parts copied around the same time, two of which were written by the same scribe Nikolaos Sekoundinos (1402-1464). A colophon to one of them dates and locates its production to Florence in 1441. Nikolaos (also known as Nicolaus Secundinus, Nicholaus Secundinus, or Niccolò Sagundino) came from Negroponte (Euboea) and moved to Italy in 1438. Because of his good knowledge of Greek and Latin, he was an interpreter at the Council of Florence. He also served as a papal secretary for some years. He was interested in the Plato-Aristotle controversy of the period, taking a similar position to Cardinal Bessarion as a Platonist not really hostile to Aristotle. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek and Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: Codex: 3 + 1 + 327 + 1 + 3 leaves. 210 × 145 mm.
Foliation:

i-iii + 1-327 + iv-vi

Two foliations: the newer one, in pencil in Arabic numerals in the top right-hand corner, recto (ff. 1r-123r), includes the parchment leaves at the beginning as f. 1r in the count, but balances out f. 114r with the older foliation (in brown ink in Arabic numerals in the top right-hand corner, recto) covering only the paper leaves, since it omits "113". The 1856 catalogue refers to the older foliation.

Collation

110 | 2-2910 | 30-3212

Condition

In fair condition; yellowed pages with some spots.

Binding

Reversed skin binding with blind embossing reused from a previous boards (probably 16th or 17th century). Leather strip with tooled title from previous binding is glued to the left pastedown. Title (‘Miscellanea Graeca Philosophia’) and shelfmark tooled in gold on spine. Repaired in October 1968, by J.P. Gray and Son of Cambridge, as noted on f. i recto

222 × 168 × 73 mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by the Venetian scholar Niccolò Leonico Tomeo (1456?-1531?) , who left some notes (ff. 241r, 260r, 263v) and some leafed twigs as page markers (e.g. f. 112v and f. 327v).

Probably owned by Jean-Baptiste Hautin (1580?-1640) , whose collection partially passed to John Moore (see below). On f. 1v remains a short title in French: ‘Receuil’.

Owned by John Moore (1646-1714) , bishop of Ely. The manuscript is listed neither in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (c. 1697) nor in the handwritten supplementary list of Moore's manuscripts, now CUL MS Oo.7.50.2, compiled by Thomas Tanner after the publication of Bernard's catalogue. However, a note on f. 1r states ‘Late Bp of Elys MSS. lent to Mr. Dechaire for Mr. Pearse of Edmund Hall’. The manuscript is recorded in the catalogue compiled by Thomas Goodall: CUL MS Oo.7.53, f. 20r.

Presented to the University Library in 1715 by George I : donation bookplate engraved by John Pine (1690-1756) in 1736 on the left pastedown.

Part 1 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16, ff. 2r-11v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. 2r-7r
Gemistus Plethon, George, active 15th century , De virtutibus
Rubric: f. 2r Τοῦ σοφωτάτου καὶ λογιωτάτου κυρίου Γεωργίου τοῦ Γεμιστοῦ, περὶ ἀρετῶν
Incipit: f. 2r Ἀρετή ἐστιν ἕξις καθ’ ἣν ἀγαθοί ἐσμεν· ἀγαθὸς μὲν δὴ τῶ ὄντι ὁ θεός
Explicit: f. 7r εὐβουλία· φυσική· πολιτεία· ὁσιότης· θεοσέβεια

TLG 3202.002

followed by a summary diagram on f. 7r

2. ff. 7r-9v
On Virtues and Vices De virtutibus et vitiis
Rubric: f. 7r Ἀριστοτέλους περὶ ἀρετῶν
Incipit: f. 7r Ἐπαινετὰ μὲν εἰσὶ τὰ καλὰ· ψεκτὰ δὲ τὰ αἰσχρά· καὶ τῶν μὲν καλῶν ἡγοῦνται αἱ ἀρεταί
Explicit: f. 9v ἅπαντα δὲ τὰ τῆς κακίας καὶ τὰ παρακολουθοῦντα αὐτῆ τῶν ψεγομένων ἐστίν

Attributed to Aristotle

TLG 0086.045

3. ff. 9v-11v
Aristotle , Extracts of Aristotelian definitions of virtues and vices from ethical, rhetorical, and political treaties
Rubric: f. 9v Ἀριστοτέλους ὅροι ἀρετῶν καὶ κακιῶν· ἀπὸ τῶν ἠθικῶν
Incipit: f. 9v Ἀρετή ἐστιν ἕξις προαιρετικὴ
Explicit: f. 11v ἕξεις ἄρα αἱ ἀρεταὶ καὶ κακίαι· καὶ οὔτε πάθη, οὔτε δυνάμεις

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 2r-11v Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Basilisk ( 32 × 43 mm. ) in the gutter comparable to Briquet, Basilic 2642 , dated 1439 from Reggio Emilia.

Collation

One quinion

Layout

ff. 2r-11v: 155 × 100 mm.

Hand(s)

Hand A: mixed minuscule Slightly inclined to the right, epsilon-tau ligation in two strokes, high tau with eyelet, high gamma with upward movement. The model seems to be the same as that of Sekoundinos.

Decoration

Decorated initials written in red ink.

History

Origin: Probably produced in the mid 15th century, on the basis of the style of script and the watermark.

Part 2 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16, ff. 12r-291v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

4. ff. 12r-17r
Aristotle , Extracts from Nicomachean Ethics and On the Soul Ethica Nicomachea et De anima (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 12r ῥητὰ τινὰ ἀναγκαῖα καὶ χρήσιμα ἐκληφθέντα κατ' ἐκλογὴν ἀπό τινων τῶν Ἀριστοτέλους πραγματειῶν· ὡς ἐφ' ἑκάστοις διασαφηθήσεται· ἐλήφθη δὲ τὰ μὲν διὰ τὰς ἐννοίας· τὰ δὲ διὰ τὴν λέξιν. Ἠθικῶν αον
Incipit: f. 12r ἀρκτέον μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ τῶν γνωριμωτέρων ταῦτα δὲ διττῶς
Explicit: f. 17r τὸ μὲν κατὰ ποσὸν πρώτως· τὸ δὲ κατ’ ἀξίαν δευτέρως

f. 17r lower margin: Euripides, Hecuba 306-308

TLG 0086.010

TLG 0086.002

5. f. 17v
Aristotle , Extract from On the Heavens (I 1, 268a1-24) De caelo (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 17v ἀρχὴ τοῦ αου τῶν δ περὶ οὐρανοῦ
Incipit: f. 17v Ἡ περὶ φύσεως ἐπιστήμη, σχεδὸν ἡ πλείστη φαίνεται περί τε σώματα
Explicit: f. 17v ὥρισται τοῖς τρισίν, τοῦτο δ’ ἐστὶ πᾶν||

TLG 0086.005

6. ff. 18r-62v
Aristotle , Extracts from Nicomachean Ethics Ethica Nicomachea (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 18r ἀρχὴ τοῦ α τῶν ἠθικῶν
Incipit: f. 18r πᾶσα τέχνη καὶ πᾶσα μέθοδος ὁμοίως δὲ πρᾶξίς τὲ καὶ προαίρεσις
Explicit: f. 62v καὶ τίσι νόμοις καὶ ἔθεσι χρωμένη. λέγωμεν οὖν ἀρξάμενοι

  • Book 1: ff. 18r-23v
  • Book 2: ff. 24r-27r
  • Book 3: ff. 27r-30r
  • Book 4: ff. 30v-33r
  • Book 5: ff. 33r-34r
  • Book 6: ff. 34r-40r
  • Book 7: ff. 40v-42v
  • Book 8: ff. 42v-47v
  • Book 9: ff. 47v-49v
  • Book 10 (complete): ff. 49v-62v

scholia and reader notes accompany the text

TLG 0086.010

7. f. 62v ll. 16-24
Extract from On Marvellous Things Heard (836a7-17) De mirabilibus auscultationibus (excerptum)
Incipit: f. 62v l. 16 ἐν τῆ Διομηδία νήσω ἣ κεῖται ἐν τῶ Ἀδρία
Explicit: f. 62v l. 24 τοῦ δὲ Διομήδους δολοφονηθέντος ὑπὸ τοῦ Αἰνείου

TLG 0086.027

Attributed to Aristotle

8. ff. 63r-73r
Aristotle , Extracts from Rhetoric Ars rhetorica (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 63r ἐκ τοῦ αου τῶν τριῶν τῆς ῥητορικῆς Ἀριστοτέλους βιβλίων
Incipit: f. 63r φανερὸν ὅτι ἐξ ὧν τὰ ἐνθυμήματα λέγεται, τὰ μὲν ἀναγκαῖα ἔσται
Explicit: f. 73r ἀλλὰ μὴ λόγος ἦ· εἴρηκα· ἀκηκόατε· ἔχετε· κρίνατε
Final rubric: f. 73r τέλος ἐνταῦθα τοῦ γου βιβλίου

  • Book 1: ff. 63r-63v
  • Book 2: ff. 64r-64v
  • Book 3: ff. 64v-73r

TLG 0086.038

9. ff. 73r-73v
Εpistolarum Bruti collectio Mithridatis epistula
Rubric: f. 73r Μιθριδάτης βασιλεὺς, Μιθρηδάτη τῶ ἀνεψίω χαίρειν
Incipit: f. 73r Τὰς Βρούτου ἐθαύμασα πολλάκις ἐπιστολάς. οὐ μόνον δεινότητος καὶ συντομίας χάριν
Explicit: f. 73v μετὰ τὴν ἐκ τοῦ συντελέσματος γνῶσιν, ῥάδια εἶναι παραθεωρεῖσθαι

TLG 0039.001

Attributed to Mithridates VI of Pontus

10. ff. 73v-84r
Epistles Epistulae
Rubric: f. 73v Βροῦτος, Περγαμηνοῖς
Incipit: f. 73v Ἀκούω ὑμᾶς Δολοβέλλα δεδωκέναι χρήματα
Explicit: f. 84r Εὐπορούντων ἔργον τὸ πέμψαι· πενομένων δὲ τὸ ἀποκρινεσθαι
Final rubric: f. 84r τέλος τῶν Βρούτου ἐπιστολῶν

Attributed to Marcus Iunius Brutus

Epistles 1-16, 29-30, 51-58, 17-20, 31-32, 69-70, 35-50, 21-28, 59-68, 33-34 (ed. Hercher, Epistolographi Graeci, 1873, p. 171-191)

TLG 1803.001

11. ff. 84r-88r
Epistles Epistulae
Rubric: f. 84r ἐπιστολαί Εὐριπίδου
Incipit: f. 84r Εὐριπίδης Ἀρχελάω εὖ πράττειν. Τὸ μὲν ἀργύριον ἀνεπέμψαμέν σοι πάλιν· ὅπερ ἡμῖν Ἀμφίας ἐκόμιζεν
Explicit: f. 88r ἡμᾶς ἀντιλέγοντα ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τοῖς οὐκ ἀξίοις

ed. Hercher, Epistolographi Graeci, 1873, p. 275-279

attributed to Euripides

TLG 1367.001

12. ff. 88r-88v l. 11
Extract from On the Universe (401b8-29) De mundo (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 88r Ἀριστοτέλους ἐν τῶ περὶ κόσμου πρὸς Ἀλέξαδρον
Incipit: f. 88r οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὴν ἀνάγκην οὐκ ἄλλο τι λέγεσθαι πλὴν τοῦτο
Explicit: f. 88v l. 11 μακάριός τε καὶ εὐδαίμων ἐξ ἀρχῆς εὐθὺς μέτοχος εἴη

Attributed to Aristotle

TLG 0086.028

13. f. 88v ll. 12-25
Extracts from Situations and Names of Winds and On Marvellous Things Heard De ventorum situ et nominibus, De mirabilibus auscultationibus (excerpta)
Incipit: f. 88v l. 12 Ἑλλησποντίας ἄνεμος ἀφ' Ἑλλησπόντου πνέων, μάλιστα ἐνοχλεῖ τόν τῆς Εὐβοίας Καφηρέα καὶ τὸν Κιρηνέων λιμένα καλούμενον Ἀπολλωνίαν
Explicit: f. 88v l. 25 ὑπό τινων τῶν τὴν Ἰταλίαν οἰκούντων Κυμαίαν ὑπὸ δέ τινων Μελάγκραιραν καλουμένην

Attributed to Aristotle

TLG 0086.046

TLG 0086.027

14. ff. 89r-99r
Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329-379 , De legendis gentilium libris
Rubric: f. 89r τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν Βασιλείου ἀρχιεπισκόπου Καισαρείας Καππαδοκίας τοῦ μεγαλοῦ, λόγος πρὸς τοὺς νέους· πῶς ἂν ἐξ Ἑλληνικῶν ὠφειλοῖντο λόγων
Incipit: f. 89r Πολλά με τὰ παρακαλοῦντα ἐστὶ ξυμβουλεῦσαι ὑμῖν ὦ παῖδες
Explicit: f. 99r ὅ μὴ πάθοιτε νῦν ὑμεῖς τοὺς ὀρθῶς ἔχοντας τῶν λόγων ἀποφεύγοντες

PG 31, 564-589

CPG 2867

TLG 2040.002

15. ff. 99v-100r
Homeri vita quarta (ed. Allen, Homeri opera, t. 5 (1912), p. 245-246)
Incipit: f. 99v Ὅμηρος ὁ ποιητὴς υἱὸς ἦν κατὰ μέν τινας Μαίονος καὶ Ὑρνηθοῦς
Explicit: f. 100r τινὲς δὲ προστιθέασιν αὐτῶ καὶ παίγνια τινὰ μαργίτην καὶ βατραχομυομαχίαν

TLG 1805.004

16. ff. 100r-101v
Anaximenes, of Lampsacus, ca. 380-320 BCE , Extract from Rhetoric (ed. Fuhrmann, Anaximenis ars rhetorica, 1966, 38,2-25) Ars rhetorica (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 100r Ἀριστοτέλους ἐκ τῆς πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον ῥητορικῆς ἐν τῶ τέλει
Incipit: f. 100r χρὴ δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν ποιεῖσθαι μὴ μόνον περὶ τοὺς λόγους
Explicit: f. 101v ἀσύμφορα δὲ τἀναντία τούτων. πόλει δὲ συμφέρον πλῆθος πολιτῶν
Final rubric: f. 101v τέλος ἐνταῦθα

Also known as "Rhetoric to Alexander" (Rhetorica ad Alexandrum) attributed to Aristotle

for the beginning of the treatise see ff. 192r-226v. On the margin of f. 100r is noted a reference to f. 226v for the connection between the two parts

TLG 0547.001

17. ff. 102r-111v
Aristotle , Extracts from Rhetoric Ars rhetorica (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 102r ἐκ τοῦ γου τῶν περὶ ῥητορικῆς Ἀριστοτέλους
Incipit: f. 102r φιλοῦσι δὲ μάλιστα πάντες· τοὺς ὁμοίους καὶ ταὐτὰ ἐπιτηδεύοντας
Explicit: f. 111v τοσαῦτα γάρ ἐστι δι' ἃ πιστεύομεν ἔξω τῶν ἀποδείξεων· ἔστι δὲ ταῦτα φρόνησις· καὶ ἀρετὴ· καὶ εὔνοια

  • ff. 102r-107r: Rhet. II 4, 1381b14-19; b22-1382 b 19; II 11, 1388b28-II 18, 1391b9; II 23, 1399b19-29; II 25, 1402b12-III 1, 1403a7
  • ff. 107r-108v: short extracts from books I-III
  • ff. 108v–111v: I 10-11, 1369b29-1372a3; I 12 1372b23-1373a5; II 1, 1377b16-1378a9

TLG 0086.038

18. ff. 112r-112v
Epistle VIII (ed. Hercher, Epistolographi Graeci, 1873, p. 466-467) Epistula ad Olympiadem
Rubric: f. 112r Ἀριστοτέλης Ὀλυμπιάδι
Incipit: f. 112r Ἀποδέχομαι τὴν σὴν πρόνοιαν τοῦ συμφέροντος
Explicit: f. 112v τὰ δ’ ἄλλα προνοοῦ τοῦ συμφέροντος

Attributed to Philip II, King of Macedonia, 382 BCE-336 BCE

TLG 0048.001

19. f. 112v
Epistle I (ed. Hercher, Epistolographi Graeci, 1873, p. 98; defective at the end) Epistula ad Aristotelem
Incipit: f. 112v Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀριστοτέλει εὖ πράττειν· οὐκ καλῶς ἐποίησας ἐκδοὺς
Explicit: f. 112v περὶ τὰ ἄριστα ἐμπειρίαις ἢ ταῖς δυνάμεσι διαφέρειν||

Attributed to Alexander the Great, 356 BCE-323 BCE

TLG 0042.001

20. f. 112v
Epistle VI (ed. Hercher, Epistolographi Graeci, 1873, p. 174) Epistula ad Alexandrum
Incipit: f. 112v Ἀριστοτέλης Ἀλεξάνδρω βασιλεῖ εὖ πράττειν· ἔγραψάς μοι
Explicit: f. 112v συνετοὶ γάρ εἰσι μόνοις τοῖς ἡμῶν ἀκούσασιν

Attributed to Aristotle

TLG 0086.011

21. f. 112v
Aristotle , Extract from Rhetoric (I 10, 1368b32-1369a7) Ars rhetorica (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 112v ἐκ τοῦ βου τοῦ περὶ ῥητορικῆς Ἀριστοτέλους
Incipit: f. 112v πάντες δέ πράττουσι πάντα τὰ μὲν οὐ δι’ αὑτοὺς τὰ δὲ δι’ αὑτούς
Explicit: f. 112v διὰ βίαν· διὰ φύσιν· δι’ ἔθος· διὰ λογισμόν· διὰ θυμόν, δι’ ἐπιθυμίαν

TLG 0086.038

22. ff. 113r-129r
Xenophon , Agesilaus Agesilaus
Rubric: f. 113r Ξενοφῶντος εἰς Ἀγεσίλαον ἐγκωμίον
Incipit: f. 113r Οἶδα μὲν ὅτι τῆς Ἀγησιλάου ἀρετῆς τε καὶ δόξης οὐ ῥάδιον ἄξιον ἔπαινον γράψαι
Explicit: f. 129r ἀρετῆς ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν κτησάμενος τῆς δὲ βασιλικῆς ταφῆς ἐν τῆ πατρίδι τυχών

TLG 0032.009

23. ff. 129r-129v
Aristotle , Extract from Rhetoric (I 1, 1354a1-26) Ars rhetorica (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 129r ἐκ τῶν εἰς γ τοῦ αου ῥητορικῆς τέχνης Ἀριστοτέλους ἀρχὴ
Incipit: f. 129r Ἡ ῥητορική ἀντίστροφος ἐστὶ τῆ διαλεκτικῆ· ἀμφότεραι γὰρ
Explicit: f. 129v εἴ τις ᾧ μέλλει χρῆσθαι κανόνι, τοῦτον ποιήσειε στρεβλόν

TLG 0086.038

24. ff. 129v-131r
Rhetorical and grammatical extracts, and remarks on the use of pronouns, accents, particles, prepositions, etc.
Incipit: f. 129v ὅτι κατὰ ἑπτὰ τρόπους ἐξηγεῖσθαι δεῖ τὰ τῶν ῥητόρων· κατὰ ἀλληγορίαν
Explicit: f. 131r οἱ δὲ νεώτεροι, πάσας τὰς ἀκροπόλεις
25. ff. 131r-131v
Scholia on Iliad
Incipit: f. 131r Ὅτι κόρση καὶ κρόταφος ταὐτόν
Explicit: f. 131v ἀπὸ τῆς ἐγέρσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναδόσεως

Scholia on Δ 502 (cf. Cramer, Anecdota Parisina, vol. iii (1841), p. 203-204), Δ 295 (cf. vol. iii, 201), E 358 (cf. vol. iii, 166), E 333 (cf. vol. iii, 209), E 287 (cf. vol. iii, 208), E 245 (cf. vol. iii, 208), E 226 (cf. vol. iii, 208), Δ 440, Δ 482

26. ff. 132r-146v
Gemistus Plethon, George, active 15th century , De Platonicae et Aristotelicae philosophiae differentia De differentiis
Rubric: f. 132r Γεωργίου τοῦ Γεμιστοῦ κατά τινων τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους λέξεων καῖ ὑπὲρ Πλάτωνος
Incipit: f. 132r Οἱ μὲν ἡμῶν παλαιότεροι καὶ Ἑλλήνων καὶ Ῥωμαίων Πλάτωνα Ἀριστοτέλους
Explicit: f. 146v εἰδότας μέντοι ὡς συχνὰ αὐτοῖς καὶ φαῦλα ἐγκαταμέμικται

TLG 3202.018

27. ff. 146v-178r
Gemistus Plethon, George, active 15th century , Contra Scholarii pro Aristotele obiectiones Contra Scholarii Defensionem Aristotelis
Rubric: f. 146v τοῦ αὐτοῦ Γεωργίου τοῦ Γεμιστοῦ πρὸς τὰς τοῦ Σχολαρίου ὑπὲρ Ἀριστοτέλους ἀντιλήψεις
Incipit: f. 146v Ἐπεὶ τὸ βιβλίον τῶν κατ’ Ἀριστοτέλους βλασφημιῶν καὶ ἐς ἡμᾶς ὀψὲ
Explicit: f. 178r Μελιταίου τινὸς ὑλακαῖς λελόγισταί τε ἤδη καὶ αὖθις λογισθήσεται

TLG 3202.003

28. ff. 178r-180v
Greek translation of Cicero, Rhetorica ad Herennium (III, 16-20) Ciceronis Rhetorica ad Herennium Graece versa
Rubric: f. 178r Μάρκου Τουλλίου Κικέρωνος ἀπὸ τῶν ῥητορικῶν αὐτοῦ περὶ τεχνικῆς μνήμης εἰς Ἑλλάδα φωνὴν ἀκριβῶς μετενέχθεν
Incipit: f. 178r Περὶ μνήμης πότερον ἔχει τι τέχνης τε καὶ τριβῆς ἢ τὸ πᾶν αὐτῆς
Explicit: f. 180v τῆς κληρονομίας καὶ τοῦ φαρμάκω φονευθέντος μνήμην ἔχειν δυνησόμεθα||

Attributed to Maximus Planudes

ed. Hess, Ciceronis Cato Maior, Somnium Scipionis, Laelius et Paradoxa, 1833, p. 191-199,10

29. f. 180v
Translator's remark
Incipit: f. 180v Ὅτι ἡ μὲν περὶ τεχνικῆς μνήμης τοῦ Κικέρωνος πραγματεία
Explicit: f. 180v ἐπὶ τοῖς οὐκ ἀξίοις σπουδῆς ἔκρινα δεῖν
30. f. 180v
On Soul (Fragment) De anima (fragmentum)
Rubric: f. 180v ἀπὸ φωνῆς Θεοδώρου
Incipit: f. 180v ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ ὅλη ἐν ὅλω τῶ σώματι καὶ ὅλη ἐν ἑκάστω τῶν μερῶν οὐσιωδῶς
Explicit: f. 180v καὶ ὅλην ἐν ὅλω εἶναι φαμὲν ἀλλ' ἔν τισι μέρεσιν

Attributed to Theodorus Asinaeus (275-360 CE)

printed in Babington, Correspondence I, in The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, vol. 1 (1854), p. 133-134

31. ff. 181r-181v
Heliodorus, of Emesa , Extract from Hethiopian Story (III 7,3-8,2) Aethiopica (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 181r περὶ βασκανίας
Incipit: f. 181r Ὁ περικεχυμένος οὗτος ἀὴρ δι’ ὀφθαλμῶν τε καὶ ῥινῶν καὶ ἄσθματος
Explicit: f. 181v οὐχ ὃ μόνον βούλονται δρῶσιν ἀλλὰ καὶ ὃ πεφύκασιν

TLG 0658.001

32. ff. 181v-191
Scholia on Sophocles and Homer
Incipit: f. 181v ὁ ἀλλὰ σύνδεσμος ἐνίοτε μὲν συμπλεκτικὸς
Explicit: f. 191v ὁ δὲ αἱρεῖται τὸ δεύτερον
33. ff. 192r-226v
Anaximenes, of Lampsacus, 380-320 BCE , Beginning of Rhetoric (ed. Fuhrmann, Anaximenis ars rhetorica, 1966, 1-2,7) Ars rhetorica (initium)
Rubric: f. 192r Ἀριστοτέλους ῥητορικὴ πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον
Incipit: f. 192r Ἀριστοτέλης Ἀλεξάνδρῳ εὖ πράττειν. Ἐπέστειλάς μοι ὅτι πολλάκις πολλοὺς πέπομφας πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς διαλεξομένους
Explicit: f. 226v ἐντεῦθεν πλείστας καὶ τεχνικωτάτας ἀφορμὰς ἕξομεν||

Also known as "Rhetoric to Alexander" (Rhetorica ad Alexandrum) attributed to Aristotle

The following text is a note from the scribe on the connection between the two transcribed parts of the treatise (see ff. 100r-101v)

TLG 0547.001

34. ff. 227r-231v
Aristotle , Extracts from Politics Politica (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 227r ἐν τῶ γω τῶν πολιτικῆς Ἀριστοτέλους
Incipit: f. 227r ὁ μὲν οὖν τὸν νόμον κελεύων ἄρχειν δοκεῖ κελεύειν ἄρχειν τὸν θεὸν
Explicit: f. 231v ἄνευ ἀρετῆς καὶ πρὸς ἀφροδίσια καὶ ἐδωδὴν χείριστον

Extracts of different lengths from books iii, ii, viii, vi, vii, i

TLG 0086.035

35. ff. 232r-265v
Xenophon , Oeconomicus Oeconomicus
Rubric: f. 232r Ξενοφῶντος οἰκονομικὸς
Incipit: f. 232r Ἤκουσα δέ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ οἰκονομίας τοιάδε διαλεγομένου
Explicit: f. 265v ὁ Τάνταλος ἐν Ἅδου λέγεται τὸν ἀεὶ χρόνον διατρίβειν φοβούμενος μὴ δὶς ἀποθάνη

TLG 0032.003

36. ff. 265r-277r
Xenophon , Hiero Hiero
Rubric: f. 265v ἔτι Ξενοφῶντος Ἱέρων ἢ τυραννικὸς
Incipit: f. 265v Σιμωνίδης ὁ ποιητὴς ἀφίκετό ποτε πρὸς Ἱέρωνα τὸν τύραννον
Explicit: f. 277r κάλλιστον καὶ μακαριώτατον κτῆμα κεκτήσει· εὐδαιμονῶν γὰρ οὐ φθονηθήση

TLG 0032.008

37. ff. 277v-286v
Aristotle , Extract from Rhetoric (I 5, 1360b14 - I 9, 1367b26) Ars rhetorica (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 277v ἐκ τοῦ αου περὶ ῥητορικῆς Ἀριστοτέλους
Incipit: f. 277v ἔστω δὴ εὐδαιμονία εὐπραξία μετ’ ἀρετῆς ἢ αὐτάρκεια ζωῆς
Explicit: f. 286v καὶ ὅμοια προφέρηται, σημεῖον ἀρετῆς εἶναι δόξει καὶ προαιρέσεως

TLG 0086.038

38. f. 286v
Extract from Magna Moralia (I 27, 1192a27-b5) Magna Moralia (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 286v ἐκ τῶν μεγάλων Ἀριστοτέλους ἠθικῶν
Incipit: f. 286v μεγαλοπρέπεια ἐστὶν μεσότης σαλακωνείας καὶ μικροπρεπείας
Explicit: f. 286v εὐπορίαν· ὁ δὲ μικροπρεπὴς ὁ ἐναντίος τούτω

Attributed to Aristotle

TLG 0086.022

39. ff. 287r-289v
Aristides, Aelius , Heracles (or. 40 Keil = 5 Dindorf; defective at the end) Heracles
Incipit: f. 287r Ἀλλ’ ὦ φίλτατε Ἡράκλεις σέ γε ἐπαινεῖν ἄθλων ὁ ἥδιστος
Explicit: f. 289v πρὸς αὐτόν ἔκ τινος φωνῆς θείας γενομένης. ἐδόκει δὲ ἥκειν ἐκ τοῦ (Keil p. 330,8) ||

TLG 0284.005

40. ff. 290r-291r
Aristides, Aelius , Dionysus (or. 41 Keil = 4 Dindorf) Dionysus
Incipit: f. 290r Ἡγείσθω μὲν αὐτὸς Ἀσκληπιὸς ὁ φήνας τὸ ὄναρ, ἡγείσθω δὲ Διόνυσος
Explicit: f. 291r παρακέκλομαι πλήρης γὰρ ὡς τὰ νῦν ἡ φιλοτησία

TLG 0284.004

41. f. 291v
Plato , Extracts from Protagoras Protagoras (excerpta)
Rubric: f. 291v Πλάτωνος ἐν τῶ Πρωταγόρα
Incipit: f. 291v Εἰπόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα, ὁ Πρόδικος καλῶς μοι δοκεῖς ἔφη λέγειν
Explicit: f. 291v ἴθι δή ἔφην ἐγώ εἰπὲ ἡμῖν ἐπὶ τί λέγεις εἶναι ἴτας τοὺς ἀνδρείους; ἦ ἐφ’ ἅπερ οἱ δειλοί

TLG 0059.022

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 12r-291v Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Greek cross in a circle ( 40 × 40 mm. ) in the gutter comparable to Briquet, Croix grecque dans un cercle 5575 . Dated to 1456.

Collation

This part consists of 28 quinions: quires 2-2910 ff. 12r-291v.

Horizontal catchwords in the hand of the scribe from f. 21v to 281v. Quire signature in Arabic numerals on the first recto, lower margin from f. 12r (2) to f. 282r (29). Only at the beginning is there a Latin letter count on the last verso and the first recto, lower margin of ff. 11v, 12r (a) to ff. 31v, 32r (c).

Condition

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

Layout

ff. 12r-291v: 150 × 95 mm.

Hand(s)

This part was copied by Nikolaos Sekoundinos (PLP 25106, RGK I 316), active in the mid-15th century, in a scholarly-calligraphical minuscule script in brown ink.

Slanting slightly to the right, Sekoundinos' hand shows cursive-like ductus without marked variation in letter size. Ligatures and abbreviations are rare, common and very clear.

His script is characterized by the bilobate beta; minuscule theta widely open, along with the closed shape; pi with different eyelets and the ligatures of ἐπί. Breathings are curved; accents join to letters or breathings but without consistency.

Decoration

Occasional decorated thick initials: ff. 49v, 73r-85r, 86v, 89r, 112r-113r, 129r, 132r, 146v, 178r, 181r, 192r, 193r, 232r, 265v, 290r.

History

Origin: The copyist left a date in the third part of the manuscript (1441); the watermarks of the second part suggest that this was written after the third, around 1456.

Part 3 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.4.16, ff. 292r-327v]

Contents

Language(s): Greek and Latin

42. ff. 292r-323v
Epistles Epistulae
Rubric: f. 292r Πλάτωνος ἐπιστολαί
Incipit: f. 292r Πλάτων Διονυσίω εὖ πράττειν. Διατρίψας ἐγὼ παρ’ ὑμῖν χρόνον τοσοῦτον καὶ διοικῶν τὴν ὑμετέραν ἀρχὴν
Explicit: f. 323v ἐναργῆ τε ἐξεργάσησθε τελεσθέντα καὶ εὐτυχῆ

Attributed to Plato

Epistles

  • 1-6: ff. 292r-300r
  • 9-13: ff. 300r-303v
  • 7-8: ff. 303v-323v

TLG 0059.036

43. f. 323v
Colophon
Colophon: ἐν τῆ πόλει Φλωρεντίας· μηνὶ ἰουνίου κηʹ· ἡμέρα δη· ἔτει τῶ ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦ κυρίου γεννήσεως, αυμα N. Sagundinus sanctissimi domini papae secretarius
44. ff. 324r-325r
Synopsis Basilicorum maior (excerptum)
Rubric: f. 324r περὶ νόμου καὶ μακρᾶς συνηθείας ἐκ τῶν νομικῶν
Incipit: f. 324r Νόμος ἐστὶ κοινὸν παράγγελμα φρονίμων ἀνδρῶν δόγμα ἑκουσίων
Explicit: f. 325r συστήμασιν ἰσχυρά ἐστι καὶ βέβαια εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς ἰσχύοντα

TLG 5065.004

45. ff. 325v-326r
Gregory, of Nazianzus, Saint , Epistle 51 Epistula 51 ad Nicobulum
Rubric: f. 325v Γρηγορίου τοῦ θεολόγου πρὸς Νικόβουλον
Incipit: f. 325v Τῶν γραφόντων ἐπιστολὰς ἐπειδὴ καὶ τοῦτο αἰτεῖς
Explicit: f. 326r αὐτός τε φιλοπονήσεις εὐμαθὴς ὤν καὶ οἱ περὶ ταῦτα κομψοὶ διδάξουσιν

PG 37, 105-108

CPG 3032

TLG 2022.001

46. f. 326r
Fragment 902 Kannicht
Incipit: f. 326r Τὸν σοφὸν ἄνδρα κἂν ἑκὰς ναίη χθονός, κἂν μήποτ’ αὐτὸν ὄσσοις προσίδω, κρίνω φίλον· Εὐριπίδου ἐστὶ τοῦ τραγικοῦ λόγος

Attributed to Euripides

(cf. Basil of Caesarea, Ep. 63)

TLG 0006.020

TLG 2040.004

47. f. 326r
Demosthenes , Sentence from Philippic 3 (par. 69) Philippica 3 (sententia)
Rubric: f. 326r Δημοσθενικὸν
Incipit: f. 326r ἕως ἂν σώζηται τὸ σκάφος, τότε χρὴ καὶ ναύτην καὶ κυβερνήτην καὶ πάντ’ ἄνδρ’ ἑξῆς προθύμους εἶναι, ἐπειδὰν δ’ ἡ θάλαττα ὑπέρσχη, μάταιος ἡ σπουδή

TLG 0014.009

48. ff. 326v-327v
Sekoundinos, Nikolaos, 1402-1464? , Letter to his son Iohannes
Rubric: f. 326v Nicolaus Sagundinus Iohanni filio salutem dicit
Incipit: f. 326v Nunquam patior, fili carissime, ullum tempus praeterire
Explicit: f. 327v assiduo studio tibi planiora iocundioraque reddas. vale
(ed. Mastrodimitri, Νικόλαος Σεκουνδῖνος, 1970, n. 56, p. 161)
49. f. 327v
Xenophon , Sentence from Symposium (II 24) Symposium (sententia)
Rubric: f. 327v τοῦ Ξενοφῶντος τοῦ Σωκρατικοῦ
Incipit: f. 327v ὁ οἶνος τὰς μὲν λύπας ὥσπερ μανδραγόρας ἀνδρὸς κοιμίζει, τὰς δὲ φιλοφροσύνας ὥσπερ ἔλαιον φλόγα ἐγείρει

TLG 0032.004

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 292r-327v Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: tulip ( 62 × 41 mm. ) in the gutter comparable to Briquet, Fleur en forme de tulipe 6640 , Dated 1435-1466.

Collation

The part consists of 3 senions: quires 30-3212 ff. 292r-327v.

Quire signature in Arabic numerals on the first recto, lower margin from f. 292r (30) to f. 316r (32).

Condition

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

Layout

ff. 292r-326v: 145 × 90 mm.

Hand(s)

Nikolaos Sekoundinos .

Few lines on f. 327v probably written by Niccolò Leonico Tomeo .

Decoration

Occasional decorated thick initials: ff. 292r-292v, 295r, 298r-301r, 303v.

Additions

On ff. 328r-328v (parchment): part of a council document of 1364, incipit: ‘Pantaleo draco piscator S. Nicolai accepit’; on the verso the text refers to ‘Mag. Dalmaxius rector scholarum S. Pantaleonis’. In the middle of both leaves: ‘capta in maiori consilio the XXIII Aprilis 1364’.

History

Origin:

The part was copied by Nikolaos Sekoundinos in Florence on 28th June 1441, as stated in the colophon on f. 323v.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2019) draws on A catalogue of the Manuscripts preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge, vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1856, p. 217-225 and J. Wiesner's record in P. Moraux, Aristoteles Graecus, Walter De Gruyter, Berlin-New York, 1976, pp. 99-103.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Bibliography

    Greek manuscripts of the de Mesmes family Scriptorium: Revue internationale des études relatives aux manuscrits / International Review of Manuscript Studies, Jackson, Donald F. (63, 1, 89-121, 2009) L’ottavo libro della Politica di Aristotele: il testo e le traduzioni. Indagine preliminare sulle fonti (XIII-XV secolo) Medioevo umanistico e umanesimo medievale Testi della X Settimana residenziale di studi medievali Palermo-Carini, 22-26 ottobre 1990, Gallo, F. Alberto (Palermo, 118-126, Scrinium, 1993) Zur Überlieferung der aristotelischen Magna Moralia Symbolae Berolinenses für Dieter Harlfinger, Brockmann, Christian (Amsterdam, 43-80, Hakkert, 1993) Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600. I. Grossbritannien Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981) A philosophical text of Andronicus Callistus misattributed to Nicholas Secundinus Renaissance Studies in Honour of Craig Hugh Smyth Villa I Tatti: The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, Monfasani, John (Firenze, 1, 395-408, Giunti Barbera, 1985) A catalogue of the manuscripts preserved in the library of the University of Cambridge, (Cambridge, 1, Cambridge University Press, 1856) The Greek Manuscripts of John Moore and Etienne Baluze Codices Manuscripti, Jackson, Donald F. (56/57, 29-42, 2006) Aristoteles Graecus: die griechischen Manuskripte des Aristoteles, Moraux, Paul (Berlin, De Gruyter, 1976) Die Textgeschichte der Pseudo-Aristotelischen Schrift Peri Atomōn Grammōn: ein kodikologisch- kulturgeschichtlicher Beitrag zur Klärung der Überlieferungsverhältnisse im Corpus Aristotelicum, Harlfinger, Dieter (Amsterdan, Hakkert, 1971) La tradition manuscrite de la Rhétorique à Alexandre: prolégomènes à une nouvelle édition critique Revue d'Histoire des Textes, Chiron, Pierre (17-69, 2001, https://www.persee.fr/doc/rht_0373-6075_2001_num_30_2000_1488) Inventaire des manuscrits grecs d'Aristote: et de ses commentateurs: contribution à l'histoire du texte d'Aristote, Wartelle, André (Paris, Société d'édition Les belles lettres, 1963) I manoscritti dell'opera pseudo-aristotelica De Virtute Scripta, Eleuteri, Paolo (9, 73-88, 2016) Sguardi su Ulisse: la tradizione esegetica greca all'Odissea, Pontani, Filippomaria (Roma, Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2005) Scritture, libri e uomini all'ombra di Bessarione. II. La 'doppia mano' di Atanasio Calceopulo Rinascimento, Speranzi, David (58, 193-237, 2018) Un nuovo manoscritto copiato da Niccolò Leonico Tomeo (Par. gr. 1833). Appunti per la ricostruzione della sua biblioteca Eikasmos, Gamba, E. (25, 329-360, 2014)

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