University of Massachusetts, Amherst Leaf 34
This leaf comes from an Italian psalter of the fifteenth century, and measures 38.5 x 28.5 cm. Ege states that it was made by Carthusian monks, making it a rare artifact of that minuscule order. The vellum is yellowed, with substantial wrinkling around the edges; the lining on the right side of the text area is especially noticeable. Black ink (showing indications of wear) is used for the primary text, and red, blue, and purple appear in the decoration. The leaf is not illuminated, but decorative details include large and small red and blue initials. The large initials have a purple interior and exterior line decoration as an accompaniment. The music at the foot of the pages was apparently added later. See Denison University Leaf 34 for more information about this manuscript.
Text: Psalms 87:10-88:4 (recto); Psalms 88:5-17 (verso).
Amherst Leaf 34 Recto
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Leaf 34 Recto
Amherst Leaf 34 Recto Transcription
Clamávi ad te, Dómine, tota die; expándi ad te manus meas.
Numquid mórtuis fácies mirabília? aut médici suscitábunt, et confitebúntur tibi?
Numquid narrábit áliquis in sepúlchro misericórdiam tuam, et veritátem tuam in perditióne?
Numquid cognoscéntur in ténebris mirabília tua? et justítia tua in terra obliviónis?
Et ego ad te, Dómine, clamávi, et mane orátio mea prævéniet te.
Ut quid, Dómine, repéllis oratiónem meam; avértis fáciem tuam a me?
Pauper sum ego, et in labóribus a juventúte mea; exaltátus autem, humiliátus sum et conturbátus.
In me transiérunt iræ tuæ, et terróres tui conturbavérunt me: circumdedérunt me sicut aqua tota die; circumdedérunt me simul.
Elongásti a me amícum et próximum, et notos meos a miséria. Ant. Inclina domine aurem tuam et exaudi me. Ant. Benedictus. Psalmus.
Misericórdias Dómini in ætérnum cantábo;
In generatiónem et generatiónem annuntiábo veritátem tuam in ore meo.
Quóniam dixísti: In ætérnum misericórdia ædificábitur in cælis; præparábitur véritas tua in eis.
Dispósui testaméntum eléctis meis; jurávi David servo meo:
Amherst Leaf 34 Recto Translation
[Psalms 87:10-88:4]
10 my eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee. 11 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee? 12 Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction? 13 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness? 14 But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee. 15 Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me? 16 I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled. 17 Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. 18 They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together. 19 Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery. Antiphons [ ] Psalm.
2The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation. 3 For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them. 4 I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant...
Amherst Leaf 34 Verso
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Leaf 34 Verso
Amherst Leaf 34 Verso Transcription
Usque in ætérnum præparábo semen tuum,
Et ædificábo in generatiónem et generatiónem sedem tuam.
Confitebúntur cæli mirabília tua, Dómine; étenim veritátem tuam in ecclésia sanctórum.
Quóniam quis in núbibus æquábitur Dómino; símilis erit Deo in fíliis Dei?
Deus, qui glorificátur in consílio sanctórum, magnus et terríbilis super omnes qui in circúitu ejus sunt.
Dómine Deus virtútum, quis símilis tibi? potens es, Dómine, et véritas tua in circúitu tuo.
Tu domináris potestáti maris; motum autem flúctuum ejus tu mítigas.
Tu humiliásti, sicut vulnerátum, supérbum; in bráchio virtútis tuæ dispersísti inimícos tuos.
Tui sunt cæli, et tua est terra: orbem terræ, et plenitúdinem ejus tu fundásti; aquilónem et mare tu creásti.
Thabor et Hermon in nómine tuo exsultábunt: tuum bráchium cum poténtia.
Firmétur manus tua, et exaltétur déxtera tua: justítia et judícium præparátio sedis tuæ:
Misericórdia et véritas præcédent fáciem tuam. Beátus pópulus qui scit jubilatiónem:
Dómine, in lúmine vultus tui ambulábunt, et in nómine tuo ex-
Amherst Leaf 34 Verso Translation
[Psalms 88:5-17]
5 Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation. 6 The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the church of the saints. 7 For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God? 8 God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him. 9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. 10 Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof. 11 Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies. 12 Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded: 13 the north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name: 14 thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted: 15 justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face: 16 blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance: 17 and in thy name they shall rejoice...