University of Colorado, Boulder Leaf 46
This leaf is from a Book of Hours made in northern France in the late fifteenth century. It measures 16 x 12 cm, and the arrangement of its responses and antiphons indicates that it accords with the Use of Rouen. Blooming on these pages are acanthus leaves intertwined with a truly impressive variety of what Ege calls "wayside flowers," including thistles, gallic roses, strawberries, grapes, and others which are so stylized as to be nearly geometric. The flowers are fenced in by red lining, a thinner form of which rules the text. There are many well-executed illuminated initials, with lesser first letters filled with yellow; occasionally a lone "cut flower" has been used to fill empty space in the text block. Many leaves are stained from use. See Denison University Leaf 46 for more information about this manuscript.
Text: The leaves we have seen indicate that this Book of Hours accords to the Uses of Rouen and Coutances. This leaf contains text from the Office for the Dead at Matins, the third Nocturne. A scan of the verso is not currently available.
Boulder Leaf 46 Recto
University of Colorado, Boulder Leaf 46 Recto
Boulder Leaf 46 Recto Transcription
-tem, timor mortis conturbas me. Ant. Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio, miserere mei Deus, et salva me. V. Deus in nomine tuo salvum me fac, et in virtute tua libera me. A. Quia.
Pelli meae, consumptis carnibus, adhaesit os meum: et derelicta sunt tantummodo labia circa dentes meos. Miseremini mei, miseremini mei, saltem vos amici mei, quia manus Domini tetigit me. Quare persequimini me sicut Deus, et carnibus meis saturamini? Quis mihi tribuat, ut scribantur sermones mei? Quis mihi det, ut exarentur in libro
Boulder Leaf 46 Recto Translation
...the fear of death doth trouble me, sinning daily, and not repenting: A: for that in hell there is no redemption, have mercy upon me O God, and save me. V: O God in thy name save me, and in thy force deliver me. A. For that.
[Job 19] The flesh being consumed, my bone hath cleaved to my skin: and there are left only lips about my teeth. Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, at the least you my friends, because the hand of our Lord hath touched me. Why do you as God persecute me, and are filled with my flesh? Who will grant me, that my words may be written? Who will give me, that they may be registered in a book...