Case Western Reserve University 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 Hours of the Virgin at Terce or Sext: Psalms 121, 122, and 123.
Case Leaf 46 Recto
Case Western Reserve University Leaf 46 Recto
Case Leaf 46 Recto Transcription
-gentibus te.
Fiat pax in virtute tua: et abundantia in turribus tuis.
Propter fratres meos, et proximos meos: loquebar pacem de te.
Propter domum Domini Dei nostri: quaesivi bona tibi.
Ad te levavi oculos meos: qui habitas in caelis.
Ecce sicut oculi servorum: in manibus dominorum suorum.
Sicut oculi ancillae in manibus dominae suae: ita oculi nostri ad Dominum Deum nostrum, donec misereatur nostri.
Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri: quia multum repleti su-
Case Leaf 46 Recto Translation
[Psalms 121] ...to them that love thee. Peace be made in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. For my brethren, and my neighbours' sakes: I spake peace of thee. For the house of the Lord our God: I have sought good things to thee.
[Psalms 122] To thee have I lifted up mine eyes: which dwellest in the heavens. Behold as the eyes of servants: are in the hands of their masters. As the eyes of the handmaid in the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes to the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us: because we are much replenished...
Case Leaf 46 Verso
Case Western Reserve University Leaf 46 Verso
Case Leaf 46 Verso Transcription
-mus despectione.
Quia multum repleta est anima nostra: opprobrium abundantibus, et despectio superbis.
Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis, dicat nunc Israel: nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis.
Cum exurgerent homines in nos: forte vivos deglutissent nos.
Cum irasceretur furor eorum in nos: forsitan aqua absorbuisset nos.
Torrentem pertransivit anima nostra: forsitan pertransisset anima nostra aquam intolerabilem.
Benedictus Dominus: qui non
Case Leaf 46 Verso Translation
[continues Psalms 122] ...with contempt. Because our soul is much replenished: reproach to them that abound, and contempt to the proud.
[Psalms 123] But that our Lord was in us, let Israel now say: but that our Lord was in us. When men rose up against us: perhaps they had swallowed us alive. When their fury was angry against us: perhaps water had swallowed us. Our soul hath passed through a brook: perhaps our soul had passed through an intolerable water. Blessed be our Lord: which hath not...