Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 10

This mid-thirteenth century German psalter has acquired the nickname "The Laughing Carp Psalter" due to its penwork illustrations. The decorative style involves using fish (one of the leading medieval symbols for Christ) to complete lines of text that do not reach to the right margin of the page; this maintains the aesthetic of a full page within the borders of the leaf. The leaf itself measures 19.5 x 14cm, with slightly yellowed and stained vellum, and is lined in ink. The ink used for the bulk of the text is very dark, but fades into brown in places. Blue, red, coral, orange, and white are used in the decoration, and scribal corrections are included above each line where necessary. See Denison University Leaf 10 for more information about this manuscript.

Text: I Kings 2:1-6 (recto); I Kings 2:7-10 and Exodus 15:1-2 (verso).

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Recto

Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 10 Recto

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Recto Transcription

Exultávit cor meum in Dómino, et exaltátum est cornu meum in Deo meo;
Dilatátum est os meum super inimícos meos: quia lætáta sum in salutári tuo.
Non est sanctus, ut est Dóminus, neque enim est álius extra te, et non est fortis sicut Deus noster.
Nolíte multiplicáre loqui sublímia gloriántes;
Recédant vétera de ore vestro: quia Deus scientiárum Dóminus est, et ipsi præparántur cogitatiónes.
Arcus fórtium superátus est, et infírmi accíncti sunt róbore.
Repléti prius, pro pánibus se locavérunt: et famélici saturáti sunt,
Donec stérilis péperit plúrimos: et quæ multos habébat fílios, infirmáta est.
Dóminus mortíficat et vivíficat; dedúcit ad ínferos et redúcit.

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Recto Translation

[I Kings 2:1-6]

1 My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my God: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies: because I have joyed in thy salvation. 2 There is none holy as the Lord is: for there is no other beside thee, and there is none strong like our God. 3 Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting: let old matters depart from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of all knowledge, and to him are thoughts prepared. 4 The bow of the mighty is overcome, and the weak are girt with strength. 5 They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread: and the hungry are filled, so that the barren hath borne many: and she that had many children is weakened. 6 The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to hell and bringeth back again.

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Verso

Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 10 Verso

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Verso Transcription

Dóminus páuperem facit et ditat, humíliat et súblevat.
Súscitat de púlvere egénum, et de stércore élevat páuperem:
Ut sédeat cum princípibus, et sólium glóriæ téneat.
Dómini enim sunt cárdines terræ, et pósuit super eos orbem.
Pedes sanctórum suórum servábit, et ímpii in ténebris conticéscent: quia non in fortitúdine sua roborábitur vir.
Dóminum formidábunt adversárii ejus: et super ipsos in cælis tonábit.
Dóminus judicábit fines terræ, et dabit impérium regi suo, et sublimábit cornu christi sui.

Cantémus Dómino: glorióse enim magnificátus est, equum et ascensórem dejécit in mare.
Fortitúdo mea, et laus mea Dóminus, et factus est mihi in salútem:
Iste Deus meus, et glorificábo eum: Deus patris

Cincinnati Leaf 10 Verso Translation

[I Kings 2:7-10]

7 The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth. 8 He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord's, and upon them he hath set the world. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, because no man shall prevail by his own strength. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him: and upon them shall he thunder in the heavens. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give empire to his king, and shall exalt the horn of his Christ.

[Exodus 15:1-2]

Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God and I will glorify him: the God of my father...