Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 16
This is a leaf from a French breviary of the late 13th century, containing text with clerical instructions for the performance of church ritual throughout the year. A chief physical characteristic of these leaves is the shriveled and dirtied condition of their upper right corners, possibly from water damage. The decoration involves an unusual style of bright green ivy in the left margins, connecting together heavily-illuminated initials. As is the case in many breviaries, the black text is rendered in two sizes to distinguish readings from responses and prayers. The leaf measures 10.5 x 7.5 cm.
Text: Not fully identified, but contains the text of Job 10:4-10 (recto) and Job 10-12 and Psalms 22:2, 24:7, and 26:1-3 (verso).
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Recto
Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 16 Recto
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Recto Transcription
óculi cárnei tibi sunt? aut sicut videt homo, et tu vidébis? Numquid sicut dies hóminis dies tui, et anni tui sicut humána sunt témpora, ut quæras iniquitátem meam, et peccátum meum scrúteris, et scias quia nihil ímpium fécerim, cum sit nemo qui de manu tua possit erúere?
R. Qui Lazarum resuscitasti a monumento fetidum: tu ei, Domine, dona requiem et locum indulgencie. A. Qui venturus es judicare vivos et mor tuos et seculum per ignem. Tu.
Manus tuæ fecérunt me, et plasmavérunt me totum in circúitu: et sic repénte præcípitas me? Meménto, quæso, quod sicut lutum féceris me, et in púlverem redúces me. Nonne sicut lac mulsísti me, et sicut cáseum me coagulásti? Pelle et cárnibus vestísti me; óssibus et nervis compegísti me. Vitam
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Recto Translation
[Job 10:4-12]
...eyes of flesh: or, shalt thou see as man seeth? 5 Are thy days as the days of man, and are thy years as the times of men: 6 That thou shouldst inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? 7 And shouldst know that I have done no wicked thing, whereas there is no man that can deliver out of thy hand.
[The responses have not yet been translated.]
8 Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me wholly round about, and dost thou thus cast me down headlong on a sudden? 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and thou wilt bring me into dust again. 10 Hast thou not milked me as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh: thou hast put me together with bones and sinews: 12 Thou hast granted me life...
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Verso
Cincinnati Public Library Leaf 16 Verso
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Verso Transcription
et misericórdiam tribuísti mihi, et visitátio tua custodívit spíritum meum.
R. Domine quando veneris judicare terram, ubi me abscondam a vultu irae tuae? Quia peccavi nimis in vita mea. V. Commissa mea pavesco, et ante te erubesco: dum veneris judicare noli me condemnare.
Ps. Dóminus regit. Ae. In loco páscuæ, ibi me collocávit. Ps. Ad te, Domine, [ ]. Ae. Delícta juventútis meæ, et ignorántias meas, ne memíneris domine.
Psalmus. Dóminus illuminátio mea et salus mea: quem timébo? Dóminus protéctor vitæ meæ: a quo trepidábo? Dum apprópiant super me nocéntes ut edant carnes meas, qui tríbulant me inimíci mei, ipsi infirmáti sunt et cecidérunt. Si consístant advérsum me castra, non timébit cor meum; si exsúrgat advérsum me praelium,
Cincinnati Leaf 16 Verso Translation
[Job 10:12]
...and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
[Psalms 22:2]
The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. 2 He hath set me in a place of pasture...
[Psalms 24:7]
7 The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember...
[Psalms 26:1-3]
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? 2 Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen. 3 If armies in camp should stand together against me...