Cleveland Public Library 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; ccasionally 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; specifically, text from Psalms 41.
Cleveland Leaf 46 Recto
Cleveland Public Library Leaf 46 Recto
Cleveland Leaf 46 Recto Transcription
desíderat ánima mea ad te, Deus.
Sitívit ánima mea ad Deum fortem, vivum; quando véniam, et apparébo ante fáciem Dei?
Fuérunt mihi lácrimæ meæ panes die ac nocte, dum dícitur mihi quotídie: Ubi est Deus tuus?
Hæc recordátus sum, et effúdi in me ánimam meam, quóniam transíbo in locum tabernáculi admirábilis, usque ad domum Dei,
In voce exsultatiónis et confessiónis, sonus epulántis.
Quare tristis es, ánima mea? et quare contúrbas me?
Spera in Deo, quóniam adhuc
Cleveland Leaf 46 Recto Translation
[Psalms 41] ...my soul panteth after thee, O God. 3 My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? 4 My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God? 5 These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting. 6 Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope in God, for I will still...
Cleveland Leaf 46 Verso
Cleveland Public Library Leaf 46 Verso
Cleveland Leaf 46 Verso Transcription
confitébor illi, salutáre vultus mei, et Deus meus.
Ad meípsum ánima mea conturbáta est: proptérea memor ero tui de terra Jordánis et Hermóniim a monte módico.
Abýssus abýssum ínvocat, in voce cataractárum tuárum;
Anima excélsa tua, et fluctus tui super me transiérunt.
In die mandávit Dóminus misericórdiam suam, et nocte cánticum ejus;
Apud me orátio Deo vitæ meæ. Dicam Deo: Suscéptor meus es;
Quare oblítus es mei? et quare contristátus incédo, dum afflígit me in-
Cleveland Leaf 46 Verso Translation
[continues Psalms 41] ...give praise to him: the salvation of my countenance, 7 and my God. My soul is troubled within myself: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little hill. 8 Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy heights and thy billows have passed over me. 9 In the daytime the Lord hath commanded his mercy; and a canticle to him in the night. With me is prayer to the God of my life. 10 I will say to God: Thou art my support. Why hast thou forgotten me? and why go I mourning, whilst my enemy...