Kenyon College Leaf 17
The vellum of this late-thirteenth century English psalter was once nearly white, but now appears dirty. The ink for the bulk of the text is brown, with blue, orange (or weak red), green, and white in the decorations. Gold and silver are both used, and the silver has tarnished. There are dragons, foliage, flowers, and pointed ivy as marginal decorations. Illuminated initials begin each verse, and bars are placed at the end of lines to complete them when the text is too short to fill them; these lines include both geometric designs and additional dragons. The leaf measures 17 x 11 cm. See Denison University Leaf 17 for more information about this manuscript.
Text: Psalms 57:5-58:3 (recto) and 58:3-12 (verso).
Reconstruction Note! In Ege's original manuscript, this leaf followed what is now Leaf 17 in the Case Western Reserve University portfolio; the latter in turn followed what is now Leaf 17 in the Cleveland Public Library portfolio. The Kenyon leaf was followed by what is now Leaf 17 in the Lima Public Library portfolio. Together the four leaves contain the text of Psalms 54:19-59:12.
Kenyon Leaf 17 Recto
Kenyon College Leaf 17 Recto
Kenyon Leaf 17 Recto Transcription
[column A]
dum similitúdinem serpéntis, sicut áspidis surdæ et obturántis aures suas,
Quæ non exáudiet vocem incantántium, et venéfici incantántis sapiénter.
Deus cónteret dentes eórum in ore ipsórum; molas leónum confrínget Dóminus.
Ad níhilum devénient tamquam aqua decúrrens; inténdit arcum suum donec infirméntur.
Sicut cera quæ fluit auferéntur; supercécidit ignis, et non
[column B]
vidérunt solem.
Priúsquam intellígerent spinæ vestræ rhamnum, sicut vivéntes sic in ira absórbet eos.
Lætábitur justus cum víderit vindíctam; manus suas lavábit in sánguine peccatóris.
Et dicet homo: Si útique est fructus justo, útique est Deus júdicans eos in terra.
Éripe me de inimícis meis, Deus meus, et ab insurgéntibus in me líbera me.
Éripe me de operántibus iniquita-
Kenyon Leaf 17 Recto Translation
[Psalms 57:5-58:3]
...is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears: 6 Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard that charmeth wisely. 7 God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord shall break the grinders of the lions. 8 They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened. 9 Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun. 10 Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, as alive, in his wrath. 11 The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall wash his hands in the blood of the sinner. 12 And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth.
2 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me. 3 Deliver me from them that work iniquity...
Kenyon Leaf 17 Verso
Kenyon College Leaf 17 Verso
Kenyon Leaf 17 Verso Transcription
[column A]
-tem, et de viris sánguinum salva me.
Quia ecce cepérunt ánimam meam; irruérunt in me fortes.
Neque iníquitas mea, neque peccátum meum, Dómine; sine iniquitáte cucúrri, et diréxi.
Exsúrge in occúrsum meum, et vide: et tu, Dómine Deus virtútum, Deus Israël,
Inténde ad visitándas omnes gentes: non misereáris ómnibus qui operántur iniquitátem.
Converténtur ad vésperam, et famem patién-
[colummn B]
-tur ut canes: et circuíbunt civitátem.
Ecce loquéntur in ore suo, et gládius in lábiis eórum: quóniam quis audívit?
Et tu, Dómine, deridébis eos; ad níhilum dedúces omnes gentes.
Fortitúdinem meam ad te custódiam, quia, Deus, suscéptor meus es: Deus meus misericórdia ejus prævéniet me.
Deus osténdet mihi super inimícos meos: ne óccidas eos, nequándo obliviscántur pópuli
Kenyon Leaf 17 Verso Translation
[Psalms 58:3-12]
...and save me from bloody men. 4 For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me: 5 Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps. 6 Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity. 7 They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city. 8 Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us? 9 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing. 10 I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector: 11 my God, his mercy shall prevent me. 12 God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget.