University of South Carolina 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 Office for the Dead at Matins, the First Nocturne (it is entirely devoted to text from Psalms 7).
South Carolina Leaf 46 Recto
University of South Carolina Leaf 46 Recto
South Carolina Leaf 46 Recto Transcription
iniquitas in manibus meis.
Si reddidi retribuentibus mihi mala: decidam merito ab inimicis meis inanis.
Persequatur inimicus animam meam, et comprehendat, et conculcet in terra vitam meam: et gloriam meam in pulverem deducat.
Exsurge Domine in ira tua: et exaltare in finibus inimicorum meorum.
Et exsurge Domine Deus meus in praecepto, quod mandasti: et synagoga populorum circumdabit te.
Et propter hanc in altum regredere: Dominus iudicat populos.
Iudica me Domine secundum iusti-
South Carolina Leaf 46 Recto Translation
[from Psalms 7] ...iniquity in my hands. If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils: let me worthily fall empty from mine enemies. Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it, and tread down my life in the earth: and bring down my glory into dust. Arise Lord in thy wrath: and be exalted in the coasts of thine enemies. And arise O Lord my God in the precept, which thou hast commanded: and a synagogue of peoples shall compass thee. And for it return on high: our Lord judgeth peoples. Judge me O Lord according to my justice...
South Carolina Leaf 46 Verso
University of South Carolina Leaf 46 Verso
South Carolina Leaf 46 Verso Transcription
-ciam meam: et secundum innocentiam meam super me.
Consumetur nequitia peccatorum, et diriges iustum: scrutans corda et renes Deus.
Iustum adiutorium meum a Domino: qui salvos facit rectos corde.
Deus iudex iustus, fortis, et patiens: numquid irascitur per singulos dies?
Nisi conversi fueritis, gladium suum vibravit: arcum suum tetendit, et paravit illum.
Et in eo paravit vasa mortis: sagittas suas ardentibus effecit.
Ecce parturit iniustitiam, concepit dolorem: et peperit iniquitatem.
South Carolina Leaf 46 Verso Translation
[continuing Psalms 7] ...and according to mine innocence upon me. The wickedness of sinners shall be consumed, and thou shalt direct the just: which searchest the hearts and reins O God. My just help is from our Lord: who saveth those that be right of heart. God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day? Unless you will be converted, he hath shaken his sword: he hath bent his bow, and prepared it. And in it he hath prepared the instruments of death: he hath made his arrows for them that burn. Behold he travaileth with injustice, he hath conceived sorrow: and brought forth iniquity.