University of South Carolina Leaf 48
This leaf is from a Dutch Book of Hours from the late fifteenth century. It measures 17.5 x 12.5 cm. Compared to the other specimens of fifteenth-century Books of Hours in the portfolios, this one contains highly "itemized" pages: the red ink used for the rubrications sharply contrasts with the brown ink; several 1- or 2-line initials rendered in gold on a background of blue or red bring light into the text block of most leaves; and many lesser first letters are filled with yellow. Despite this lavish plan, all leaves from this manuscript show evidence of problematic adherence of the gold leaf, and/or incomplete decoration or text. See Denison University Leaf 48 for more information about this manuscript.
Text: This leaf contains text from the Office for the Dead at Matins, the First Nocturne (Psalms 12 and Job 7).
South Carolina Leaf 48 Recto
University of South Carolina Leaf 48 Recto
South Carolina Leaf 48 Recto Transcription
-audivit Dominus deprecationem meam: Dominus orationem meam suscepit.
Erubescant, et conturbentur vehementer omnes inimici mei: convertantur, et erubescant valde velociter. Requiem. Ant: Convertere Domine, et eripe animam meam: quoniam non est in morte qui memor sit tui. Ant. [ ] Psalmus.
Usquequo Domine oblivisceris me in finem usquequo avertis faciem tuam a me.
Quamdiu ponam consilia in anima mea dolorem in corde meo per diem.
Usquequo exaltabitur inimicus meus super me.
Respice exaudi me Domine Deus meus inlumina oculos meos ne umquam obdormiam in mortem.
Nequando dicat inimicus meus praevalui adversus eum qui tribulant me exultabunt
South Carolina Leaf 48 Recto Translation
Our Lord hath heard my petition: our Lord hath received my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed, and very sore troubled: let them be converted, and ashamed very speedily. Give them rest. Ant: Turn thee O Lord, and deliver my soul: because that in death none is mindful of thee. Ant. [ ]
[Psalms 12:1-5] How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy lace from me? 2 How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day? 3 How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 4 Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death: 5 lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that trouble me will rejoice...
South Carolina Leaf 48 Verso
University of South Carolina Leaf 48 Verso
South Carolina Leaf 48 Verso Transcription
si motus fuero.
Ego autem in misericordia tua speravi exultabit cor meum in salutari tuo cantabo Domino qui bona tribuit mihi et psallam nomini Domini altissimi. Ant. Inlumina oculos meos ne umquam obdormiam in mortem. V. Ne tradas bestiis animam confitentem tibi animas pauperum tuorum ne obliviscaris in finem. Pater noster. Et ne nos. Sed liberos. Lectio prima.
Militia est vita hominis super terram,
et sicut dies mercenarii dies ejus.
Sicut servus desiderat umbram,
et sicut mercenarius præstolatur finem operis sui,
sic et ego habui menses vacuos,
et noctes laboriosas enumeravi mihi.
Si dormiero, dicam: Quando consurgam?
et rursum expectabo vesperam,
et replebor doloribus usque ad
South Carolina Leaf 48 Verso Translation
[continuing Psalms 12:] ...when I am moved: 6 but I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea I will sing to the name of the Lord the most high. Ant. Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death. V. Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to thee: and forget not to the end the souls of thy poor. Our Father. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us.
[Job 7:1-4] Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? 2 He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. 3 So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me. 4 If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.