Manuscript, written in Italy in the 15th century, of works by or attributed to Lactantius.

File

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.3.4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) `De ira Dei` (folio 1). The text is similar to that printed in, ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 79-148, but contains 24 chapters (cf. ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 146, note). There are several lacunae which suggest that the scribe may have copied a damaged exemplar: part of chapters 16 and 17 is missing (folio 16 recto) and blank spaces have been left for two passages in chapter 18 (folios 17 verso, 18 recto). A space has also been left for the Greek verses (folio 21), though elsewhere they have been translated into Latin (folio 20 verso).

(ii) ` De opificio Dei` (folio 22 verso). ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 9-78. The text is preceded by a list of chapter headings. Chapter 19 includes (folio 43) the passage rejected by Migne (‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 75, note), incipit `Dedit ei et constituit adversarium nequissimum`.

(iii) `Versus de fenice` (folio 44). ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 277-284.

(iv) `Versus de Resurrectione Christi`, the poem by Venantius Fortunatus, here attributed to Lactantius (folio 47). Incipit `Salve feste dies`, the first two lines are lines 39-40 in ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii, 285-290 and the edition by F Leo in ‘Monumenta Germaniae historica. Auctores Antiquissimi’, iv, pages 59-62. The poem ends at line 100, `Ecclesie pastus ubere lacte sinu. Finis.`

Written in an italic hand with titles and chapter headings in capitals. There is a large gold initial with white foliage on a pink and blue ground (folio 1) and four plain blue initials.

Dates

Creation: 15th century.

Extent

1 Volumes (viii + 48 folios.)

Language of Materials

Latin

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation: 1-4¹⁰, 5⁸. Catchword (folio 10 verso). Early 19th-century binding of brown morocco, gilt-tooled.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Paper, watermark fruit with leaves (cf. Briquet 7345-7346, 7374); folio ii is watermarked 1815.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.

Bibliography

Migne, J P. ‘Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Latina’, volume vii.

‘Monumenta Germaniae historica. Auctores Antiquissimi’, iv, edited by F Leo (Berlin, 1881).