DCL MS. B.IV.9Prudentius, Works
Held by: Durham Cathedral Library: Durham Cathedral Manuscripts

Works of Prudentius, in two uniform sections, probably written in Durham in 10th century.


Digitised: https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mtx31qh728.html


Physical description of manuscript
Support

Parchment

Extent: i + 171 f
Size: 252 mm x 165 mm

Foliation
Secundo folio: suadet
Collation

I6, II-III8, IV10, V8, VI6, VII8, VIII6, IX-XVI8, XVI-XXII8. The last two quires misbound: f.156-171 should be in the order 163, 156-161, 170; 162, 166, 164-165, 168-169, 167, 171. Parchment stub f.85.


Condition of manuscriptLast leaf torn and has suffered from damp.
Layout

Written space: (i). 200 x 90 mm. (ii) 195 x 100 mm.

Script

Written in Caroline minusculeThree hands changing at f.100 and 148. 1st hand 34 lines; 2nd and 3rd 32 lines.

Adiastematic neumes in (b) - f.5, f.8, f.11-12, f.14-15.

Decoration

Red used occasionally for capitals and headings

Corrections and annotation

Glosses of all dates down to 12th century.

Binding

Standard Tuckett binding, mid 19th century full brown calf over thick wooden boards (Charles Tuckett, binder to the British Museum, rebound many Durham manuscripts in the 19th century)


Manuscript history
Creation

Written in England, Durham?, 10th century.

Provenance

Inscription: “liber Sancti Cuthberti de dunl”, 12/13th century, f.1.
Pressmark “1a 7i” “Prudencius .L.” with L perhaps altered to “A”, 15th century, f.1. In Spendement catalogues.


SECTION: (i)
Manuscript contents
(a)     f.iiiv
Original title: De viris illustribus
Author: Gennadius, of Marseilles, active 5th century
Language: Latin
(b)     f.1-27r
Original title: Liber Cathemerinon
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 1-72
(c)     f.27v-44v
Original title: Liber Apotheosis
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 73-115
(d)     f.44v-59v
Original title: Hamartigenia
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 116-148

SECTION: (ii)
Manuscript contents
(e)     f.61-76v
Original title: Psychomachia
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 149-181
(f)     f.77-93v
Original title: Peristephanon x (de passione S. Romani)
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 330-369
(g)     f.94-135
Original title: Peristephanon i-ix and xi-xiv
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 251-329, 370-89
(h)     f.135-164v
Original title: Contra Symmachum
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 182-250
(i)     f.164v-165v, 168-169v, 167r-v
Original title: Dittocheon
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 390-400
(j)     f.167v, 171
Original title: De opusculis suis
Author: Prudentius, 348-
Language: Latin
Edited: Prudentius 1966, 401-2
(k)     f.171r-v
Original title: Versus pro Constantino imperatore, cum commento de metris
Author: Porfyrius, P. Optatianus, active 325
Language: Latin

Microfilm
Microfilmed in 1985/86 by the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, St John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Copies held by them and Durham Cathedral Library.

Digitised material for Durham Cathedral Library MS. B.IV.9 - Prudentius, works
Digitised October 2016 as part of the Durham Priory Library Recreated project
https://n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/t2mtx31qh728.html

Bibliography

Catalogi veteres librorum Ecclesiae cathedralis dunelm. Catalogues of the library of Durham cathedral, at various periods, from the conquest to the dissolution, including catalogues of the library of the abbey of Hulne, and of the mss.   OCLC citation, Surtees Society 7, (London: J.B. Nichols and Son, [1838]).

Prudentius, Carmina Aurelii Prudentii Clementis, ed. M.P. Cunningham, CCSL 126 (Turnhout: Brepols, 1966)

Mynors, R.A.B., Durham Cathedral manuscripts to the end of the twelfth century. Ten plates in colour and forty-seven in monochrome. With an introduction [including a list of all known Durham manuscripts before 1200]   OCLC citation, (Durham: 1939)

Index terms