PL 7 · cols. 285–290

Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus, Ad Felicem episcopum de Pascha

Editors' preface

VENANTII HONORII CLEMENTIANI FORTUNATI, PRESBYTERI ITALICI, AD FELICEM EPISCOPUM, DE PASCHA.

OF VENANTIUS HONORIUS CLEMENTIANUS FORTUNATUS, PRIEST OF ITALY, TO BISHOP FELIX, ON EASTER.

Tempora florigero rutilant distincta sereno; Et majore poli lumine porta patet. Altius ignivomum solem coeli orbita ducit, Qui vagus Oceanas exit, et intrat aquas. 5 Armatus radiis elementa liquentia lustrans, Hac in nocte brevi tendit in orbe diem. Splendida sincero producunt aethera vultu, Laetitiamque suam sidera clara probant. Terra ferax vario fundit munuscula cultu, 10 Cum bene vernarit; reddit et annus opes.

The seasons, marked out, glow with a flower-bearing clear sky; and the gate of the pole lies open with greater light. The orbit of heaven leads the fire-breathing sun higher, which in its wandering goes out from the waters of Ocean and enters them again. 5 Armed with rays, traversing the liquid elements, it stretches out the day over the world in this brief night. The bright stars bring forth splendid skies with a pure countenance, and show their joy. The fertile earth pours out little gifts with varied tillage, 10 when it has fully come into spring; and the year gives back its riches.

Editors' notes and page, col. 285

Footnotes

(LV 1) ‹anchor: Semper agens› · variant to v. 22 of the preceding poem, block under cols 285-286 V. 22. Semper agens, etc. Al. Egens.

Line 22: "Semper agens" (ever acting), etc. Another reading: "Egens" (needy).

(LV 2) ‹anchor: Fige› · variant to v. 35 of the preceding poem V. 35. Fige. Al. Finge.

Line 35: "Fige" (fix). Another reading: "Finge" (form).

(LV 3) ‹anchor: Suffunde› · variant to v. 52 of the preceding poem V. 52. Suffunde. Al. Perfunde.

Line 52: "Suffunde" (pour beneath, suffuse). Another reading: "Perfunde" (pour over, drench).

(LV 4) ‹anchor: Et me nonnunquam› · variant to v. 53 of the preceding poem V. 53. Et me nonnunquam. Al. Et me nunquam non.

Line 53: "Et me nonnunquam" (and me sometimes). Another reading: "Et me nunquam non" (and me never not, i.e. always).

(LV 5) ‹anchor: Hæc monimenta› · variant to vv. 58 and 64 of the preceding poem V. 58 et 64. Hæc monimenta. Al. Hæc monumenta.

Lines 58 and 64: "Hæc monimenta" (these memorials). Another reading: "Hæc monumenta" (the same word in its other spelling).

(LV 6) ‹anchor: Moribus extollent sacris› · variant to v. 72 of the preceding poem V. 72. Moribus extollent sacris. Al. Moribus expolient sacris.

Line 72: "Moribus extollent sacris" (they will exalt with holy ways). Another reading: "Moribus expolient sacris" (they will polish with holy ways).

(LV 7) ‹anchor: Gratia magna tibi› · variant to v. 77 of the preceding poem V. 77. Gratia magna tibi. Al. Gratia magna Dei.

Line 77: "Gratia magna tibi" (great grace to you). Another reading: "Gratia magna Dei" (the great grace of God).

(Annot. 1) ‹anchor: Venantii… ad Felicem episcopum (title)› · note-mark at the title, block runs from col 285 into col 286 Venantii... ad felicem episcopum. In carminibus Resurrectionis, quia aperte invenitur cujus illa essent, mutata est tota inscriptio, et ea adscripta est, quæ est in illis opusculis, Venantii Honorii, etc., quæ sunt in bibliotheca Vaticana, ex quibus multa in libris impressis emendantur; multa tamen relicta sunt, quia melior visa est lectio vulgaris, quam illa codicis Vaticani. Est enim ille codex valde corruptus; tamen is est, qui eum juvare possit, qui eo cum judicio utatur. Et sane sic faciendum est eis, qui hanc curam emendandi veterum auctorum libros suscipiunt, ut sæpe ex pluribus malis codicibus unicum optimum efficiant. THOMASIUS.

"Venantius… to Felix the bishop." In the poems on the Resurrection, since it is plainly found whose they were, the whole heading has been changed, and the one has been set to them that stands in those little works, "of Venantius Honorius, etc.", which are in the Vatican Library; from them many things in the printed books are corrected, yet many have been left, because the common reading seemed better than that of the Vatican manuscript. For that manuscript is badly corrupt; yet it is one that can help whoever uses it with judgement. And indeed those who take on this task of correcting the books of the ancient authors must do just this: often make one excellent copy out of several bad manuscripts. THOMASIUS.

(printed under page 142)

Page

running head: 285 DE PASCHA.
marginal letters: A Pauperiem extremam (in the gutter at the end of the line); B Judicia, ingentemque (in the gutter, beside the right column's line); C 50. Flecte genu; D Tempora florigero
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: the poem's verse numbers (25., 30., ... 50.; 5, 10) are printed at the line heads and are kept; the first letter of Pauperiem is cut at the image edge; v. 43, cruorem: the bold first letter is unsure (could be printed eruorem); v. 30, sentire, and v. 44, speculare: the final e is blurred and could be a printed o (sentiro, specularo), read as e; v. 40, lustra: the punctuation after it is blurred, read as a colon; LECTIONES VARIANTES (page-foot variants) not set; the full-width title VENANTII HON[ORII] CLEMENTIANI FO[RTUNATI] PRESBYTERI ITALICI, AD FELICEM EP[ISCOPUM] is cut at the edge and not set; ANNOTATIONES (page-foot commentary, Venantii... ad felicem episcopum) not set; no editors' matter set
other: a full-width band stands across cols 285/286 in mid-page: the 1 paragraph(s) above it in col 286 are set here, after the 1 above it in col 285 (reading order, moved on receipt); the band itself (its title lines) is not set by the volunteer page: set it here, at the move, with full_width
other: the column opens with the end of the previous work (another unit); not set here: the unit begins at Tempora florigero

PL 7:286

Mollia purpureum pingunt violaria campum: Prata virent herbis, et micat herba comis. Paulatim subeunt stellantia lumina florum: Floribus arrident gramina cuncta suis. 15 Semine deposito, late seges exilit arvis, Spondens agricolae vincere posse famem. Caudice deserto, lacrymat sua gaudia palmes: Unde merum tribuat, dat modo vitis aquam. Cortice de matris tenera lanugine surgens 20 Praeparat ad partum turgida gemma sinum;

Soft violet-beds paint the field purple; the meadows grow green with grasses, and the grass glitters with its tresses. Little by little the starry lights of the flowers come up; all the grasses smile with their own flowers. 15 When the seed has been laid down, the crop springs up far and wide in the fields, promising the farmer that he can overcome hunger. Having left the trunk, the vine-shoot weeps its joys: the vine now gives water, from which it may yield wine. Rising with tender down from its mother's bark, 20 the swelling bud prepares its bosom for the birth;

Editors' notes and page, col. 286

Page

running head: DE PASCHA.
marginal letters: A Flebilis; innocuo terramque; B Mundani, efficient; C Perpetuo felix mecum; D Mollia purpureum pingunt
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: verse numbers printed at the line heads (55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 in the first poem; 15, 20 in the second) not set; each poem's portion set as one paragraph since there are no printed paragraph breaks. 'Secura' (l. 70) is set as printed; 'Securum' would be expected. 'Auseris' and 'amoena' are hard to read in the damaged type. 'late' (Fortunatus l. 15) is uncertain; it may be 'lacte'. A full-width title is printed across both columns and cut off at the edge (…NTII HONORII / …ANI FORTUNATI, / …D FELICEM EPISCOPUM, DE PASCHA.) between the two poems: not set. The page-foot Lectiones variantes (V. 58 et 64 …) and Annotationes (… visa est lectio vulgaris …, Thomasius) are left for the later pass.
other: the 1 paragraph(s) of this column above the full-width band are set under col 285 (reading order, moved on receipt)

PL 7:287

Subque hyemis tempus foliorum crine refuso, Jam reparat viridans frondea tecta nemus.

And at winter's close, its hair of leaves poured forth again, the greening grove now restores its leafy roofs.

Mixta salix, abies, corylus, siler, ulmus, acer, nux, Plaudit quaeque suis arbor amoena comis.

Mingled willow, fir, hazel, osier, elm, maple, walnut: each lovely tree applauds with its own foliage.

Constructura favos apis hinc alvearia linqueus, Floribus instrepitans poplite mella rapit.

The bee, about to build honeycombs, leaving the hives from here, buzzing among the flowers, carries off the honey on its leg.

Ad cantus revocatur avis, quae, carmine clauso, Pigrior hyberno frigore muta fuit.

The bird is called back to its songs, the bird that, its song shut away, was sluggish and mute in the winter cold.

Hinc Philomela suis attemperat organa cannis; Fitque repercusso dulcior aura melo.

Hence Philomela tunes her instruments to her reeds, and the air grows sweeter with the echoed melody.

Ecce renascentis testatur gratia mundi, Omnia cum domino dona redisse suo.

Behold, the grace of the world being reborn bears witness that all gifts have returned together with their Lord.

Namque triumphanti post tristia tartara Christo Undique fronde nemus, gramina flore favent.

For to Christ, triumphing after the gloomy underworld, the grove everywhere shows favour with leaf, the grasses with flower.

Legibus inferni oppressis, super astra meantem Laudant rite Deum lux, polus, arva, fretum.

The laws of the underworld being crushed, light, sky, fields and sea duly praise God as He goes above the stars.

Qui crucifixus erat, Deus ecce per omnia regnat; Dantque creatori cuncta creata precem.

He Who was crucified, behold, reigns as God through all things, and all created things offer prayer to the Creator.

Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo, Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet.

Hail, festal day, to be venerated through all time, on which God conquered hell and holds the stars.

Mobilitas anni, mensum, lux alma dierum, Horarum splendor, stridula cuncta favent.

Nobility of the year, of the months, kindly light of the days, splendour of the hours, all chirping things show favour.

Hinc tibi sylva comis, hinc plaudit campus aristis; Hinc grates tacito palmite vitis agit.

Hence the forest applauds you with its leaves, hence the field with ears of grain; hence the vine gives thanks with its silent shoot.

Hinc tibi nunc avium resonant virgulta susurro; Has inter nimio passer amore canit.

Hence the thickets now resound to you with the whispering of birds; among them the sparrow sings with exceeding love.

Christe salus rerum, bone conditor atque redemptor, Unica progenies ex deitate patris,

Christ, salvation of all things, good Founder and Redeemer, only offspring from the Godhead of the Father,

Irrecitabiliter manan⟨s⟩ de corde parentis, Verbum subsistens, et patris ore potens,

flowing forth unspeakably from the heart of the Parent, Word subsisting, and mighty by the mouth of the Father,

Aequalis, concors, socius, cum patre coaevus, Quo sumpsit mundus principe principium;

equal, of one accord, partner, coeval with the Father, by Whom as its first principle the world took its beginning;

Aethera suspendis, sola congeris, aequora fundis; Quaeque locis habitant, quae moderata vigent.

Thou hangest up the heavens, heapest up the lands, pourest out the seas, and whatever things dwell in their places, which flourish being ordered.

Qui genus humanum cernens mersum esse profundo, Ut hominem eriperes, es quoque factus homo.

Who, seeing the human race sunk in the deep, so that Thou mightest rescue man, Thou also becamest man.

Nec nostro tantum voluisti e corpore nasci, Sed caro, quae nasci pertulit, atque mori.

Nor didst Thou will only to be born from our body, but [became] flesh, which endured to be born, and to die.

Funeris exequias patris novus auctor, et orbis, Intra mortis iter dando salutis opem.

new author of the funeral rites of the Father, and of the world, giving the help of salvation within the path of death.

Editors' notes and page, col. 287

Footnotes

(LV 1) ‹anchor: Acer nux› · variant to v. 23, col 287 V. 23. Acer nux. Alii legunt, acernus.

Line 23: "Acer nux" (maple, nut). Others read "acernus" (of maple).

(LV 2) ‹anchor: Cuncta› · variant to v. 42, col 287 V. 42. Cuncta. Al. Puncta.

Line 42: "Cuncta" (all things). Another reading: "Puncta" (points, moments).

(LV 3) ‹anchor: Has inter› · variant to v. 46, col 287 V. 46. Has inter, etc. Aliter: Has inter minimus passer amore cano.

Line 46: "Has inter", etc. Otherwise: "Among these I, a tiny sparrow, sing for love."

(LV 4) ‹anchor: Patris ore› · variant to v. 50, col 287 V. 50. Patris ore. Al. Penetrare.

Line 50: "Patris ore" (by the Father's mouth). Another reading: "Penetrare" (to penetrate).

(LV 5) ‹anchor: Funeris› · variant to v. 59, col 287 V. 59. Funeris, etc. Aliter: Funeris exequias pateris vitæ auctor et orbis.

Line 59: "Funeris", etc. Otherwise: "The rites of death you suffer, author of life and of the world."

(LV 6) ‹anchor: Intra› · variant to v. 60, col 287 V. 60. Intra. Al. Intras.

Line 60: "Intra" (within). Another reading: "Intras" (you enter).

(LV 7) ‹anchor: Tristia cessarunt› · variant to v. 61, col 287 V. 61. Tristia cessarunt. Al. Tristia cesserunt.

Line 61: "Tristia cessarunt" (sorrows have ceased). Another reading: "Tristia cesserunt" (sorrows have given way).

(LV 8) ‹anchor: Æternæ› · variant to v. 64, col 288 V. 64. Æternæ. Al. Et terræ.

Line 64: "Æternæ" (eternal). Another reading: "Et terræ" (and of the earth).

(LV 9) ‹anchor: Sollicitam› · variant to v. 65, col 288 V. 65. Sollicitam. Al. Pollicitam.

Line 65: "Sollicitam" (anxious). Another reading: "Pollicitam" (promised).

(LV 10) ‹anchor: Non› · variant to v. 68, col 288 V. 68. Non. Al. Nec. Al. Neu.

Line 68: "Non" (not). Another reading: "Nec" (nor). Another: "Neu" (nor, lest).

(LV 11) ‹anchor: Raperet› · variant to v. 80, col 288 V. 80. Raperet. Al. Rapuit.

Line 80: "Raperet" (should seize). Another reading: "Rapuit" (seized).

(LV 12) ‹anchor: Abis› · variant to v. 82, col 288 V. 82. Abis. Al. Adit.

Line 82: "Abis" (you go away). Another reading: "Adit" (he approaches).

(LV 13) ‹anchor: Iste› · variant to v. 87, col 288 V. 87. Iste. Al. In te.

Line 87: "Iste" (this one). Another reading: "In te" (in you).

(LV 14) ‹anchor: Trophæi› · variant to v. 89, col 288 V. 89. Trophæi. Al. Triumphi.

Line 89: "Trophæi" (of the trophy). Another reading: "Triumphi" (of the triumph).

(LV 15) ‹anchor: Concors› · variant to v. 95, col 288 V. 95. Concors. Al. Consors.

Line 95: "Concors" (of one heart). Another reading: "Consors" (sharer, partner).

(Annot. 1) ‹anchor: Salve festa dies (v. 39)› · note to v. 39, runs from col 287 into col 288 (continues) Vers. 39. Salve festa dies, toto venerabilis ævo, Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet. Auctoritate codicis Vaticani mutatus est versus, ut esset post viginti disticha, quo sane in loco esse debet. Nam ante nihil de Passione vel Resurrectione Christi dicitur: sed ver ipsum ex multis propriis naturæ suæ bonis commendatur. Postquam vero facta est mentio Resurrectionis, recte illud additur: Salve festa dies, etc., cui disticho recte etiam illud continenter adjungitur Nobilitas anni, mensum, lux alma dierum, Horarum splendor, stridula puncta favent. Nobilitas enim legendum est ex codice Vaticano, ut laus aliqua illi diei, quem laudare vult, attribuatur; cum ex mobilitate, ut erat ante, nulla laus ad diem aliquem accedere possit, quia hoc est omnibus (continues)

Line 39: "Hail, festal day, to be revered through all the age, on which God conquered hell and holds the stars." On the authority of the Vatican manuscript the line has been moved so as to stand after twenty couplets, which is surely where it ought to be. For before that nothing is said of Christ's Passion or Resurrection: the spring itself is commended for the many goods proper to its nature. But once the Resurrection has been mentioned, there is rightly added "Hail, festal day", etc., and to that couplet is rightly joined, straight on, this one too: "Glory of the year, of the months, kindly light of the days, splendour of the hours, the shrill moments applaud." For "Nobilitas" (glory) is to be read from the Vatican manuscript, so that some praise may be given to the day he means to praise; whereas from "mobilitas" (changeableness), as it stood before, no praise could accrue to any day, since this is common to all (continues)

(printed under page 143)

Page

running head: DE PASCHA.
marginal letters: A Subque hyemis tempus; B Legibus inferni oppressis; C Verbum subsistens (printed between the columns, beside right-column line 90); D V. 23. Acer nux (in the variants at the page foot)
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: verse lines 21-60 of the poem De Pascha, set one distich per paragraph; marginal verse numbers (25, 30 ... 60) omitted; "[nux,]" is a turnover in the printing, joined to its line; "profundo" joined across its turnover; "Mobilitas" UNSURE, possibly a damaged N; in manan⟨s⟩ the s is obscured by an ink blot; Lectiones variantes and Annotationes at the page foot not set (later pass); the right-hand column (288) is cut off at the image edge and is not set here

PL 7:288

Tristia cessarunt infernae vincula legis; Expavitque chaos luminis ore premi.

The grim chains of the infernal law have ceased, and chaos was terrified at being pressed by the face of light.

Depereunt tenebrae Christi fulgore fugatae: Aeternae noctis pallia crassa cadunt.

The darkness perishes, put to flight by the brightness of Christ: the thick cloaks of eternal night fall away.

Sollicitam sed redde fidem, precor, alma potestas. Tertia lux rediit: surge, sepulte meus.

But give back anxious faith, I pray, gracious Power. The third day has returned: rise, my buried One.

Non decet ut vili tumulo tua membra tegantur; Non pretium mundi vilia saxa premant.

It is not fitting that Thy limbs should be covered by a mean tomb, nor that worthless stones should press down the price of the world.

Indignum est, cujus clauduntur cuncta pugillo, Ut tegat inclusum rupe vetante lapis.

It is unworthy that a stone should cover Him in Whose fist all things are enclosed, shut in with the rock barring the way.

Lintea tolle, precor; sudaria linque sepulcro: Tu satis es nobis; et sine te nihil est.

Take away the linen cloths, I pray; leave the napkins in the tomb: Thou art enough for us, and without Thee there is nothing.

Solve catenatas inferni carceris umbras, Et revoca sursum quicquid ad ima ruit.

Set free the chained shades of the infernal prison, and call back upwards whatever has fallen to the depths.

Redde tuam faciem, videant ut saecula lumen; Redde diem, qui nos, te moriente, fugit.

Give back Thy face, so that the ages may see the light; give back the day, which fled from us at Thy dying.

Sed plane implesti remeans, pie victor, olympum: Tartara pressa jacent, nec sua jura tenent.

But in truth, returning, O loving Victor, Thou hast filled Olympus: Tartarus lies crushed and does not keep its rights.

Inferus insaturabiliter cava guttura pandens, Qui raperet semper, sit tua praeda, Deus.

Let the underworld, which insatiably opens its hollow throats so that it might always seize, be Thy prey, O God.

Eripis innumerum populum de carcere mortis; Et sequitur liber, quo suus auctor abis.

A countless people is snatched by Thee from the prison of death, and it follows, free, where Thou, its Author, goest.

Evomit absorptam pavide fera bellua plebem; Et de fauce lupi subtrahit agnus oves.

The savage beast in fear vomits up the people it had swallowed, and the Lamb draws the sheep away from the jaw of the wolf.

Hinc tumulum repetens post tartara, carne resumpta, Belliger ad coelos ampla trophaea refers.

Then, returning to the tomb after Tartarus, with Thy flesh taken up again, Thou carriest ample trophies back to the heavens as a warrior.

Quos habuit poenale chaos, jam reddidit iste; Et quos mors peteret, hos nova vita tenet.

Those whom penal chaos held, this One has now given back; and those whom death would seek, new life holds.

Rex sacer, ecce tui radiat pars magna trophaei, Cum puras animas sacra lavacra beant.

Holy King, behold, a great part of Thy trophy shines, when the sacred washings bless pure souls.

Candidus egreditur nitidis exercitus undis; Atque vetus vitium purgat in amne novo.

A white army comes out of the shining waters, and it purges its old vice in a new river.

Fulgentes animas vestis quoque candida signat; Et grege de niveo gaudia pastor habet.

The white garment also marks the shining souls, and the shepherd has joys from his snow-white flock.

Additur hac Felix concors mercede sacerdos, Qui dare vult Domino dupla talenta suo.

To this reward is added Felix, the harmonious bishop, who wishes to give his Lord double talents.

Ad meliora trahens gentili errore vagantes, Bestia ne raperet, munit ovile Dei.

Drawing to better things those who wander in pagan error, he fortifies the sheepfold of God, lest the beast should seize [them].

Quos prius Eva nocens infecerat, hos modo reddit Ecclesiae pastor ubere lacte sinu.

Those whom guilty Eve had once infected, the shepherd now restores to the Church with the milk of her abundant bosom.

Editors' notes and page, col. 288

Page

running head: DE PASCHA. 288
marginal letters: A Tristia cessarunt infernae; B Redde diem, qui nos; C Cum puras animas (v. 90); D V. 64. Aeternae (page-foot variants, not set)
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: poem De Pascha vv. 61-100 set as elegiac couplets, one couplet per paragraph; printed verse numbers 65-100 not set; v. 85 runs over as "carne re-[sumpta,]" and is joined as resumpta; small-type line ends potestas (v. 65), lumen (v. 75), olympum (v. 77), reddit (v. 99) read as printed; the full-width page-foot headings (LECTIONES) VARIANTES and ANNOTATIONES are cut off at the left edge and not set; the Variae lectiones (V. 64-95) and the Annotationes ("cui disticho recte etiam illud...") at the page foot are left for the later pass

PL 7:289

Mitibus alloquiis agrestia corda colendo, Muncre Felicis de vepre nata seges. Aspera gens Saxo, vivens quasi more ferino, Te medicante sacer, bellua reddit ovem. Centeno reditu tecum mansura per aevum,

By tilling rustic hearts with gentle words, a harvest sprung from the briar by the gift of Felix. The Saxon, a rough people living almost in the manner of wild beasts, through your healing, holy man, the beast gives back a sheep. To abide with you for ever with a hundredfold return,

Messis abundantis horrea fruge reples. Immaculata tuis plebs haec agitetur in ulnis, Atque Deo purum pignus ad astra feras. Una corona tibi detur et tribuatur ab alto, Altera de populo vernet adepta tuo.

You fill the granaries with the grain of an abundant harvest. May this spotless people be carried in your arms, and may you bear a pure pledge to God, up to the stars. May one crown be given and bestowed on you from on high; may the other, won from your people, flourish.

Editors' notes and page, col. 289

Footnotes

(Var. 1) ‹anchor: Cœlii Symposii (title)› · note-mark at the title, runs from col 289 into col 290 Cœlii Symphosii. Primus, quod sciam, Christophorus Heumannus hos versus Lactantio tribuit, quorum quidem meminit S. Hieronymus. Hi prius editi fuerant sub nomine Cœlii Firmiani Symposii Poetæ a Nicolao Caussino e Societ. Jesu, atque adjecti Hieroglyphicis Hori Apollinis. Jam ab anno 1533, publici juris fecerat hæc ænigmata sub nomine Symphosii poetæ Joachimus Perionius. Alii vero non Symphosium, sed Symposium vocarunt. Ansam vero arripuit haud dubie Heumannus Lactantio tribuendi hæc ænigmata, quod in quibusdam editionibus Cœlii Firmiani titulum præferant; et nomen Poetæ qui Symposius dicebatur putavit Symposium, id est, convivium inscribendum esse. Sic etiam recentiores quidam ediderunt Sermones convivales. Attamen eruditi omnes, ac præsertim Joan. Albert. Fabricius, non descenderunt in Heumanni sententiam.

"Of Cælius Symphosius." The first, so far as I know, to attribute these verses to Lactantius was Christoph Heumann, verses which St Jerome does indeed mention. They had earlier been published under the name of "Cælius Firmianus Symposius, Poet" by Nicolas Caussin of the Society of Jesus, appended to the Hieroglyphics of Horapollo. As early as 1533 Joachim Périon had made these riddles public under the name of "Symphosius the poet". Others, however, called him not Symphosius but Symposius. Heumann no doubt seized his handle for attributing these riddles to Lactantius from the fact that in some editions they bear the title "of Cælius Firmianus"; and he thought that the name of the poet who was called Symposius should be written "Symposium", that is, "banquet". So too certain more recent editors have published them as "Table Talk". Yet all the learned, and above all Johann Albert Fabricius, have not come round to Heumann's opinion.

(Var. 2) ‹anchor: Dulcia mensæ (prologue, v. 5)› · note to the prologue, col 290 Dulcia mensæ. Hinc patet hos versus nihil aliud esse, quam sermones convivales; proindeque Symposium nomen esse operis, non poetæ.

"Sweet [cups] of the table." Hence it is plain that these verses are nothing other than table talk, and therefore that "Symposium" is the name of the work, not of the poet.

(printed under page 144)

Editors' prose

commune. Legendum quoque est, stridula puncta in secundo versu, ut omnia ad diem referantur. Aliqua alia in his carminibus mutantur, quae tamen meliora facta sunt: quod quivis hunc librum cum aliis conferens intelligere poterit. THOMASIUS.

… common. One should also read stridula puncta in the second verse, so that everything may be referred to the day. Some other things in these poems are altered, which have nevertheless been made better: which anyone comparing this book with others will be able to understand. THOMASIUS.

Vers. 101. Mitibus. Hi sequentes versus additi sunt ex codice Vaticano a Thomasio, cujus haec verba sunt. In hoc poemate ex illo codice addidi decem versus, qui optime cum reipsa conveniunt, et declarant cur illa carmina ad Felicem Episcopum Venantius scripserit, qui sane Felix nullus est Romanorum Pontificum, sed fuit aliquis ex primis illis Saxonum Episcopis. Nam Saxones, cum a Carolo Magno post bellum triginta annorum et amplius victi essent, religionem Christianam susceperunt: ex Romanis vero Pontificibus ultimus qui nomen hoc Felicis habuit fuit Felix IV, qui multo ante Carolum Magnum vixit. Illos verò decem versus propterea judicavi addendos, quia optime cum re de qua agitur conveniunt, et quia in fine poematis additus erat numerus versuum cx, ita ut omnino decem ad explendum numerum deessent.

Verse 101. Mitibus ("With gentle"). These following verses were added from a Vatican codex by Thomasius, whose words are these: "In this poem I have added from that codex ten verses, which agree excellently with the matter itself, and make clear why Venantius wrote those poems to Bishop Felix; which Felix is certainly none of the Roman Pontiffs, but was one of those first bishops of the Saxons. For the Saxons, when they had been conquered by Charlemagne after a war of thirty years and more, accepted the Christian religion; whereas of the Roman Pontiffs the last who bore this name of Felix was Felix IV, who lived long before Charlemagne. I judged those ten verses ought to be added for this reason, that they agree excellently with the matter in hand, and that at the end of the poem the number of verses had been added as cx, so that exactly ten were lacking to fill up the number."

Page

running head: ÆNIGMATA. (cut off at the image's right edge)
marginal letters: A ‹Mitibus alloquiis agrestia›; B ‹Haec quoque Symphosius›; C ‹Ponere diverse, vel solvere›; D ‹Altera pars revocat›
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: verse numbers 105, 5, 10, 15 printed in the margin not set; verse lines of each poem joined into one paragraph; full-width title "COELII SYMPHOSII ÆNIGMATA" printed across the page between the Venantius lines and the preface poem, not set; the upper "VARIORUM NOTAE" block at the page foot (beginning "commune. Legendum quoque est", continuing the notes to the De Pascha and including the note on v. 101 "Mitibus") left for the later pass; the lower block ("Coelii Symphosii. Primus, quod sciam") is set under Footnotes above; "solemnia" printed with broken n (solemuia), set solemnia; "Tum" printed with broken m (Tuin), set Tum; "vicissim" printed with broken m (vicissiin), set vicissim; "Arundo" printed with damaged r (Aiundo), set Arundo; "Muncre" may be worn type for Munere, UNSURE
other: a full-width band stands across cols 289/290 in mid-page: the 1 paragraph(s) above it in col 290 are set here, after the 1 above it in col 289 (reading order, moved on receipt); the band itself (its title lines) is not set by the volunteer page: set it here, at the move, with full_width
other: the column continues with Haec quoque Symphosius (another unit); not set here

PL 7:290

Editors' notes and page, col. 290

Page

running head: ÆNIGMATA. 290
marginal letters: A ‹Messis abundantis horrea›; B ‹3. Annulus cum gemma›; C ‹Et solvi multos / 6. Tegula›; D ‹9. Pluvia›
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: verse number 110 printed in the gutter beside "Altera de populo" not set; full-width heading VARIORUM NOTAE (twice) and the commentary beneath it (Romanorum Pontificum...; in quibusdam editionibus...) left for the apparatus pass; full-width title (CAELII) SYMPHOSII AENIGMATA across both columns not set; numeral of "3. Annulus cum gemma" looks like 5 in the image, set 3 (UNSURE); "neç Cynthia" shows a cedilla-like mark, set nec (damaged type?)
other: the 1 paragraph(s) of this column above the full-width band are set under col 289 (reading order, moved on receipt)
other: the text of this column below the full-width band belongs to the next unit; not set here (rail-only part)