03.07.09
Cologne MS 106: Book of Hildebald
I have written a few times about The Book of Hildebald, also known as Cologne MS 106 (here and here). As many of you know by now, the archive in Cologne Germany collapsed this week to a level equal to intentional destruction (see here for more information). Hopefully archivists around the world are taking a second look at their archive buildings and getting a little of these economic stimulus packages to ensure that this never happens again.
Given that the manuscript is labeled Cologne MS 106, I have to assume that it was in the archive unless it was on-loan elsewhere. Keep an eye out for its mention as they begin shifting through the rubble. I quick online search hasn’t turned up any information on where it was stored.
And then there were two…
So why is the Book of Hildebald important? The book, written during the tenure of Bishop Hildebald of Cologne (794-819), contains most of the works that Alcuin collected for Bishop Arno of Salzburg before 805, including several of Bede’s works. It includes one of only three early copies of Bede’s Abbreviated Psalter. If Cologne MS 106 has indeed been lost, it will severely hurt future studies of Bede’s psalter. It also included an early copy of Bede’s hymn on St Æthelthryth and 12 of his other metrical hymns. I have hypothesized before that this manuscript contained a portion of Bede’s lost Book of Hymns. If that it true, it may have been one of a kind.
The best source I know of on the manuscript is: Leslie Webber Jones. (1929) “Cologne MS.106: A Book of Hildebald” Speculum 4(1): 27-61.
06.05.08
Bede’s On Genesis
Yesterday and today have been a days of mixed news, but one of the bright spots what that my copy of Bede’s On Genesis arrived yesterday. Yippee! It feels like I’ve been waiting for it for years.
I would promise an upcoming review except for the fact that I think I made such a promise on Heavenfield about this time last year for Bede’s On Ezra-Nehemiah and that is no where near ready. I think there is a better chance that this one will appear in short quotes every once in a while though. It may also fit into the ongoing discussion of science and creation (which I haven’t forgotten about).
Two other commentaries of Bede’s that I hear are in process are his On the Song of Songs and On Samuel. I don’t think l’ve heard an ETA for either of them.
05.25.08
May 25: Bede the Venerable
To celebrate St Bede’s Feast day today, here is a new collect:
Heavenly Father, your servant Bede was a true scribe of the kingdom, devoting his life to teaching the rough and the eloquent the mysteries of your Scripture and creation: Grant that we share his devotion to exploring the mysteries of your Word and creation in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord who in the unity of the trinity now and forever. Amen
And three prayers of Bede’s composition:
From On Ezra-Nehemiah (DeGregorio, 2006: 226)
“Highest father of lights, by whom every excellent thing is given and from whom every perfect gift descends, you have given me, the humblest of your servants, both the love and the aid to consider the wonders of your law, and have manifested to me, unworthy though I am, the grace to not only grasp the ancient offerings in the treasury of this prophetic book but also to discover new ones beneath the veil of the old and to bring them forth for the use of my fellow servants – Remember me with favour, oh my God.”
From Ecclesiastical History of the English People, V:25 (McClure and Collins, 1994:295):
And I pray thee, merciful Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously granted me sweet draughts from the Word which tells of Thee, so wilt Thou, of Thy goodness, grant that I may come at length to Thee, the fount of all wisdom, and stand before Thy face for ever.
From On the Apocalypse (Douglas Day, Christ the Golden-Blossum, 2001, p. 17):
Grant us your light, O Lord, that the darkness in our hearts being wholly passed away we may come at last to the light, which is Christ. For Christ is the morning star, who when the night of this world has passed, brings to his saints the promised light of life, and opens to them eternal day. Amen.
05.20.08
Alcuin, Abbot of Tours
Odd how we always call Alcuin “of York” isn’t it? Perhaps it should be Alcuin, Abbot of Tours? Given the importance of St Martin of Tours in the monastic movement, this was surely a coveted position and perhaps how he would want to be remembered. Well, either way, we should remember Alcuin today as it is his feast day.
Today’s Speaking to the Soul over at the Episcopal Cafe has a short post on Alcuin’s influence here. Interesting how this book excerpt stresses the Celtic influence on Alcuin. It is worth pointing out here that Bede’s Abbreviated Psalter was one of the devotional materials that Alcuin put in at least one of these little books. Alcuin was responsible for spreading a lot of Bede’s works. This is a topic I’ll have to revisit someday when I have more time.
05.08.08
Psalm 137 in Bede’s Psalter
Derek’s post on the importance of psalm 137 yesterday (here) brought to mind that psalm 136/137 is odd in Bede’s abbreviated psalter. It is the only verse in his abbreviated psalter that he changes to allegory. This is just so peculiar. Why change only one line of scripture? In Ward’s edition she seems not even sure that it is supposed to represent a line from 136/137, putting her translation in brackets with “136?” [Vulgate 136/modern 137]
The only line that Bede apparently chose to include from psalm 136/137 and then alter is verse 9: “Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!” which is changed to “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord!” (Browne’s translation).
Gerald Browne and Benedicta Ward both address this unique alteration. Ward reported that she searched all of scripture, commentaries, psalters etc and couldn’t find it anywhere. She is at a loss for its source. Browne (p. 12-13) believes that Bede “may have drawn his inspiration from St Hilary, whose exposition of the verse in question reads: ‘Blessed…is he who…will drive out and destroy each desire of his every passion … in accordance with the fear of God’”. If this is true then Hilary of Poiters commentary on the psalms is important for Bede’s understanding of the psalms. Does anyone know of an English translation of Hilary? I’m not sure what I think of Hilary’s commentary either. The text is surely a cry for retribution.
The context of the line may be relevant in why Bede would make such a change.
[125] Change, Lord, our captivity, like a stream in the south. [126] Unless the Lord guards the city, he who guards it watches in vain. [127] Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. [128] The blessing of the Lord be upon us. [129] Lord, hear my voice; let your ears become attentive to the voice of my entreaty. [130] Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are my eyes lifted up. [131] This is my rest forever, [132] for there the Lord has commanded blessing and life forever. [133] You who stand in the house of the Lord, [134] glorify the Lord, for the Lord is good. [135] Praise the God of heaven, for his mercy is forever. [136] Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. [137] I will praise you, Lord, with my whole heart. Lord, your mercy is forever; do not forsake the works of your hands. [138] If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I lie in hell, you are present. [139] Rescue me, Lord, from the evil man; from unjust men save me. (Browne, p. 80-86)
This section is obviously a string of very short abbreviations. One line or a part of a line from each psalm is it. I’ve included most of this section of one-liners. It actually goes back to psalm 119 but I’m not sure how much more I can quote for copyright reasons. I think its helpful to look at it in this continuous fashion because that is how it appears in medieval texts.
It is true that not much from psalm 136/137 fits the context to Bede’s abbreviations but perhaps ps. 137: 5-6 would have fit –”If I forget you O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.”. This would have fit the context above just fine and verse 5 would have fit a writer like Bede so well. Yet Bede choose to substitute an allegory for perhaps one of the most disturbing verses in the psalter. Suggestions on an explanation are welcome!
Unfortunately the (near) contemporary abbreviated psalter in the Book of Cerne lacks Psalm 136. It is the last psalm missing in a large gap probably due to a missing folio or two in its exemplar.
References:
Gerald M. Browne, trans. The Abbreviated Psalter of the Venerable Bede. Eerdmans, 2002.
