A Curious Substitution in a patristic florilegium, in preparation
"The lamp is failing; the night is winning."
Lampada deficit; nox vincit.
Abstract
Working through a patristic florilegium, in preparation in the present quarter, Br. Photios encountered at f. cxliii v a marginal note left by an earlier hand. The note is here transcribed and briefly discussed; further investigation is welcomed but not, on present resources, planned.
Context
The present marginalium is unusual chiefly for its self-awareness; the scribe knows that what is written here will be read by another scribe, who is the chief audience for such asides. The reader at home is at best a third party.
Paleographic Note
The minim spacing is wider than the scribe's usual practice, suggesting either a freshly-cut calamus or, more probably, a freshly-cut calamus. The sigma terminal preserves the customary form.
Notes
- An earlier draft of this dispatch contained a stronger claim, since softened.
- The corrector's red ink is, as always, available.
We thank Br. Anastasios for the loan of the loupe, and the desk for not interrupting. The work proceeds; the cat is fine.
Manus scriptoris in libro hoc opera complevit. Si quis hoc opus rapuerit, anathema sit.
Other Hands
Annotations by other scribes, in the order in which they were entered into the margins.