On the Distracted Hand: A Brief Codicological Note
"The cinnabar runs short; the wine, fortunately, does not."
Cinnabar deficit; vinum supersit.
Abstract
Working through Anastasius of Sinai, Quaestiones in the present quarter, Br. Anastasios encountered at f. cxliii r 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
Marginalia of this kind, while common in Sinaite scriptoria of the twelfth century, have not been adequately collected. Our running census now stands at 667, a number that grows weekly and surprises no one but the corrector.
Paleographic Note
Ductus is regular but not hurried; pen-pressure increases on the down-strokes of minim-pair, easing on the epsilon. We note uniform density, indicating a freshly-cut nib, which is consistent with a tired hand at the close of the office.
Notes
- We have, on advice, not pursued the matter of the dropped line further.
- Vespers interrupted the preparation of this footnote; we resume.
This folio was completed in two sittings, with one cup of wine and three small interruptions. We thank Br. Symeon for the second interruption, which proved useful.
Si error est, gratia Dei est, non scriptoris.