A Reluctant Marginalium from the corrected exemplar of John Climacus
"The notary sleeps; the corrector keeps watch."
Notarius dormit; corrector vigilat.
Abstract
A small but persistent marginalium at f. clxxix v of the corrected exemplar of John Climacus prompts these notes. The annotation, in cinnabar, has been variously read; we present here the lectio of the desk, with such hesitations as the corrector has permitted us to keep.
Context
Marginalia of this kind, while common in lower-Italian scriptoria of the tenth century, have not been adequately collected. Our running census now stands at 613, a number that grows weekly and surprises no one but the corrector.
Paleographic Note
A first-pass reading was offered by Br. Photios, between two stacks; on review the desk concurs. The hand shows characteristic rho-descender, with occasional minim-pair; the ink is uniform density, indicating a freshly-cut nib.
Notes
- All folio numberings follow our internal census; the imperial census differs.
- A second cup was brought by Br. Theognostus; the desk records its thanks.
- The marginalia were photographed under low candlelight; results were as expected.
We thank Br. Cyril for the loan of a working candle, 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.