Anno Mundi MMMMMMMDXXXIV · i id. Sept. Brother Cyril Homilies of John Chrysostom on Matthew

Three Folios of Homilies of John Chrysostom on Matthew, with Marginal Glosses

"Three fingers write, but the whole body labours."

Tres digiti scribunt, totum corpusque laborat.

Abstract

On f. clxiii r of Homilies of John Chrysostom on Matthew, in a hand we have come to recognise as Br. Cyril's, the following marginal note appears in cinnabar: an aside both characteristic of the working scriptorium and useful for our purposes. a second hand has annotated the annotation; we forgo discussing this

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

A first-pass reading was offered by Br. Photios, between two stacks; on review the desk concurs. The hand shows characteristic tau crossbar, with occasional sigma terminal; the ink is a faint metallic sheen, consistent with ferrous additives.

Notes

The corrector's red ink is, as always, available.
An anonymous reader has questioned this attribution; we remain confident.

With thanks to Br. Nikephoros for the citation, and to the cat for his customary contribution. We retain editorial responsibility. Iam scripsi totum, pro Christo da mihi potum.

Other Hands

Annotations by other scribes, in the order in which they were entered into the margins.

Br. Damianus ad f. clxiii r, lin. vi

The marginalium is sound; the editor is suspicious.
Br. Nikephoros ad f. clxiii v, lin. xv

On reflection: the cat may have been at the desk during the original copying.