Simpson, The Proverbia Grecorum PDF

THE 'PROVERBIA GRECORUM'
B Y D E A N SIMPSON
S t a t e m e n t s in L a t i n c o n c e r n i n g s u c h t o p i c s as w i s d o m , t r u t h , a n d v i r t u e ,
a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum (less o f t e n t h e Parabolae Gregorum), are
f o u n d in a n u m b e r of early m e d i e v a l m a n u s c r i p t s . T h e y are of i n t e r e s t b e c a u s e
of t h e i r s t a t e d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e Greeks, w h i c h p e r t a i n s t o t h e k n o w l e d g e of
Greek a n d Greek l e a r n i n g in t h e e a r l y m e d i e v a l W e s t , a n d b e c a u s e of t h e
o b s c u r e v o c a b u l a r y m a n y of t h e p r o v e r b s c o n t a i n , w h i c h r e l a t e s t o t h e s t u d y
of t h e l a t i n i t y of early m e d i e v a l , e s p e c i a l l y insular, s c h o l a r s . New findings
c o n c e r n i n g t h e origin a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n of t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s h a v e increased
their importance because t h e y h a v e revealed connections b e t w e e n t h e m and
o t h e r i m p o r t a n t early m e d i e v a l L a t i n t e x t s , n o t a b l y t h e Colledio canonum
Hibernensis a n d certain florilegia f o u n d in t h e m i s c e l l a n e o u s Collectaneum of
Sedulius Scottus. T h e Proverbia Grecorum h a v e b e e n e d i t e d a n d s t u d i e d in
d e t a i l o n l y o n c e , b y S i g m u n d H e l l m a n n , in 1 9 0 6 . 1
Since t h e n n e w s t a t e m e n t s
a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum h a v e been found, and the characteriza
t i o n of early m e d i e v a l L a t i n c u l t u r e h a s b e e n s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e v i s e d . H e l l m a n n ' s
t e x t , f u r t h e r m o r e , h a s b e e n f o u n d t o b e f a u l t y in a n u m b e r of p l a c e s . There
fore, t h e r e is a n e e d for a full r e - e d i t i o n and s t u d y of t h i s p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n .
T h i s h a s b e e n u n d e r t a k e n in t h e p r e s e n t work. Following this essay, which
defines t h e current s t a t e of k n o w l e d g e of t h e Proverbia Grecorum, t h e r e is a
critical e d i t i o n of all s t a t e m e n t s i d e n t i f i e d as Proverbia Grecorum. T h i s is fol
l o w e d b y a c o m m e n t a r y in w h i c h parallel t e x t s are c i t e d , a n d p o i n t s of l i n g u i s
t i c i n t e r e s t are n o t e d .
T h e m a i n source of Proverbia Grecorum is MS K u e s 5 2 , s. x n , w h i c h c o n t a i n s
2
on fol. 2 4 6 r v
a list of s e v e n t y - f o u r s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Greco
rum. T h e y are prefaced w i t h a l e t t e r w h i c h a d v i s e s an a n o n y m o u s a d d r e s s e e t o
s t u d y t h e m a l o n g w i t h t h e B i b l e in order t o a v o i d t h e e v i l of h e r e s y . The
a u t h o r of t h i s letter, o n c e t h o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s 3
in w h o s e
1
S. H e l l m a n n , Sedulius Scottus (Quellen und Untersuchungen zur lateinischen Philologie
des Mittelalters 1; Munich 1906) 1 2 1 - 3 5 ; edition reprinted in P L S 4 . 1 2 6 2 - 1 2 6 9 .
2
This manuscript, which w a s once n u m b e r e d 14 and later 37, w a s one of a group copied at
the m o n a s t e r y of SS. E u c h e r i u s - M a t t h i a s , Trier (K. Manitius, 'Eine Gruppe v o n Handschrif-
ten des 12. Jahrhunderts aus d e m Trierer K l o s t e r St. E u c h e r i u s - M a t t h i a s , ' Forschungen und
Fortschritte 29 [1955] 3 1 7 - 1 9 ) . On its c o n t e n t s see J. Marx, Verzeichnis der Handschriften-
Sammlung des Hospitals zu Cues (Trier 1905) 4 7 - 5 1 , and S. Williams, Codices Pseudo-Isido-
riani ( N e w York 1971) 9 - 1 0 .
3
On Sedulius S c o t t u s see J. K e n n e y , The Sources for the Early History of Ireland, I: Eccle
siastical ( N e w York 1929, revised 1966) 5 6 1 - 6 9 .
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2 TRADITIO
m i s c e l l a n e o u s Collectaneum* t h e proverbia are f o u n d , is also u n k n o w n . (The

q u e s t i o n of t h e l e t t e r ' s a u t h o r s h i p will b e t r e a t e d b e l o w . ) H e l l m a n n p u b l i s h e d
t h e s e proverbia w i t h o u t the letter, along with statements attributed to the
Proverbia Grecorum in o t h e r s o u r c e s , s o m e of w h i c h w e r e n o t f o u n d in t h e K u e s
list. T h e s e i n c l u d e a s t a t e m e n t o n t h e five periods of k i n g s h i p , f o u n d in t h e
K a r l s r u h e m a n u s c r i p t of t h e Collectio canonum Hibernensis. 5
H e also called
a t t e n t i o n t o t e n s t a t e m e n t s , f o u n d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g De nomine regni, which
are a t t r i b u t e d t o t h i s c o l l e c t i o n in M S C a m b r i d g e , CCC 4 1 5 , s. X I - X I I , p p .
1 9 5 - 1 9 9 . In a d d i t i o n , H e l l m a n n n o t e d i n s t a n c e s in o t h e r s o u r c e s w h e r e s t a t e
m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum in o n e or m o r e of t h e a b o v e - m e n
t i o n e d w o r k s are f o u n d , b u t w i t h o u t t h e a t t r i b u t i o n . A s t a t e m e n t o n t h e e i g h t
c o l u m n s of t h e k i n g d o m of t h e j u s t k i n g , c i t e d as a Proverbium Grecorum in t h e
C a m b r i d g e m a n u s c r i p t , is q u o t e d in a l e t t e r w r i t t e n b y t h e A n g l o - S a x o n Cat-
huulf t o C h a r l e m a g n e , d a t e d ca. 7 7 5 . 6
Many statements identified as Proverbia
Grecorum in o n e or m o r e s o u r c e s are also used b y S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s in his De
Rectoribus Christianis, 7
i n c l u d i n g t h e s t a t e m e n t s on t h e five p e r i o d s of k i n g
s h i p , t h e e i g h t c o l u m n s of t h e j u s t k i n g ' s k i n g d o m , a n d o t h e r s f o u n d in t h e
C a m b r i d g e m a n u s c r i p t , b u t n o t in t h e K u e s list. H e l l m a n n , therefore, clearly
e s t a b l i s h e d t h e r e l a t i o n of t h e p r o v e r b s t o insular L a t i n s c h o l a r s h i p . Because
of t h e reference t o t h e G r e e k s in t h e t i t l e a n d l e t t e r , a n d t h e o c c u r r e n c e of a
f e w Greek w o r d s in t h e proverbia themselves, Hellmann concluded that the
s e n t e n c e s w e r e q u i t e p o s s i b l y t r a n s l a t e d from a Greek original b y a n Irish
s c h o l a r in Ireland, p e r h a p s in t h e s e v e n t h c e n t u r y . 8
In a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e w i t n e s s e s t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum which were known

t o H e l l m a n n , five n e w s o u r c e s , w i t h or w i t h o u t a t t r i b u t i o n , h a v e b e e n f o u n d .
All of t h e s e , it s h o u l d b e n o t e d , r e l a t e t o insular s c h o l a r s h i p . It m a y be m e n
t i o n e d , first, t h a t , in a d d i t i o n t o t h e o n e Proverbium Grecorum in t h e K a r l s r u h e
m a n u s c r i p t of t h e Collectio canonum Hibernensis, five o t h e r Proverbia Grecorum
are c i t e d in t h e t h r e e m a i n m a n u s c r i p t s of t h e ' B ' r e c e n s i o n of t h a t c a n o n i c a l
c o l l e c t i o n : M S S Oxford* B o d l . H a t t o n 4 2 , s. i x ; R o m e , V a l l i c e l l i a n a x v i i , s. x;
4
A full critical edition of t h e miscellaneous Collectaneum of Sedulius S c o t t u s is in prepara
tion b y t h e present writer, and will be published in the Corpus Christianorum, Continuatio
Mediaevalis. T h e c o n t e n t s of this n o t e b o o k h a v e been i n a d e q u a t e l y described b y J. Klein,
Ober eine Handschrift des Nikolaus von Cues, nebst ungedruckten Fragmenten ciceronischer
Reden (Berlin 1866) and b y H e l l m a n n , 9 6 - 9 9 .
5
MS Karlsruhe Augiensis xviii, s. i x , in book 25.
6
E d i t e d by E . D u m m l e r in M G H Epistolae 4.501-505.
7
E d i t e d by H e l l m a n n 1 9 - 9 1 . See his concordance t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum and the De
rectoribus Christianis, 132-33.
8
H e l l m a n n 135.
'PROVERBIA GRECORUM' 3
a n d L o n d o n , B . L . C o t t o n O t h o E x i i i , s. x . 9
Of t h e s i x s t a t e m e n t s , four are
f o u n d in t h e K u e s list, t w o are n o t . 1 0
T h e o r i g i n of t h e 'B' recension of t h e Hibernensis is o n l y s l i g h t l y better

u n d e r s t o o d t h a n t h a t of t h e Proverbia Grecorum. It w a s certainly t h e p r o d u c t
of a c o n c e r t e d effort t o e x p a n d a n earlier c a n o n c o l l e c t i o n , made by Irish
scholars, t h e so-called 'A' r e c e n s i o n , 1 1
w h i c h can be d a t e d before 7 2 5 . 1 2
The
d a t e a n d p l a c e w h e r e t h e e x p a n d e d t e x t w a s p r o d u c e d is n o t k n o w n . Never
t h e l e s s , i t is c e r t a i n l y i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t o n e of t h e n u m e r o u s t h i n g s t h e s c h o l a r s
w h o p r o d u c e d t h e ' B ' Hibernensis possessed and chose t o use in expanding
t h e i r c o d e of c a n o n s w a s t h e Proverbia Grecorum.
T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d n e w s o u r c e s for t h e Proverbia Grecorum are b o t h f o u n d

i n o t h e r s e c t i o n s of M S K u e s 5 2 , a l s o in t h e m i s c e l l a n e o u s Collectaneum of
Sedulius Scottus. A florilegium arranged under forty titles, concerning, in the
main, virtues and vices (fols. 248 -254 )
v r
contains five statements, without
attribution, which parallel, either v e r b a t i m or c l o s e l y , s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h in
o t h e r s o u r c e s are c a l l e d Proverbia Grecorum. 13
It s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t this
florilegium contains a considerable amount of m a t e r i a l which derives from
i n s u l a r - i n f l u e n c e d l i t e r a r y t r a d i t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g a n u m b e r of e n t r i e s w h i c h h a v e
9
T h e s e parallels h a v e b e e n found in a t y p e s c r i p t of t h e ' B ' t e x t of t h e Hibernensis which
Maurice S h e e h y of U n i v e r s i t y College, D u b l i n , w h o s e critical edition is in progress, has gene
rously let m e read. It should be n o t e d t h a t t h e Karlsruhe m a n u s c r i p t c o n t a i n s t h e 'A' t e x t
w i t h s o m e 'B' additions.
1 0
A t chapter 2 0 of book 4 0 of t h e ' B ' t e x t , fol. 8 1 of t h e H a t t o n manuscript, are found
v
Proverbia Grecorum 1 a n d 2 of t h e K u e s list; a t chapter 4 of b o o k 4 2 , fol. 8 5 of t h e H a t t o n v
manuscript, is found Proverbium 65; a n d a t chapter 10 of b o o k 4 4 , fol. 9 0 of t h e H a t t o n r
manuscript, is found Proverbium 6 9 . T h e t w o s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Greco

rum b u t w h i c h are n o t found in t h e K u e s list concern t h e five periods of kingship (27.6, fol.
42 ) a n d t h e s i x w a y s m a n ' s spiritual nature is m a d e in t h e i m a g e of God (39.47, fol. 7 9 ) .
r r
1 1
A t t e m p t s t o understand t h e relation of t h e t w o recensions h a v e been hampered b y t h e
edition of H . Wasserschleben, Die irische Kannonensammlung (Berlin 1 8 8 5 ) .
2
Purportedly
reproducing t h e 'A' t e x t , W a s s e r s c h l e b e n based his edition on t h e inferior S t . Gall m a n u
script. Scholars such a s H e l l m a n n (op. cit. 1 4 2 - 4 3 ) , w h o h a v e c o m p a r e d t h e readings of t h e
'B' m a n u s c r i p t s w i t h W a s s e r s c h l e b e n ' s edition, h a v e been misled into t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e 'B'
recension is t h e older since it s e e m e d i t s readings were closer t o t h e excerpted originals. This
conclusion is n o t upheld b y t h e other 'A' manuscripts.
1 2
T h e 'A' recension c a n be d a t e d t o t h e early eighth century b y t h e colophon of MS Paris,
B . N . l a t 12021, which n a m e s a R u b i n of Iona as one of t h e scribes. It is k n o w n t h a t R u b i n
died in 7 2 5 .
1 3
Proverbia Grecorum 2 4 a n d 25 are found in subsection x x x i , entitled De opere, entries 13
and 14; t h e first half of Proverbium 6 4 is found in subsection x x x v i i , entitled De regibus, entry
12. T o Proverbium 3 should b e c o m p a r e d t h e s t a t e m e n t in s u b s e c t i o n 1, De contrauersiis,
entry 9: 'Claues q u e s t i o n u m e s t sapientis interrogation To Proverbium 3 5 should be compared
entry 64 in t h e same subsection: 'Aures nostras testes h a b e m u s : instabile e l o q u i u m indicium
mendatii.'
4 TRADITIO
parallels in t h e Collectio canonum Hibernensis. * 1

A s in t h e c a s e of t h e Hibernen
sis, t h e origin of t h i s s e n t e n c e c o l l e c t i o n is n o t k n o w n .
A m o n g s e l e c t i o n s from t h e Divinae institutiones of L a c t a n t i u s , S e d u l i u s S c o t
t u s h i m s e l f a d d e d a s t a t e m e n t w i t h o u t a t t r i b u t i o n w h i c h in t h e Collectio cano
num Hibernensis is identified as a Proverbium Grecorum 1 5
T h i s s t a t e m e n t on
t h e six w a y s in w h i c h m a n ' s soul r e s e m b l e s God is of p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e
b e c a u s e i t s source h a s b e e n i d e n t i f i e d . I t c o m e s from R u f i n u s ' t r a n s l a t i o n of
Origen's Homilia in Genesi * 1
A s t a n t a l i z i n g as t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s e e m s , no
further c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e Proverbia Grecorum a n d t h e Greek F a t h e r s h a s
been found.
It s h o u l d b e a d d e d t h a t t h e Collectaneum of S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s c o n t a i n s a
s t a t e m e n t in a s e c t i o n of biblical a n d u n i d e n t i f i e d m a t e r i a l w h i c h , a l t h o u g h
n o t a Proverbium Grecorum, parallels t h e w o r d i n g of t w o Proverbia Grecorum
c l o s e l y . On fol. 2 7 1 of t h e K u e s m a n u s c r i p t o n e finds: ' F o n s p u r u s e t salubris
v
e s t b o n u s consiliator, a t m a l u s p e d i c a s u b d o l o s a et p u t e u s i n f r u s t r a t u s , ' w h i c h
s h o u l d be c o m p a r e d w i t h proverbia 3 2 a n d 5 9 of t h e m a i n K u e s list.
A f o u r t h source c o n t a i n i n g Proverbia Grecorum was recently discovered by
Bernhard Bischoff. 17
H e h a s p u b l i s h e d four s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h i s col
l e c t i o n in M S M u n i c h , Clm. 1 4 0 9 6 , f o r m e r l y of R e g e n s b u r g . B i s c h o f f s a y s t h a t
t h e m a n u s c r i p t is of Celtic origin a n d a s s i g n s it t o t h e e a r l y p a r t of t h e n i n t h
c e n t u r y . T h e proverbia o c c u r o n fol. 6 3 v
a m i d a n u m b e r of a d d i t i o n s ( s o m e
a t t r i b u t e d s p u r i o u s l y , it w o u l d s e e m , t o J e r o m e a n d A u g u s t i n e ) t o a c o p y of
t h e P s . - A u g u s t i n e Liber de divinis scripturis. Of t h e four s t a t e m e n t s , o n l y t w o
are o t h e r w i s e k n o w n , o n e from t h e K u e s list a n d a n o t h e r f r o m t h e p r e f a t o r y
letter, a l t h o u g h no d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m is m a d e here. B i s c h o f f n o t e s t h a t
s o m e of t h e u n i d e n t i f i e d a d d i t i o n s h a v e q u a l i t i e s w h i c h c o u l d b e d e f i n e d as
Irish (on w h i c h see b e l o w ) .
T h e fifth a n d p e r h a p s m o s t i m p o r t a n t a d d i t i o n t o H e l l m a n n ' s list of m a n u
script s o u r c e s c o n t a i n i n g Proverbia Grecorum is n o t in fact a n e w d i s c o v e r y . In
1 9 1 0 W . M. L i n d s a y p u b l i s h e d t e n e x c e r p t s from t h e Proverbia Grecorum, some
1 4
Of t h e sentences which can be related to insular scholarship, t h e m o s t striking is the
s t a t e m e n t , found in subsection x x , De penitentia, entry 13 (fol. 2 5 1 of t h e K u e s manuscript),
v
which is paralleled in the Old Irish Alphabet of Piety, section 8 (ed. V. H u l l ; Celtica 8 [1968]
60-61). It reads: 'Quatuor uirtutibus h o m o sanatur: penitentia, timore, spe, amore. Peniten
tia de preteritis peccatis, timor de futuris, spes premiorum, amor celestis regni.' Parallels to
s t a t e m e n t s in the Collectio canonum Hibernensis are found in eleven of its forty subsections.
1 5
On fol. 2 6 4 of the K u e s manuscript.
v
T h e t e x t reads: ' H o m o noster interior .vi. m o d i s ad
similitudinem Dei factus est: citus, mobilis, subtilis, incorporeus, inuisibilis, aeternus.'
1 6
Origen, Homilia in Genesi 1.13 ( P G 1 2 . 1 5 5 D ) . T h e t e x t reads: Ts a u t e m qui ad i m a g i n e m
Dei factus est et ad similitudinem, interior h o m o noster est, inuisibilis et incorporalis, et
incorruptus atque immortalis.'
1 7
B. Bischoff, Anecdota novissima ( S t u t t g a r t 1984) 9 8 - 1 0 0 .
w i t h Old Irish glosses, w h i c h h e h a d f o u n d in a B o b b i o m a n u s c r i p t . 18

These
e x c e r p t s a n d g l o s s e s are f o u n d a s a d d i t i o n s t o p a g e 61 of M S M i l a n , A m b r o s . F
6 0 s u p . E . A. L o w e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e m a i n t e x t , e n t i t l e d Excerpta ex patribus,
w a s w r i t t e n in Ireland in t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y . H e a t t r i b u t e d t h e a d d i t i o n s t o
B o b b i o , a n d d a t e d t h e m ' t o w a r d t h e e n d of t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y . ' 19
The Bobbio
e x c e r p t s w e r e t a k e n from t h e s a m e c o l l e c t i o n S e d u l i u s c o p i e d , a l t h o u g h t e x t u a l
differences argue for S e d u l i u s ' h a v i n g u s e d a different m o d e l t h a n t h e o n e a t
Bobbio.
T h e m a n u s c r i p t sources for t h e Proverbia Grecorum, therefore, c o n s i s t e n t l y
s h o w r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h insular s c h o l a r s h i p a n d s u g g e s t t h a t k n o w l e d g e of
t h e m w a s l i m i t e d t o Irish a n d B r i t i s h s c h o l a r s . 20
The Bobbio excerpts not only
confirm a terminus ante quern d a t i n g of t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y for t h e s e n t e n c e s ,
b u t t h e y p l a c e t h e c o l l e c t i o n a t an early d a t e a t a c o n t i n e n t a l center. The
i n t e r r e l a t i o n of t h e Proverbia Grecorum, t h e Collectio canonum Hibernensis, and
m a t e r i a l in t h e Collectaneum of S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s a n d o t h e r s o u r c e s o p e n s m a n y
a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e historical p r o b l e m s e a c h p o s e s . A s progress in m a d e in t h e
s t u d y of a n y o n e of t h e s e , so a clearer i d e a of t h e origin of e a c h will result.
T h e B o b b i o f r a g m e n t s , h o w e v e r , are n o t o n l y i m p o r t a n t for d a t i n g t h e Pro
verbia Grecorum. T h e y also s h e d l i g h t o n t h e c o l l e c t i o n ' s t e x t u a l t r a d i t i o n b y
p r o v i d i n g e v i d e n c e w h i c h p r o v e s t h a t t h e K u e s list of Proverbia Grecorum was
n o t m a d e b y S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s f r o m a larger c o l l e c t i o n , as H e l l m a n n t h o u g h t . 2 1
I n s t e a d , as Bischoff h a s n o t e d , 2 2
the Bobbio fragments, which include excerpts
from t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r as w e l l as t h e proverbia (a fact n o t n o t i c e d b y L i n d
s a y ) s h o w t h a t t h e l e t t e r a n d p r o v e r b s a s f o u n d in t h e K u e s list d a t e from t h e
e i g h t h c e n t u r y a t t h e l a t e s t . T h e letter, t h e n , is a n o n y m o u s a n d of a n u n c e r
t a i n d a t e . Its c o n t e n t d e s e r v e s s t u d y in order t o learn m o r e a b o u t i t s origin a n d
t h a t of t h e p r o v e r b s it prefaced. In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n it s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e
l e t t e r i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e a u t h o r n e i t h e r t r a n s l a t e d nor e x c e r p t e d his p r o v e r b s ,
b u t r a t h e r c o l l e c t e d t h e m w i t h difficulty: ' H a e c labore s o l l i c i t o congregare
uolumus.' T h i s fact, t a k e n in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e revised d a t i n g a n d t h e
e x i s t e n c e of a t l e a s t t w o similar c o l l e c t i o n s , o n e a t B o b b i o a n d t h e o t h e r k n o w n
t o S e d u l i u s , s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e list of Proverbia Grecorum f o u n d in t h e K u e s
1 8
W . M. Lindsay, T h e Irish Glosses in Ambr. F 6 0 sup.,' Zeitschrift fur Celtische Philologie
7 (1910) 2 6 6 - 6 7 . T h e excerpts glossed w i t h Old Irish are printed and translated in W . Stokes
and J. Strachan, edd., Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus 2 (Cambridge 1 9 0 1 - 1 9 0 3 ) 2 3 4 . T h e y are
also printed in t h e C o m m e n t a r y below.
1 9
E . A. L o w e , Codices Latini Antiquiores 3.336-40.
2 0
It should be added t h a t there was a collection of Proverbia Grecorum a t Lincoln in the
twelfth century, as t h e Lincoln Cathedral Catalogue of B o o k s indicates: 'Librum Prouerbium
Graecorum inutilem' (J. F . D i m o c k , ed., Giraldi Cambrensis Opera 7 [London 1877] 166).
2 1
H e l l m a n n 121.
2 2
Bischoff 99.
6 TRADITIO
m a n u s c r i p t s is t h e original c o l l e c t i o n , a n d t h a t t h e i r t i t l e is t h e i n v e n t i o n of t h e
a u t h o r of t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r . T h e s o u r c e s he u s e d r e m a i n u n k n o w n .
F i n d i n g o u t a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e a b o u t t h e a u t h o r of t h i s l e t t e r b e c o m e s a
f a s c i n a t i n g if e l u s i v e a s p e c t of t h e s t u d y of t h e Proverbia Grecorum. H e was
c e r t a i n l y a p i o u s m a n , l e a r n e d in biblical a n d s o m e c l a s s i c a l lore. In m a r k e d
c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e p r o v e r b s t h e m s e l v e s , his l e t t e r d i s p l a y s a fine L a t i n s t y l e a n d
some sensitivity to rhetoric. 23
H e m a y h a v e b e e n Irish, s i n c e s o m e of t h e
s o u r c e s from w h i c h h i s p r o v e r b s w e r e t a k e n s e e m t o h a v e b e e n Irish. B i s c h o f f
h a s p o i n t e d t o t h e r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e m o n a s t i c s t u d e n t a s a lector a n d t h e m o n a s
t e r y a s a civitas in t h e Proverbia Grecorum as r e f l e c t i n g Irish l i t e r a r y c o n v e n t
ions. 2 4
T h e r e are a l s o t w o proverbia w h i c h m a y h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e in Old Irish
l a w . Proverbium 69, which prohibits a wicked m a n from usurping his brother's
i n h e r i t a n c e , s e e m s t o r e l a t e t o a p r o v i s i o n in t h e Seanchus Mor whereby the
i m p i o u s s o n , in Old Irish mac ingor, w h o d o e s n o t s u p p o r t t h e e l d e r l y m e m b e r s
of his f a m i l y , m a y b e d i s i n h e r i t e d in f a v o r of t h e p i o u s s o n , mac gor, w h o d o e s
maintain t h e m . 2 5
A l s o , Proverbium 6 1 , w h i c h p r o h i b i t s y o u n g m e n from
s p e a k i n g before old m e n , 2 6
m a y b e c o m p a r e d t o a s t a t e m e n t in Old Irish law:
' G r e y n e s s t a k e s p r e c e d e n c e in s p e a k i n g . ' 27
A s t o t h e q u e s t i o n of w h e n h e l i v e d ,
a d a t i n g of t h e s e v e n t h or e a r l y e i g h t h c e n t u r i e s s e e m s l i k e l y o n s t y l i s t i c a n d
t e x t u a l g r o u n d s . T h e s o u r c e s h e u s e d , h o w e v e r , s e e m c o n s i d e r a b l y older since
t h e i r l a t i n i t y is far l e s s c o r r e c t . 28
A d a t i n g of t h e s i x t h c e n t u r y for a t l e a s t
s o m e of t h e m , a s M c N a l l y a n d o t h e r s h a v e s u g g e s t e d , d o e s n o t s e e m u n
reasonable. 29
2 3
Especially remarkable in his letter are t h e reference to A p o l l o ( P a e a n ) , and the frequent
and graphic use of simile a n d m e t a p h o r . It also contains one m e d i e v a l i s m w h i c h m a y prove
significant: t h e writing of defendunt for diffundunt in the phrase: 'Sicut e n i m herbarum holera
et lilia agri u i a m defendunt' (line 12). T h e use of defendunt for 'overgrow' is also found in t h e
e i g h t h - c e n t u r y L a t i n / A n g l o - S a x o n Corpus glossary ( D 207): defenditur: dispargitur (see n o t e
3 2 below).
2 4
Bischoff 99. H e in turn m a k e s reference t o L . Gougaud, Christianity in Celtic Lands
( L o n d o n 1932) 245f., and J . R y a n , Irish Monasticism, Origins and Early Development (Dublin
1931) 88f.
2 5
Ancient Laws of Ireland 3 ( D u b l i n 1873) 5 3 , 547, and 5 4 2 .
2 6
This s t a t e m e n t is one of a n u m b e r w h i c h bear comparison w i t h classical Greek and
B o m a n t h e m e s , and w h i c h therefore hold forth t h e possibility t h a t t h e Proverbia Grecorum
h a v e an ancient origin or inspiration. U n t i l and unless concrete e v i d e n c e is found t o confirm
this, it s e e m s m o s t reasonable t o consider such parallels coincidental.
2 7
Ancient Laws of Ireland 4 ( D u b l i n 1879) 3 7 2 . I am i n d e b t e d t o Professors Francis J o h n
B y r n e and Maurice S h e e h y and D r . Proinseas N i C h a t h a m of U n i v e r s i t y College, D u b l i n , for
noting these parallels.
2 8
S o m e peculiarities of t h e l a t i n i t y of t h e Proverbia Grecorum are cited in notes 3 2 to 34
below.
2 9
R. M c N a l l y , Der irische Liber de Numeris: Eine Quellenanalyse des pseudo-isidorischen
Liber de Numeris (Munich 1957) 25; see also Dekkers^Gaar, Clavis Patrum Latinorum no.
1130, and P L S 4.1262.
T h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e K u e s list of Proverbia Grecorum c o n s t i t u t e s t h e origi

nal c o l l e c t i o n raises t h e p r o b l e m of a c c o u n t i n g for t h e s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h are
g i v e n t h i s t i t l e o n l y in o t h e r s o u r c e s . T w o t h i n g s s u g g e s t t h a t a d d i t i o n a l s t a t e
m e n t s w e r e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum b y later scholars w h o had
h e a r d of t h e c o l l e c t i o n b u t did n o t k n o w i t s c o n t e n t s . F i r s t , t h e source of o n e
of t h e a d d i t i o n a l p r o v e r b s h a s b e e n identified a s O r i g e n ' s Homilia in Genesi.
S i n c e n o o t h e r proverbium h a s b e e n s h o w n t o h a v e a Greek p a t r i s t i c source, it
seems possible t h a t this sentence w a s given the attribution b y s o m e o n e w h o
t h o u g h t a s t a t e m e n t f r o m Origen b e l o n g e d in a c o l l e c t i o n so n a m e d . Secondly,
M S Clm 1 4 0 9 6 q u o t e s a s a Proverbium Grecorum a s t a t e m e n t w h i c h in fact
c o m e s from t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r . T h e i n a c c u r a t e a t t r i b u t i o n m a k e s less cred
ible t h e a u t h e n t i c i t y of t h e t w o s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h are called Proverbia Greco
rum here, b u t are o t h e r w i s e u n k n o w n . T h i s is n o t t o r e m o v e t h e s e s e n t e n c e s
f r o m insular L a t i n t r a d i t i o n s . I n d e e d , t h e f a c t t h a t S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s k n e w so
m a n y of t h e s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h are identified as Proverbia Grecorum o n l y in
s o u r c e s o t h e r t h a n his o w n list s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e c o l l e c t i o n a n d t h e a d d i t i o n s
w e r e current in a fairly l i m i t e d c u l t u r a l m i l i e u .
B u t w h a t relation h a s t h e original c o l l e c t i o n t o t h e Greeks ? In a d d i t i o n t o
t h e reference t o t h e m in t h e t i t l e , Proverbia Grecorum, t h e a u t h o r of t h e prefa
t o r y l e t t e r specifically s t a t e s t h a t h e h a s t a k e n his p r o v e r b s 'de p r u d e n t i a
G r e c o r u m . ' H e l l m a n n f o u n d s u p p o r t for t h e v i e w t h a t t h e L a t i n s t a t e m e n t s in
t h e K u e s list a n d o t h e r s o u r c e s h a d a t s o m e t i m e b e e n t r a n s l a t e d from a Greek
c o l l e c t i o n , in t w o proverbia w h i c h h e t h o u g h t c o n t a i n e d Greek w o r d s , p r e s u m
a b l y t r a c e s of t h e Greek original. In Proverbium 4 7 H e l l m a n n r e a d : 'Omnis
u a g u s para t a c c e n a s i n t e r r o g a n s , ' w h e r e para tac s t a n d s for naqa rag, yielding
' e v e r y v a g r a n t b e g g i n g for f o o d . ' T h e K u e s m a n u s c r i p t , h o w e v e r , r e a d s para-
tas w i t h t h e c corrected t o s, y i e l d i n g paratas cenas, ' e v e r y v a g r a n t b e g g i n g for
c o o k e d m e a l s . ' T h i s s e n t e n c e , therefore, d o e s n o t c o n t a i n Greek.
Proverbium 3 9 , h o w e v e r , d o e s c o n t a i n Greek: in scenis diceon = iv OXYJVOLIQ
dixaiojv. T h i s phrase c o m e s from P s . 1 1 7 . 1 5 of t h e Greek P s a l t e r , w h i c h w a s

o n e of t h e b e s t - k n o w n Greek t e x t s in t h e early m e d i e v a l W e s t . 3 0
Proverbium
39, then, while certainly being unusual, need not suggest t h a t the collection
u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n is a t r a n s l a t i o n f r o m Greek. It m a y j u s t a s e a s i l y b e t h e result
of a m o d e s t f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h Greek c o m b i n e d w i t h a l i t t l e p e d a n t r y , b o t h w e l l -
a t t e s t e d in certain W e s t e r n L a t i n circles, e s p e c i a l l y insular o n e s .
I n d e e d , t h e r e is c o n s i d e r a b l e e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h e v i e w t h a t t h e Proverbia
Grecorum d e r i v e from a L a t i n r a t h e r t h a n a Greek literary t r a d i t i o n . It s h o u l d
be n o t e d t h a t m a n y of t h e s t a t e m e n t s in t h e K u e s list b e a r a close v e r b a l
3 0
MSS Paris, Bibl. de l'Arsenal 8 4 0 7 (Sedulius' Psalter) and Basel, U n i v e r s i t a t s b i b l . A . v i i . 3
a t t e s t Irish k n o w l e d g e of the Greek Psalter.
8 TRADITIO
r e s e m b l a n c e t o t h e V u l g a t e , e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e Proverbia Salomonis. 31
So Prover
bia Grecorum c o n c e r n s u c h t o p i c s a s sapiens a n d stultus, iustus a n d mendax, rex
iustus a n d rex impius, mulier fortis a n d mulier inepta, a n d piger—topics also
f o u n d in t h e B o o k of P r o v e r b s . It s h o u l d also b e n o t e d , a s H e l l m a n n h i m s e l f
s h o w e d in t h e n o t e s t o h i s e d i t i o n , t h a t t h e Proverbia Grecorum reflect r e c o g
n i z e d literary t r a d i t i o n s of t h e e a r l y m e d i e v a l W e s t , s i n c e m a n y of t h e p e c u l i a r
w o r d s t h e y c o n t a i n are a l s o f o u n d in m e d i e v a l L a t i n a n d v e r n a c u l a r g l o s s a r i e s .
T h e e x t a n t g l o s s a r y w h i c h is m o s t c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum is
the eighth-century A n g l o - S a x o n compilation, the Corpus g l o s s a r y . 32
Unusual
w o r d s in t h e Proverbia Grecorum are also f o u n d in t h e s e v e n t h - c e n t u r y Ab-
strusa g l o s s a r y , w h i c h w a s p r o b a b l y c o m p i l e d in F r a n c e , a n d w h i c h w a s used
b y t h e c o m p i l e r s of t h e Corpus g l o s s a r y . 33
T h e Proverbia Grecorum, however,
c o n t a i n u n u s u a l w o r d s a n d w o r d s u s e d in u n u s u a l s e n s e s w h i c h h a v e n o t b e e n
clarified b y reference t o k n o w n m e d i e v a l g l o s s a r i e s . 34
T h e r e f o r e , it is n o t p o s
sible t o i d e n t i f y t h e specific t r a d i t i o n w h i c h i n f l u e n c e d t h e i r c r e a t i o n . It w o u l d
seem, however, to h a v e been a Latin one.
W e are left, of c o u r s e , w i t h t h e p r o b l e m of e x p l a i n i n g t h e reference t o t h e
Greeks. B e c a u s e of t h e clear c o n n e c t i o n s t o W e s t e r n l i t e r a r y t r a d i t i o n s , a n d
t h e a b s e n c e of e v i d e n c e w h i c h r e l a t e s t h e Proverbia Grecorum t o Greek litera
t u r e , it d o e s n o t s e e m p o s s i b l e t o t a k e t h e reference l i t e r a l l y , a s H e l l m a n n w a s
i n c l i n e d t o d o . T h e pride w i t h w h i c h early m e d i e v a l s c h o l a r s d i s p l a y e d t h e i r
l i m i t e d k n o w l e d g e of Greek a n d Greek l e a r n i n g m a y s u g g e s t t h a t t h e s t a t e -
3 1
Parallels t o t h e V u l g a t e are n o t e d in t h e C o m m e n t a r y below.
3 2
W . M. Lindsay, ed., The Corpus Glossary (Oxford 1921). W o r d s w h i c h are found in the
Proverbia Grecorum and t h e Corpus glossary are: brittanica (Proverbium 2 1 , Corpus B 193)
glossed: 'Floris quae in siluis nascitur'; bacidones (Proverbium 2 3 , Corpus B 3) glossed w i t h the
A n g l o - S a x o n : raedinne, 'cluster of grapes' (similarly in the £ p i n a l - E r f u r t glossary); and fora-
torium (Proverbium 25, Corpus, Intr. 137) glossed with t h e A n g l o - S a x o n buirus (= byrus):
'chisel.'
3 3
T h e Abstrusa glossary, W . M. L i n d s a y and H . J. T h o m s o n , edd., Glossaria Latina 3 (Paris
1926), cites t h e word brittanica w i t h t h e s a m e e x p l a n a t i o n as t h e Corpus glossary. It also
contains t h e entries: subdolus: subtilis, w h i c h m a y explain t h e unusual use of t h e word subdo-
loso in Proverbium 50, y i e l d i n g t h e s t a t e m e n t : 'It is an unsafe c i t y w h i c h is surrounded b y a
fragile wall'; and conluuium: commixtio, w h i c h m a y explain t h e unusual use of t h e word
commixtiones in Proverbium 15, y i e l d i n g the s t a t e m e n t : 'The intrigues of fools are the black
pollutions of malice.'
3 4
W o r d s found in t h e Proverbia Grecorum w h i c h are not e x p l a i n e d b y reference to a glos
sary or literary source are: betuletum (Proverbium 22) 'birchgrove'; fuscinius (Proverbium 32)
'three-pronged' ?; bacheriosi (Proverbium 40) 'ferocious'; infrustratus (Proverbium 59) 'pol
luted' (see p. 4); bachum (Proverbium 63) unidentified (see C o m m e n t a r y ) ; and intacalta (Pro
verbium 66) unidentified. W o r d s g i v e n unusual meanings are found in Proverbia 15: commix
tiones 'pollutions'; 37: deductio 'protection'; 48: lenis (first occurrence) 'kind'; 50: subdolosus
'fragile'; 52: temperari (first occurrence) 'to measure'; 6 1 : fiducialis 'confident'; and 62: super-
stitiones 'make-up''?
m e n t of t h e a u t h o r of t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r is a b o a s t , i n t e n d e d t o e n h a n c e t h e
e s t e e m a n d a u t h o r i t y of t h e c o l l e c t i o n . T h e a u t h o r of t h e Cosmographia, at
t r i b u t e d t o A e t h i c u s Ister, t o m e n t i o n o n e e x a m p l e , d i d j u s t t h i s w h e n h e
c l a i m e d t h a t his t e x t w a s a t r a n s l a t i o n of a Greek t e x t d o n e b y S t . J e r o m e .
Or, p e r h a p s , t h e t i t l e Proverbia Grecorum was coined to suggest that the
p r o v e r b s c o n t r a s t a n d c o m p l e m e n t t h e Proverbia Salomonis, t h e former i n
t e n d e d t o i n d i c a t e t h e s o u r c e of o u r secular learning, t h e l a t t e r t h e s o u r c e of
divinely revealed w i s d o m . T h e a u t h o r of t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r a d v i s e s his
a d d r e s s e e : 'scrutare i t a q u e s a p i e n t i a m s c r i p t u r a s q u e , ' w h e r e sapientia should, I
t h i n k , b e i n t e r p r e t e d 'secular s t u d i e s . ' T h i s s e n t i m e n t is e x p r e s s e d m o r e e x
p l i c i t l y b y Cathuulf in h i s l e t t e r t o C h a r l e m a g n e w h e n h e w r i t e s : 'ut t u sis in
s a p i e n t i a diuina e t s e c u l a r i b u s litteris i m b u t u s . ' 3 5
P e r h a p s a similar i n t e r e s t in
a d d i n g secular t o biblical s t u d i e s m a y b e r e v e a l e d in t h e Proverbia Grecorum, in
w h i c h biblical learning, l a w a n d g l o s s a r y s t u d i e s , a n d a little Greek are c o m
bined.
T h e origin of t h e t i t l e Proverbia Grecorum m a y never be explained with
certainty. O t h e r a s p e c t s of t h e i r origin a n d h i s t o r y , h o w e v e r , c a n n o w b e
stated with some confidence. T h e Proverbia Grecorum seem t o be statements
w h i c h were t a k e n from insular, p e r h a p s specifically Irish, s o u r c e s . T h e y derive
from a t i m e w h e n s e c u l a r s t u d i e s w e r e p u r s u e d , b u t w h e n t h e B i b l e still held a
p r i m a r y p l a c e for b o t h religious a n d s c h o l a s t i c p u r p o s e s . The sixth century
m a y b e r e a s o n a b l y s u g g e s t e d . A t a later d a t e , t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y a t t h e l a t e s t ,
t h e s e p r o v e r b s were c o l l e c t e d b y a scholar w h o a d d e d a p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r , a n d ,
for w h a t e v e r reason, a t t r i b u t e d t h e m t o t h e Greeks. B y t h e l a t e e i g h t h c e n
t u r y t h e c o l l e c t i o n a n d t h e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r were k n o w n a t B o b b i o . They
r e m a i n e d of i n t e r e s t t o B r i t i s h a n d Irish scholars i n t o t h e n i n t h c e n t u r y , w h e n
S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s m a d e a c o p y of t h e m from a n e x e m p l a r w h i c h h a d t h e s a m e
c o n t e n t , b u t w a s t e x t u a l l y different from t h a t k n o w n a t B o b b i o . T h e p u b l i c a
t i o n of t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s u n d e r t h e t i t l e m a y h a v e p r o m p t e d s o m e s c h o l a r s t o
a t t r i b u t e similar s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum, h e n c e t h e o c c u r r e n c e of
s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum in s o m e s o u r c e s w h i c h are n o t
f o u n d in t h e K u e s list. T h e Proverbia Grecorum with additions were known to
t h e a u t h o r of t h e e l e v e n t h - or t w e l f t h - c e n t u r y t e x t p r e s e r v e d in M S C a m
b r i d g e , CCC 4 1 5 . A c o l l e c t i o n of Proverbia Grecorum of a n u n k n o w n c h a r a c t e r
w a s k n o w n in L i n c o l n in t h e t w e l f t h c e n t u r y . T h e list of Proverbia Grecorum
w h i c h is f o u n d in t h e Collectaneum of S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s , t h e n , s e e m s t o b e t h e
original c o l l e c t i o n , b y w h i c h t h e t i t l e w a s p o p u l a r i z e d , t o w h i c h o t h e r like
s t a t e m e n t s were a d d e d .
University of Richmond
3 5
M G H Epistolae 4.503 line 14.
10 TRADITIO
T E X T O F S E N T E N C E S A T T R I B U T E D TO
T H E PROVERBIA GRECORUM
A l l k n o w n s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum in m e d i e v a l
s o u r c e s are p r e s e n t e d here a l o n g w i t h t h e prefatory l e t t e r f o u n d in t h e K u e s
m a n u s c r i p t . W o r d s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a d d e d b y m e are p l a c e d in a n g l e brack
e t s . W o r d s w h i c h I h a v e d e l e t e d from t h e t e x t are n o t e d in t h e a p p a r a t u s
criticus. All editorial c h a n g e s t o t h e m a n u s c r i p t s are n o t e d in t h e a p p a r a t u s
criticus; c o n t e m p o r a r y c o r r e c t i o n s , h o w e v e r , are n o t . A l s o , m a r g i n a l i a c i t i n g
t h e t o p i c s of proverbia in t h e K u e s m a n u s c r i p t h a v e n o t b e e n p r i n t e d . Follow
i n g t h e t e x t s is a c o m m e n t a r y in w h i c h m a t t e r s of t e x t u a l a n d l i t e r a r y i n t e r e s t
are d i s c u s s e d .
I. M S K u e s 5 2 , fol. 2 4 6 r v
Incipiunt Prouerbia Grecorum

H e c uero de G r e c o r u m p r u d e n t i a , quasi l a p i d e s p r e c i o s o s m u l t i c o l o r e s ,
quasi s a g i t t a s P i a n i u m , q u a e d e faretra e o r u m s c i e n t i a e c o n g r e g a t e s t u l t o -
r u m s e r m u n c u l o s i u g u l a r e p o s s u n t , labore sollicito c o n g r e g a r e u o l u m u s .
5 Qui n o b i s uerba q u a s i arcuaria folia c u m s p i n e o uel f r a x i n e o s a p o r e u o l e n -
t e s m e l l e a r i a esse p r o f e r u n t . S e d e o r u m uerba felle f e r m e n t i s s i m o p l e n a
s u n t , s i c u t s c r i p t u m est: Venerium aspidum sub labiis eorum ( P s . 13.3), e t
alibi: Filii hominum denies eorum arma et sagitte et lingua eorum gladius
accutus ( P s . 5 6 . 5 ) . P r o p t e r e a h a e c q u a e p r e d i x i m u s a s a p i e n t i b u s obser-
10 u a n d a s u n t a t q u e s c r u t a n d a . O m n i s e n i m uia s a p i e n t i a e e t s c i e n t i a e ,
q u a e f r e q u e n t i a l e c t i o n i s n o n a t t e r i t u r e t c o m m o r a t i o n i s a s s i d u e , s i c u t uia
deserti arescit. S i c u t e n i m h e r b a r u m holera e t lilia agri u i a m d e f e n d u n t ,
ita i n f r e q u e n t i a m e d i t a t i o n i s s c i e n t i e e t u a n a s e c u r i t a s c a l i g i n e m e t i g n o -
r a n t i a m s u p e r cor l e c t o r i s i n d u c u n t . Scrutare i t a q u e s a p i e n t i a m s c r i p t u -
15 r a s q u e , q u i b u s fortiter h e r e t i c o r u m c o n t r a d i c t i o n e s c o n t r a c u r r u p t e l a s q u e
e o r u m u e n e n o s a s d o c t r i n e u i n c e r e p o t e r i s , q u o r u m i m p e t u s fidelibus dili-
g e n t e r c a u e n d u s e s t . S i c u t e n i m si q u i s d i g i t u m s u u m in e r u c h a r i u m m i s i s -
s e t e t o m n e s e r u c h e in e u m irruant, ita h e r e t i c o r u m u n a n i m i s i m p e t u s e t
mala uerbositas infidelibus comprobatur. H a e c a u t e m c o m p o n i m u s contra
20 l a t r a n t e s c a n e s , q u i in n o s ore a p e r t o d e s e u i u n t , u t s e c u n d u m s e n t e n t i a m
A p o s t o l i in uirtute Dei per arma iusticiae a dextris et a sinistris ( 2 Cor. 6.7)
m i l i t a r e p o s s i m u s . V a l e in Christo.
I 2
multi coloris 3
Pianium] uel e over first i 8
alubi 1 2
uiam repeated
1 3
caligine 1 4
corlcetoris 1 5
eoncurruptelasque 1 7
Sicut] H in margin
1. S a p i e n s s a p i e n t e m a d i u u a t , s t u l t u s stulti s e n t e n t i a m e x o r n a t .
2. S t u l t u s qui s a p i e n t i c o n s e n t i t d u o s a p i e n t e s n u n c u p a n t u r , s a p i e n s qui
25 s t u l t o a d h e r e t d u o s t u l t i efficiuntur.
3. S e r m o s a p i e n t i s c l a u i s e s t q u e s t i o n u m , s t u l t i s e n t e n t i a m u l t o r u m t u r -
batio.
4. O m n i s i u s t u s a d i u d i e a n d u m p r o m t u s e s t , m e n d a x uero a d i u d i c a n d a m
ueritatem tardus est.
30 5. P o s t u e r b o s i t a t e m s e r m o n e s c o n c i d u n t , p o s t s i l e n t i u m u e r b a c o n s u r -
gunt.
6. Qui in agro r e p p e r i t u r alligari p o t e s t , qui i n c i u i t a t e firma i n u e n i t u r
repugnare potest.
7. S a g i t t a recta i n u e n i t q u o d querit, s a g i t t a prisca n o n q u o m i t t i t u r
35 uadit.
8. D o c t u s lector Sagittarius fortis fit, lector o b l i u i o s u s ruina e s t c i u i t a t i s .
9. N e m o satis t u t u s p e r i c u l o p r o x i m u s . O m n i s a s t u t u s a periculo l o n g e
est.
10. Vera peritia l u c e r n a e s t in terris, inperitia c u m fidutia errorem creat.
40 1 1 . Q u a n d o clauis r e p p e r i t u r o s t i u m n o n t e m p t a t u r .
12. Q u a n d o c o n s u r g i t b e l l u m i u d i c e s t a c e n t .
13. G e m i n a gratia e s t q u a n d o i n u e n i t u r in prope q u o d q u e r i t u r l o n g e .
14. F a c i e s s a p i e n t i s m a n i f e s t a t i g n o t a , facies s t u l t i c a l i g i n e m s u p e r s c i e n -
tiam inducit.
45 15. S a p i e n t i u m s c i e n t i e p o p u l o r u m c o n f i r m a t i o n e s e t u i r t u t i s s u n t c o -
l u m n e s t u l t o r u m m a c h i n e nigre c o m m i x t i o n e s m a l i t i a e s u n t .
16. Q u a n d o q u e s t i o s o l u i t u r d i s s e n s i o e x t i n g u i t u r .
17. Maior e s t p o t e s t a s D e i q u a m o m n e q u o d r o g a t u r . H o m i n u m p o t e s t a s
temporalis est.
50 18. F o r t i s m u l i e r uiri i o c u n d i t a s .
19. F e r r u m accutum opus prudentis, instabili harene stulti operatio
computatur.
2 0 . S u p e r m o d i c u m f u n d a m e n t u m i u s t u s edificat e t , p e r t e m p o r a crescens,
sicut granum sinapis, i n c r e m e n t u m dat.
55 2 1 . I m p i o r u m d i u i t i a e c i t o c o n s u r g u n t quasi b r i t t a n i c a , in t e m p o r e s u o
uelociter decidunt.
2 2 . P o m a r i u m fertile o m n e q u o d h a b e t i u s t u s , b e t u l e t u m in d e s e r t o i m p i o
rum substantia.
2 3 . B a c i d o n e s inferiores s t u l t o r u m s e r m o n e s , r u m i n a t i o saliuaris p e c c a t o -
60 r u m e l o q u i u m .
2 4 . S u b s e l l i u m in p e d i b u s pigri p i g r i t u d o eius.
2 4
duos 3 0
conscidunt 4 0
hostium 4 7
commixtionis 5 7
betuletu
saliuare
12 TRADITIO
25. Similis est piger foratorio q u o d nihil boni facere p o t e s t nisi m a l l e o

p e r c u s s u m fuerit.
26. P r u d e n s p r u d e n t e s in c o n s i l i u m u o c a t e t sine e o r u m consilio nihil
65 facit. S t u l t u s uero in s e m e t i p s o c o g i t a t e t q u o d s i n e consilio a l i o r u m cito
u u l t facit.
2 7 . E q u o p o s i t o i n t e r d u a s c l a u a s m a n s i o p e c c a t o r i s similis est: i n t e r pre-
sentes offensiones et futuras penas.
2 8 . Inperitia c o n f i d e n t i a m , e r u d i t i o t i m o r e m creat.
70 2 9 . O m n i s s a p i e n t i a q u a n u l l u s u t i t u r lucerna e x t i n c t a esse u i d e t u r , e t
q u a s i arbor m a g n a s i n e f r u c t u efficitur.
3 0 . H a m u s e s c a r u m s e r m o r a p a c i s , capialis a c u t a r i c t u s oris eius.
3 1 . C i m b a l u m c a l i d u m u u l t u s regis crudelis, o s t i u m c l u s u m c o n s i l i u m eius.
3 2 . F u s c i n i u s m a l l e u s risus u o r a c i s p o s t u l a n t i s a l i q u i d , p e d i c a s u b d o l o s a
75 p u l c r i t u d o s e r m o n i s eius.
33. Senex m e n d a x iuuenum interitus.
3 4 . Iusti s e n t e n t i a c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s e x s t i n c t i o .
35. Instabile eloquium inditium mendatii et ueritatis f u n d a m e n t u m non
habet.
80 3 6 . O m n i s i n o p s in m a l i s b e n e p r o m i t t i t , q u a n d o uero b o n a i n u e n i t o m n e
quod promittit obliuioni dat.
3 7 . F o r t i s m u l i e r d i u i t i a r u m d e d u c t i o e t d o m u s c o n f i r m a t i o , uiri i o e u n d i -
tas, familiae pulchritudo o m n i u m q u e uirtutum. connexio. Mulier i n e p t a
d o m u s ruina, d i u i t i a r u m d e f e c t i o , i n i q u o r u m s a t u r a t i o , o m n i u m m a l o r u m
85 e t u i c i o r u m c o m m o r a c i o .
3 8 . I u d e x i u s t u s u i a m u e r i t a t i s i n u e s t i g a n s p o p u l o r u m g u b e r n a t o r est,
iudex m e n d a x fex militiae.
3 9 . Corde t i n n u l e c i t h a r a e e l e c t e p r u d e n t i u m s e n t e n t i e in s c e n i s d i c e o n ,
( i d e s t ) i u s t o r u m , s t u l t o r u m c l a m o r e s in d o m i b u s m a l o r u m a u r e s i u s t o -
90 r u m u i o l a n t e t s e n s u m cordis e o r u m i n p e d i u n t .
4 0 . T r e s bacheriosi, ( i d e s t ) terribiles, s u n t : b e l l a t o r a r m a t u s promp-
t u s q u e a d p r e l i u m , leo d e s p e l u n c a q u a n d o p r e d a m d e u o r a t , a p e r ferus de
silua q u a n d o furore in a l i q u e m irruit.
4 1 . B o n u s n u n t i u s cordis m e r o r e m d e p o n i t , a n i m i e x a m i n a t i o e i u s s e n t e n -
95 t i a . M a l u s n u n t i u s cordis offensor, u t sit m a l u s t a b u l a t o r , sine c o n t i n e n t i a
mala loquitur.
4 2 . T r e s s u n t i m p e r f e c t i qui n u n q u a m ad p e r f e c t i o n e m u i t e discipline
p e r u e n i r e p o s s u n t , t u n c e n i m a u i t i i s r e c e d u n t q u a n d o m a l a facere n o n
p o s s u n t : a n t i q u u s n a u t a qui m u l t i s a n n i s s e d u c t i s o m n i b u s e m e r e e t u e n -
6 4
Prudes 6 5
sultus 7 3
hostium 7 6
hominum iuuenum 7 7
sentia
8 3
Mulie 8 5
commemoracio 8 6
Iiudex 9 1
sunt terribilis ... p r o p t u s q u e
100 dere p o t e r a t , s e n e x auriga qui in curribus e t in e q u i s D e o d e r e l i c t o u a n a

eura a t q u e c o n u e r s a t i o n e m e d i t a t u r a t q u e u t i t u r , u e t u l a ancilla quae
d o m i n e sue s u b d o l e in o m n i b u s r e b u s q u a e c o t t i d i a n o m i n i s t e r i o perficiun-
t u r m a l e retribuit.
4 3 . R e x pacificus l e t a facie b o n a d i u i d i t e t u n i u s c u i u s q u e c a u s a m d i l i g e n -
105 t e r m e d i t a t u r , e t i a m i n f i r m o s e t p a u p e r e s p o p u l i n o n d e s p i c i e n s . Cum
s e n i o r u m iudicio e t c o n s i l i o u e r a x iudicia l o q u i t u r . R e x i m p i u s l e o n i s per
s o n a m h a b e n s ad o m n e r e s p o n s u m acriter u e r b u m n e q u a m s i n e p r u d e n -
t i u m consilio c u m o m n i m a l i t i a profert, b o n o s h u m i l i a n s m a l o s q u e e x a l -
t a n s . D i e s eius a d b r e u i a b u n t u r e t eius m e m o r i a c u m s o n i t u peribit, p e c -
110 c a u i t e n i m plus q u a m p o t u i t .
4 4 . O m n i s u e r i t a s r e c t a est e t sine m i x t u r a i g n o r a n t i a e .
45. O m n i s i u s t u s q u o d r e c t u m e t i u s t u m est m e n d a t i o carens uere i u d i c a t ,
b o n a uerba p i a n o s e r m o n e sine d u b i o e x p l i c a t . Omnis malignus uerbum
sub uerbo r e t i n e n s a s p i d u m q u e u e n e n u m sub l i n g u a s u b n e c t e n s , nigra,
115 aliena u a n a q u e u e r b a aureo colore c u m o m n i fidutia c o m p o n i t , b o n a esse
t e m p t a n s e t uera fieri ea u a n a q u a e m e n d a t i t e r profert.
46. O m n e m e n d a t i u m in p a u c i s l a t u m est, in m u l t i s a u t e m ab i u s t i s iudici-
bus undique choartatur. Ab iustorum uerbis firmiter uincitur atque
concluditur.
120 47. O m n i s u a g u s p a r a t a s c e n a s i n t e r r o g a n s u o l u b i l i s per u i a s de l o c o ad
l o c u m discurrit, i d e o ( i n ) instabili folio q u o d u e n t o m o u e r i p o t e s t a
s a p i e n t i b u s uita e i u s scribitur.
4 8 . L e n i s m i n i s t e r b o n a m f a m a m d o m i n o s u o a t q u e d e u u l g a t a m in p o p u l o
p r e s t a t , lenis e n i m s e r m o corda aspera p e r s u a d e t furorisque i r a c u n d i a m
125 extinguit.
4 9 . N u l l u s hostili o b s i d e n t e e x e r c i t u securus est.
5 0 . Infirma c i u i t a s q u a e s u b d o l o s o m u r o circa a m b i t u r p l e b i s s e d u c t i o ,
i n i m i c o r u m uictoria, m a n e n t e n i m in ea qui fugere p o s s u n t .
51. Pauperis hereditas iustorum munera. D i u e s a u t e m q u o ibit q u a n d o
130 d e f i c i u n t diuicie ?
5 2 . ( Q u i n q u e ) s u n t q u a e in p r e s e n t i b u s rebus a s a p i e n t i b u s c o m m e m o -
rantur et t e m p e r a r i p o s s u n t : c u r s u s solis e t l u n e , i n f l a t u s u e n t i , t e m p o r u m
uicissitudo, ministerium maris. Alia quinque quoque quae a nullo t e m p e
rari p o s s u n t : n i m i a h a b u n d a n t i a c u p i d i t a t i s a r d e n t i s in h o m i n e , dura
135 n a t u r a muliebris c o n s u e t u d i n i s q u a m nullus ab i n i t i o prohibere p o t u i t ,
stultorum eloquia in c o n s p e c t u malorum quibus mundus subuertitur,
io9~io peccabuit 1 1 3
bona ... explicat stands before omnis iustus 1 1 6
tempnans
1 2 1
instabi 1 3 1
Alia sunt quae, etc., corrected from: Alia sunt quae ad a e t e r n i t a t e m conser-
uant 1 3 2
first et followed by .v. 1 3 6
sultorum
14 TRADITIO
mundi contentio sicut a b exordio generis humani per tempora traditur,

amor mulierum usque ad mortem.
5 3 . N o l i confidere i n consiliis h o m i n u m , s i c u t e n i m u a l l e s p e r c a m p o s e t
140 l a q u e i i n p l a t e i s e t p e d i c e u b i n o n p u t a n t u r p e d e s a l i o r u m r e t i n e n t , ita
i m p i o r u m consilia i u s t i s e t Sanctis in i t i n e r i b u s m a l e i m p e d i u n t .
5 4 . S e p t e m s u n t ora in q u i b u s n u s q u a m g e n u s m i s e r i c o r d i a e r e p e r t u m est:
os inferni i n m i t i o r i s o m n i b u s , o s c u p i d i t a t i s m u n d i a l i a o m n i a d e g l u c i e n t i s
cui n u l l u s finis p o n i t u r , o s gladii i n i q u i interfectoris, o s c r u d e l i s regis p o p u -
145 los p r o s t r a n t i s , o s i g n i s o m n i a i n c e n d e n t i s , o s m o r t i s r e g e m e t p a u p e r e m
d e u o r a n t i s , o s terrae g e n u s h u m a n u m s u s c i p i e n t i s .
5 5 . M e n d a t i u m regis m u l t i a d f i r m a n t e i u s q u e iudicia i m p i i adprobant,
p a u p e r u m uero p a u c i s u n t a d i u t o r e s e t e o r u m iudicia i n c o n s p e c t u m a l o
rum humilia sunt.
150 5 6 . D i u e s i m p i u s in diuiciis suis se confidit, q u a n d o difficiunt d i u i t i a e ad
n i c h i l u m redigitur. I n o p s uero hilaris fit q u a n d o in b o n i s n u n q u a m u i s u s
est.
57. O m n i s s e d u c t o r l a e t a facie c o r d e aspero s e m p e r u t i t u r , uerbis p l a c e n s
multa ab innocentibus subtrahit.
155 5 8 . O m n i s s u p e r b u s se i p s u m l a u d a t e t n u l l u m h o m i n u m u u l t laudari.
5 9 . F o n s m u n d u s s e r m o i n n o c e n t i s , s e r m o uero i n i m i c i p u t e u s infrustra-
t u s , q u a n t u m p e r u e r s u s t a n t u m peruersa l o c u t u s e s t , n e c p o t e s t e x s o r d i d o
f o n t e purus egredi s e r m o . I d e o i n i m i c o r u m uerba c a u e n d a s u n t , s i c u t e n i m
stilla s a n g u i n e a uel u i n e n o s a q u a e c a d e n s in u a s l a c t e u m inficit, i t a s e r m o
160 iniqui in i u s t o r u m c o n s i l i o m u l t i s n o c e t .
6 0 . M a n u b r i u m sine ferro o m n e o p u s sine consilio.
6 1 . S e r m o a d u l e s c e n t i s a n t e s e n i o r u m s e r m o n e s cito n o n p r o f e r e n d u s e s t .
S e r m o e n i m fiducialis a t q u e e l e u a t u s qui a b a d u l i s c e n t e in c o n s p e c t u
s e n i o r u m oritur l e g a t u s e s t s u p e r b i e .
165 6 2 . B o n a m u l i e r u t i l i b u s r e b u s d i s c i p l i n e , h u m i l i facie h i l a r i q u e s e r m o n e
pacifice f a m i l i a m regit e t d i u i t i a s q u a e s u n t uiri sui c u m b o n a f a m a c u s t o -
dit. A m i c u s eius heri a m i c u s h o d i e . Mulier i n e p t a i n m u r o s e d e n s u e l p e r
t a b e r n a c u l a uel f e n e s t r a s u i a s r e s p i c i e n s f o r m a s q u e h o m i n u m in d o m i b u s
narrans e t decoris diuersis s u p e r s t i t i o n i b u s u u l t u m e x o r n a t . Quern diligit
170 h o d i e o d i t in c r a s t i n o .
63. B a c h u m inutile regnum iniquum.
6 4 . P a r a d i s u s in p r o p e r e x i u s t u s e t pacificus, i n f e r n u s p r e s e n s e t u o r a x
rex impius et iniquus.
6 5 . S i c u t nullus m e l d e l i n g u a s e r p e n t i s uel d e a c c u t o g l a d i o a u t d e ferro
1 4 0
retinere 1 4 3
mundalia 1 4 4
cui] os 1 4 5
regem repeated 1 5 1
nunqam
1 5 7
e s t ] es
175 i g n e o accipere uel l a m b e r e p o t e s t , ita s a n c t i electi a m a l i s h o m i n i b u s e t

peccatoribus dona et munera accipere non possunt.
6 6 . V i r e c t a arida p e c c a t o r i s f i n t a c a l t a rufaf, sed d e l i g e n t e r p r o b a t a e s t
s p e c i o s i t a s glorie.
6 7 . D e l o n g e a u d i t i o c i t o n o n i u d i c a n d a est, aliter e n i m a u d i t i o , aliter
180 p r o b a t i o . A u d i c i o e n i m r e r u m d u b i t a t i o est, p r o b a t i o a u t e m d u b i t a t i o n i s
e t i g n o r a n t i e e t e o r u m q u a e i g n o r a t a s u n t d e m o n s t r a t i o est.
6 8 . L o n g a u e r b o s i t a s f a s t i d i u m s u s c i t a t , b r e u i t a s s e r m o n i s m o l e s t i a m effu-
git.
6 9 . Fratris iusti h e r e d i t a s in n e g o t i o fratris iniqui n o n a u f e r e n d a est. Ius-
185 t u s e n i m pro i n i u s t o u e x a r i u e r i s s i m e n o n p o t e s t . Si t a m e n a m a l i s s e p a -
rati i n u i c e m fuerint.
70. O m n i s dissensio q u a e n o n e x t i n g u i t u r in uita p o s t m o r t e m p a x fieri
non potest.
7 1 . Verba f o r t i o r u m a m u l t i s c o n s t r u u n t u r , m i n o r u m a u t e m uerba m u l t i
190 dispiciunt.
7 2 . O m n i s s a p i e n s s e r m o n e m s u u m se t e m p e r a n s c o n t i n e t , o m n i s s t u l t u s
sine c o n t i n e n t i a e t c u m o m n i f i d u t i a u a n a l o q u i t u r .
7 3 . T e m p l a c o n c l u s a o p e r a i n i q u o r u m d i u i t u m , ipsi e n i m d i u i t e s u i s u n t u r
sed e o r u m d i u i t i a e nihil p r o d e s s e p o s s u n t : c o n c l u s a e e n i m d u r i t i a . Ideo
195 similis est d i u e s lilio agri q u o d h o d i e c u m s p e c i o s i t a t e oritur, in c r a s t i n o
a u t e m aresscens n o n reperitur. D i u e s a u t e m qui d i u i t i a s s u a s p a u p e r i b u s
n o n d i u i d i t similis e s t l i g n o i n f r u c t u o s o .
74. A p u d p a u c i s s i m o s p a x c o n s t r u i t u r , a p u d d e s e n s a t o r e s r e g n a t d i s s e n s i o ,
a p u d i u s t o s et ueritas c o n f i r m a t u r , a p u d crudeles b e l l a c o n s u r g u n t , a p u d
200 b o n o s factores t e m p o r u m t r a n q u i l l i t a s c o t i d i e colligitur, a p u d p r u d e n t e s
p r u d e n t i a o m n i t e m p o r e repperitur, a p u d s t u l t o s s t u l t i c i a indesinenter
s t u l t i s s i m e utitur.
D e o gratias.
II. M S Oxford, B o d l . H a t t o n 4 2 , Collectio canonum Hibernensis,

'B' recension
1. (fol. 4 2 ) In P r o u e r b i i s G r e c o r u m leguntur: Q u i n q u e t e m p o r a
r
regni
a p u d rerum p e r i t i s s i m a s h a e c s u n t . P r i m u m t e m p u s laboris est q u a n d o
per bella c o n t e n d i t u r e t per fragores h o s t i u m . T e m p u s s e c u n d u m q u a n d o
per i n c r e m e n t a s i c u t l u n a crescit u s q u e ad p l e n i t u d i n e m . T e m p u s t e r t i u m
5 p l e n i t u d i n i s est, q u a n d o u n d i q u e ab o m n i b u s n o n offenditur. Tempus
q u a r t u m , u t predixi, q u a n d o decrescit. Q u i n t u m t e m p u s c o n l u c t a t i o n i s e t
1 9 4
prodes esse ... conclusa 1 9 5
crasto
II 3
frangores
16 TRADITIO
c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s . N o n p o t e s t e n i m illud ullis p r e s t a r e beneficia e t nullus a d

i l i u m q u i c q u i d b o n i facere p o t e s t . H a e c s u n t .v. t e m p o r a r e g n o r u m alio-
rum regum.
10 2. (fol. 7 9 ) In P r o u e r b i i s Gregorum: S e x m o d i s h o m o n o s t e r interior fac
r
t u s e s t a d i m a g i n e m D e i : i m m o b i l i s , inuisibilis, c i t u s , i n c o r p o r e u s , subtilis,
aeternus.
3 . (fol. 8 1 ) In P r o u e r b i i s G r e g o r u m : S a p i e n s s a p i e n t e m a d i u u a t e t s t u l
v
tus stulti sapientiam exornat.

15 4. (fol. 8 1 ) S t u l t u s q u i s a p i e n t i c o n s e n t i t d u o s a p i e n t e s n u n c u p a n t u r ,
v
s a p i e n s qui s t u l t o a d h e r e t d u o stulti efficiuntur.

5. (fol. 8 5 ) In P a r a b o l i s G r e g o r u m : S i c u t n u l l u s m e l d e lingua s e r p e n t i s
v
uel de a c u l e o gladii a c u t i a u t de ferro i g n e o a c c i p e r e uel l a m b a r e p o t e s t , ita

s a n c t i electi a m a l i s h o m i n i b u s e t p e c c a t o r i b u s d o n a e t m u n e r a accipere
20 n o n p o s s u n t .
6. (fol. 9 0 ) In P a r a b o l i s G r e g o r u m : F r a t r i s iusti h e r e d i t a s in n e g o t i o fra
r
tris iniusti n o n a u f e r e n d a est. Iusti pro i n i u s t o u e x a r i u e r i s s i m e non

p o t e s t . Si t a m e n a b i n u i c e m separati a m a l i s fuerint.
I I I . M S M u n i c h , Clm. 1 4 0 9 6 , fol. 6 3 v
1. S c r i p t u m e s t in P r o u e r b i i s Gregorum: N o n s p e r n a s h o m i n e m in uisu
n e q u e d e s p i c i a s s t a t u r a m eius. B r e u i s est e n i m a p i s in u o l a t i l i b u s caeli e t
f r u c t u m illius p r i m a t u m d u l c i d i n i s t e n e t .
2 . In P r o u e r b i i s G r e g o r u m : L e g e diligenter, lector, e t i n u e n i e s c a u s a s e t
5 ordines rerum, quia doctrina spiritus sancti neglegentibus oculitur,
s c i e n t i b u s a u t e m e t c r e d e n t i b u s aperitur.
3 . I t e m : S i c u t e n i m h o l e r a h e r b a r u m e t lilia agri u i a m d e f e n d u n t , ita
i n f r e q u e n t i a m e d i t a t i o n i s s c i e n t i a e et u a n a s e c u r i t a s c a l i g i n e m et i g n o r a n -
t i a m s u p e r cor lectoris i n d u c u n t .
10 4. I b i d e m dicit: D o c t u s l e c t o r sagitarius fortis fit, l e c t o r o b l i u i o s u s ruina
est ciuitatis.
IV. M S C a m b r i d g e , CCC 4 1 5 , p p . 1 9 5 - 1 9 9
1. D e q u i n q u e t e m p o r i b u s regni in P r o u e r b i i s G r e c o r u m legitur: Q u i n q u e
t e m p o r a regni s u n t a p u d R o m a n o s p e r i t i s s i m o s . P r i m u m t e m p u s laboris
e s t q u a n d o per bella c o n t e n d i t u r e t per fragores h o s t i u m . S e c u n d u m t e m -
1 0
Prouerbis Gregori 1 1
inuissibilis 1 3 1 4
stultus] stulti 1 7
Parabulis
III 1
spernas] spern 8
et uana securitas] omitted, supplied from Kues list 1 0
fortis
fit] omitted, supplied from Kues list
'PROVERBIA GREGORUM' 17
p u s q u a n d o p e r i n c r e m e n t a s i c u t luna u s q u e a d p l e n i t u d i n e m crescit. Ter-

5 c i u m t e m p u s p l e n i t u d i n i s est q u a n d o a b o m n i b u s n o n offenditur. Quar-
t u m t e m p u s q u a n d o , u t p r a e d i x i m u s , u t l u n a decrescit. Q u i n t u m t e m p u s
c o l l u c t a t i o n i s e s t e t c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s , n o n p o t e s t e n i m ullis prestare benefi-
cia e t n u l l u s a d h o c q u i c q u a m b o n i facere p o t e s t .
2. I t e m in P r o u e r b i i s G r e c o r u m : O c t o c o l u m p n a e s u n t q u a e fortiter
10 r e g n u m iusti regis sufferunt. P r i m a c o l u m p n a u e r i t a s e s t in o m n i b u s rebus
regalibus, s e c u n d a c o l u m p n a p a t i e n t i a in o m n i n e g o t i o , t e r t i a largitas in
m u n e r i b u s , q u a r t a p e r s u a d i b i l i t a s in uerbis, q u i n t a m a l o r u m correctio
atque contritio, sexta bonorum exaltatio atque eleuatio, septima leuitas
tributi in p o p u l i s , o c t a u a a e q u i t a s iudicii i n t e r d i u i t e m e t p a u p e r e m .
15 3 . I t e m in P r o u e r b i i s G r e c o r u m : S e p t e m s p e c i o s o r a s u n t aliis in c r e a t u -
ris D e i . C a e l u m i n n u b i a l e q u a n d o a r g e n t e o colori a s s i m i l a t u r mirabili-
terque comparatur. Sol in u i r t u t e sua q u a n d o de s u p e r i o r i b u s reciprocis
cursibus t e r r a e h a b i t a t o r i b u s i l l u m i n a t u r . L u n a in i n t e g r i t a t e n u d a t a q u e
facie n u b i b u s r e c e d e n t i b u s q u a n d o proprio cursu p l e n i t u d i n i s solis uestigia
20 i n u e s t i g a t . Chorus i u s t o r u m in una fide h a b i t a n t i u m . R e x pacificus in
gloria regni sui q u a n d o in d o m i b u s r e g a l i b u s o s t e n s i s m u n e r i b u s d o n i s q u e
t r a d i t i s m u l t a b e n e f i c i a p r a e s t a t . A g e r f r u c t u o s u s q u a n d o diuersis floribus
nodisque crispantibus depingitur. V a r i e t a s m a r i s q u a n d o s e r e n i t a s caeli
n u b i u m q u e p l a c i d i s f l u c t i b u s in l i t t o r i b u s p e r s o n a n s p u l c h e r r i m e o s t e n d i -
25 tur.
4. D e l a u d e regis pacifici in Grecorum P r o u e r b i i s sic profertur: R e x paci
ficus l a e t a facie b o n a d i u i d i t e t u n i u s c u i u s q u e c a u s a m d i l i g e n t e r m e d i t a
tur, e t i n f i r m o s e t p a u p e r e s populi n o n d e s p i c i e n s . In s e n i o r u m iudicio et
consilio uera i u d i c i a l o q u i t u r .
30 5. D e t r i b u s r e g a l i b u s m o r i b u s a s s i d u e repertis Grecis in Prouerbiis
p a l a n t : Tria s u n t q u a e in regalibus m o r i b u s , u t rerum r e c t o r e s c o n f i n g u n t ,
s a p i e n t e r i n t e l l i g u n t u r e t in rebus c o t i d i a n i s a s s i d u e reperiuntur, quae
g a u d i u m n i m i u m m a g i s ac m a g i s p r a e p a r a n t . P r i m a uictoria regis de
praeliali p e r i c u l o liberati, s e c u n d a i n t e r f e c t i o i n i m i c o r u m a t q u e a d u e r s a -
35 riorum, t e r t i a f a m a u i c t o r i a e . H a e c s u n t tria q u a e in r e g a l i b u s rebus g a u
dium contexunt. V i t a e n i m regis de periculo p o p u l u m c o n u o c a t , a m i c o s
c o n g r e g a t , c o l l a p s o s r e d u c i t . F a m a a u t e m u i c t o r i a e t i m o r e m foras i n i m i
corum inmittit, legatos suscitat, amicitias multas postulat.
6. D e d i s t a n t i a regni iniqui e t iusti Greci in P r o u e r b i i s proferunt: P a r a d i -
40 sus in propre r e x i u s t u s e t pacificus, infernus p r e s e n s e t u o r a x rex i m p i u s
et i n i q u u s .
7. D e eo q u o d s e p t e m ora s u n t in q u i b u s g e n u s m i s e r i c o r d i a e n o n repperi-
IV 6
quintum] quando 8
adhuc 2 6
patifici 2 7
faciae
18 TRADITIO
tur e t c u m q u i b u s os c r u d e l i s regis r e p u t a t u r Greci in P r o u e r b i i s p r o n u n -

ciant: S e p t e m ora s u n t in q u i b u s n u n q u a m g e n u s m i s e r i c o r d i a e r e p e r t u m
45 est: os inferni i n i m i c u s o m n i b u s , os c u p i d i t a t i s m u n d i a l i a c o n g l u t i n a n t i s
c u i q u e n u l l u s finis i m p o n i t u r , o s crudelis regis p o p u l o s p r o s t e r n e n t i s , os
gladii iniqui i n t e r f e c t o r i s , o s i g n i s o m n i a i n c e n d e n t i s , o s m o r t i s r e g e m e t
pauperem deuorantis, os terrae genus h u m a n u m suscipientis.
8. D e eo q u o d r e x i m p i u s l e o n i s e s t p e r s o n a e e q u i p e r a t u r in P r o u e r b i i s
50 G r e c o r u m : R e x i m p i u s l e o n i s p e r s o n a m h a b e r e reperitur. A d o m n e re-
s p o n s u m celeriter u e r b u m n e q u a m sine p r u d e n t i u m c o n s i l i o c u m o m n i
m a l i t i a profert.
9. I t e m : C i m b a l u m c a l i d u m u u l t u s regis crudelis, o s t i u m c l a u s u m consi
l i u m eius.
55 10. D e m e n d a t i o regis a m u l t i s a f f i r m a t o Greci in P r o u e r b i i s p a n d u n t :
M e n d a c i u m regis m u l t i a f f i r m a n t e i u s q u e i u d i c i a i m p i i affirmant, p a u p e -
r u m uero p a u c i s u n t a d i u t o r e s . E o r u m iudicia in c o n s p e c t u malorum
humiliata sunt.
COMMENTARY
I. L e t t e r
On t h e a u t h o r s h i p of t h i s l e t t e r s e e d i s c u s s i o n in t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n . Four
B o b b i o e x c e r p t s (see a g a i n i n t r o d u c t i o n ) refer t o t h i s letter:
line 3 , cf.: Piamum .i. uenatorum uel sagitariorum
5, cf.: cf. Arcuaria folia .i. quasi folia curbata, id tairbirthi, ab
eo quod arcus (see S t o k e s a n d S t r a c h a n , e d d . / T h e s a u r u s
Palaeohibernicus 2 [Cambridge 1 9 0 1 - 3 ] 2 3 4 ) ;
5, cf.: Cum cuspinio sapore, cuspis proprium ligni .i. cuilen,
cuispi ... cuilenu (see S t o k e s a n d S t r a c h a n , i b i d . ) .
1 5 / 1 6 , cf.: . . . ptilias uenenosas
line 12. O n defendunt meaning 'overgrow' see note 2 3 above.
Proverbia
1. T h e w i s e m a n a n d t h e fool are also c o n t r a s t e d in p r o v e r b s 2, 3 , 14, 15, 19,
2 6 , 2 9 , 3 9 , a n d 7 2 of t h e K u e s list.
2. Sapiens . . . efficiuntur: cf. P r v . 1 3 . 2 0 .
3. C o m p a r e t h e s t a t e m e n t o n fol. 2 4 8 of M S K u e s 5 2 , in t h e Collectaneum
v
of
S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s : 'Claues q u e s t i o n u m e s t s a p i e n t i s i n t e r r o g a t i o . '
6. Ciuitas firma: cf. P r v . 18.19; a l s o 10.15 and 1 8 . 1 1 . R e f e r e n c e s t o warfare
im 4 5
imicus 5 3
hostium 5 5
affirmatio
are f o u n d in p r o v e r b s 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 4 9 , a n d 5 0 of t h e K u e s list. On t h e

Irish u s e of ciuitas m e a n i n g ' m o n a s t e r y ' see i n t r o d u c t i o n .
8. Ruina ciuitas: cf. P r v . 1 1 . 1 1 . O n t h e Irish use of t h e w o r d lector meaning
' m o n a s t i c s t u d e n t ' s e e i n t r o d u c t i o n ; on ciuitas see p r e c e d i n g n o t e .
9. Cf. P r v . 2 7 . 1 2 .
14. Facies sapientis . . . ignota: cf. P r v . 3.7 a n d 2 6 . 1 2 .
15. Commixtio: n o r m a l l y 'a m i x i n g , ' here 'pollutions'; cf. t h e Abstrusa glossa
ry: conluuium: commixtio (CO 168), on w h i c h see i n t r o d u c t i o n .
17. Cf. P r v . 19.21
18. Mulier fortis: cf. P r v . 3 1 . 1 0 ; a l s o 12.4 a n d 1 8 . 2 2 .
19. C o m p a r i s o n s of a b s t r a c t i d e a s t o c o n c r e t e o b j e c t s are f o u n d in p r o v e r b s 19,
2 2 , 2 3 , 3 0 , 3 1 , 3 2 , 6 3 , 6 6 , a n d 7 3 of t h e K u e s list.
2 0 . Incrementum dat: cf. 1 Cor. 3 . 6 ; granum sinapis: cf. Mt. 1 3 . 3 1 ; 17.19; Mc.
4 . 3 1 ; L c . 13.19 and 17.6.
2 1 . Brittanica: found in t h e Abstrusa a n d Corpus glossaries, glossed: Floris quae
in siluis nascitur (see i n t r o d u c t i o n ) . Cf. B o b b i o e x c e r p t : ...nnica, fobirge, ...sura
(see S t o k e s a n d S t r a c h a n , loc. c i t . ) .
2 2 . Betuletum: o t h e r w i s e u n k n o w n ; from betula 'the b i r c h , ' h e n c e 'birch g r o v e . '
(Betula o c c u r s in t h e Corpus g l o s s a r y a t B 6 6 . )
2 3 . Bacidones: g l o s s e d in t h e Corpus g l o s s a r y ( B 3): readinne, 'cluster of
g r a p e s . ' A l s o found in t h e fipinal-Erfurt glossary.
2 4 . Piger: cf. P r v . 1 9 . 2 4 , 2 1 . 2 5 , a n d 2 6 . 1 4 - 1 5 .
2 5 . Piger: cf. P r v . 1 9 . 2 4 , 2 1 . 2 5 , a n d 2 6 . 1 4 - 1 5 . Foratorium: f o u n d in t h e a d d i
t i o n s t o t h e Corpus g l o s s a r y , t h e Interpretatio Nominum Hebraicorum et Graeco-
rum, n u m b e r 137, g l o s s e d : buiris (= byrus), 'chisel.' Cf. B o b b i o excerpt:
...ratorio.
2 6 . Cf. P r v . 12.15.
3 0 . Cf. B o b b i o e x c e r p t : Hamus escarum sermo rapacis capiat... acuta risus oris
eius.
3 1 . Cimbalum calidum: c o m p a r e S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s ' d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e a n g r y
k i n g in his De rectoribus Christianis (carmen 15.15-18):
A e n e a f e r u e t olla
N e c sic furens in astra,
Ceu p r i n c i p i s seuera
Infecta m e n s u e n e n o .
3 2 . Fuscinius: n o t o t h e r w i s e k n o w n ; a p p a r e n t l y a n a d j e c t i v a l f o r m of fuscina,
'a t r i d e n t , ' h e n c e ' t h r e e - p r o n g e d . ' Pedica subdolosa: cf. t h e s t a t e m e n t on fol.
271 v
of M S K u e s 5 2 , in t h e Collectaneum of S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s : ' F o n s p u r u s et
salubris e s t b o n u s c o n s i l i a t o r a t m a l u s p e d i c a s u b d o l o s a e t p u t e u s i n f r u s t r a t u s '
(see also C o m m e n t a r y 1.59).
20 TRADITIO
3 5 . C o m p a r e t h e s t a t e m e n t o n fol. 2 4 8 of MS K u e s 5 2 , in t h e Collectaneum
v
of
S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s : 'Aures n o s t r a s t e s t e s h a b e m u s : i n s t a b i l e e l o q u i u m i n d i c i u m
mendatii.'
3 7 . Fortis mulier: cf. P r v . 3 1 . 1 0 - 3 1 . It is u n c l e a r h o w deductio, also used b y
S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s in q u o t i n g t h i s s t a t e m e n t in his De Rectoribus Christianis 5,
o b t a i n s t h e m e a n i n g of ' g u a r d i a n . ' Mulier inepta: cf. P r v . 9 . 1 3 - 1 5 .
3 9 . In scenis diceon = iv oxrjvaig dixalojv, from t h e Greek P s a l t e r P s . 117.15:
(pojvrj dyaAfactoecog xal aojrrjQiag iv oxrjvaig dixaicov. Iustorum is a n i n t e r p o
l a t e d gloss o n diceon. Cf. B o b b i o e x c e r p t : In senis decion A. in tabernaculis
iust...ru...
4 0 . Bacheriosi: o t h e r w i s e u n k n o w n ; i t s r o o t bach-, from B a c c h u s , can mean
' d r u n k e n ' or ' m a d ' or, as here, 'terrifying.' Terribilis is a n i n t e r p o l a t e d gloss on
t h i s w o r d . Cf. B o b b i o e x c e r p t : / / / bactriosi sunt.
4 3 . Rex pacificus . . . despiciens: cf. P r v . 2 9 . 2 4 ; rex impius . . . habens: cf. P r v .
2 8 . 1 5 - 1 6 ; dies . . . adbreuiabuntur: cf. l o b 17.1; eius.. . peribit: cf. P s . 9.7; pec-
cauit... potuit: cf. Ier. 4 8 . 3 6 ;
4 5 . Bona... explicat: p r e s u m a b l y w r i t t e n in t h e m a r g i n in t h e e x e m p l a r and
i n c o r r e c t l y p l a c e d in t h e t e x t b y a later scribe.
4 7 . Paratas: for H e l l m a n n ' s naqd rag, see i n t r o d u c t i o n .
4 8 . Lenis minister: cf. P r v . 2 7 . 1 8 ; lenis sermo... extinguit: cf. P r v . 15.1; also
16.21 a n d 2 5 . 1 5 .
5 0 . On ciuitas see i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d C o m m e n t a r y 1.6 a n d 8. T h e u n u s u a l s e n s e
of subdolosus m a y b e e x p l a i n e d b y reference t o a n e n t r y in t h e Abstrusa glossa
ry: subdolus: subtilis ( S U 10) (see i n t r o d u c t i o n ) .
5 2 . T h e Trier scribe b e g a n t o w r i t e : Alia sunt quae ad aeternitatem conseruant, a
statement which has not been identified. N o t e t h a t t h e u s u a l m e a n i n g of
temperari, 'to r e g u l a t e or m o d e r a t e , ' s u i t s i t s s e c o n d o c c u r r e n c e , b u t n o t its
first, w h e r e t h e w o r d s e e m s t o m e a n 'to m e a s u r e . '
56. Cf. P r v . 10.2 a n d 1 1 . 4 .
59. Infrustratus: f o u n d o n c e e l s e w h e r e , on fol. 2 7 1 v
of M S K u e s 5 2 , in t h e
Collectaneum of S e d u l i u s S c o t t u s , q u o t e d a t C o m m e n t a r y 1.32 a b o v e . Cf. B o b
bio e x c e r p t : Puteus inlustratus .i. nebglan (see S t o k e s a n d S t r a c h a n , loc. cit.).
6 0 . Cf. P r v . 1 5 . 2 2 .
6 1 . Fiducialis: t h i s u n u s u a l w o r d is u s e d e l s e w h e r e m e a n i n g 'faithful,' b u t here
seems t o m e a n 'confident.' On t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h i s s e n t e n c e reflects Old
Irish l a w , see i n t r o d u c t i o n .
6 2 . Bona mulier: cf. P r v . 3 1 . 1 0 - 3 1 ; mulier inepta: cf. P r v . 9 . 1 3 - 1 5 . Superstitio-
nibus: 'make-up'?
6 3 . Bachum: it is u n c l e a r if t h e K u e s m a n u s c r i p t r e a d s bachum or bachium.
N e i t h e r form h a s b e e n i d e n t i f i e d . T h i s m a y be a c o r r u p t i o n of bracchium,
'arm.' D r . P r o i n s e a s N i C h a t h a m of U n i v e r s i t y College, D u b l i n , h a s s u g g e s t e d
t h a t t h e w o r d m i g h t c o n t a i n t h e Celtic r o o t bac, m e a n i n g 'tool.'
6 6 . Intacalta: u n i d e n t i f i e d ; it a n d rufa m a y b e h o p e l e s s l y corrupt. Hellmann

s u g g e s t s inretractata culpa. Glorie: H e l l m a n n s u g g e s t s laureae.
6 8 . Cf. P r v . 1 0 . 1 0 .
6 9 . Cf. P r v . 2 . 2 1 - 2 2 . On t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h i s s t a t e m e n t reflects Old Irish
l a w , see i n t r o d u c t i o n .
7 2 . Cf. P r v . 10.19 a n d 1 2 . 2 3 ; omnis sapiens... continet: cf. P r v . 1 1 . 1 2 .
7 3 . Cf. P r v . 10.2 a n d 1 1 . 4 .
7 4 . Desensatores: a c c o r d i n g t o H e l l m a n n , s t a n d s for dissentores. T h e form dis-
sensatores is f o u n d in G o e t z , Corpus glossariorum Latinorum 5.412.7: scismatici:
dissensatores: seperatores.
Vtitur: Hellmann suggests nititur.
II. 2. On t h e source of t h i s s t a t e m e n t , see n o t e 16 t o i n t r o d u c t i o n .
I I I . 1. Volatilibus caeli: cf. G n . 1 . 2 6 a n d 2 8 , a n d 2 . 1 9 .
IV. 5. Palant: t h i s s h o r t e n e d f o r m of propalo, w h i c h recurs in t h e C a m b r i d g e

m a n u s c r i p t , is also f o u n d in Gildas' De excidio Britonum, in t h e A , B , a n d D
t e x t s of t h e Hisperica Famina, a n d in t h e E c h t e r n a c h g l o s s e s in t h e f o r m palat:
reuelat a n d palas: reuelas ( s e e H e l l m a n n , 131 n. 5, a n d 135). N o further c o n n e c
t i o n h a s b e e n f o u n d b e t w e e n t h e v o c a b u l a r y of s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e
Proverbia Grecorum and 'Hisperic' Latin.
A D D E N D U M TO T H E COMMENTARY
A C o n c o r d a n c e of R e p e a t e d Proverbia Grecorum
I epistola 12-! - 1 4 III 3

1 II 3
2 II 4
8 III 4
31 IV 9
43 IV 4 , 8
54 IV 7
55 IV 10
64 IV 6
65 II 5
69 II 6
1 IV 1
3 I 1
4 I 2
5- I 65
6: I 69
TRADITIO
III 3 epistoh
4 I 8
IV 1 II 1
4 I 43
6 I 64
7 I 54
8 I 43
9 I 31
10 I 55

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THE 'PROVERBIA GRECORUM'

m i s c e l l a n e o u s Collectaneum* t h e proverbia are f o u n d , is also u n k n o w n . (The

In a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e w i t n e s s e s t o t h e Proverbia Grecorum which were known

T h e o r i g i n of t h e 'B' recension of t h e Hibernensis is o n l y s l i g h t l y better

T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d n e w s o u r c e s for t h e Proverbia Grecorum are b o t h f o u n d

Proverbia Grecorum 1 a n d 2 of t h e K u e s list; a t chapter 4 of b o o k 4 2 , fol. 8 5 of t h e H a t t o n v

manuscript, is found Proverbium 65; a n d a t chapter 10 of b o o k 4 4 , fol. 9 0 of t h e H a t t o n r

manuscript, is found Proverbium 6 9 . T h e t w o s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Greco­

parallels in t h e Collectio canonum Hibernensis. * 1

w i t h Old Irish glosses, w h i c h h e h a d f o u n d in a B o b b i o m a n u s c r i p t . 18

T h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e K u e s list of Proverbia Grecorum c o n s t i t u t e s t h e origi­

dixaiojv. T h i s phrase c o m e s from P s . 1 1 7 . 1 5 of t h e Greek P s a l t e r , w h i c h w a s

Incipiunt Prouerbia Grecorum

25. Similis est piger foratorio q u o d nihil boni facere p o t e s t nisi m a l l e o

100 dere p o t e r a t , s e n e x auriga qui in curribus e t in e q u i s D e o d e r e l i c t o u a n a

mundi contentio sicut a b exordio generis humani per tempora traditur,

175 i g n e o accipere uel l a m b e r e p o t e s t , ita s a n c t i electi a m a l i s h o m i n i b u s e t

II. M S Oxford, B o d l . H a t t o n 4 2 , Collectio canonum Hibernensis,

c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s . N o n p o t e s t e n i m illud ullis p r e s t a r e beneficia e t nullus a d

tus stulti sapientiam exornat.

s a p i e n s qui s t u l t o a d h e r e t d u o stulti efficiuntur.

uel de a c u l e o gladii a c u t i a u t de ferro i g n e o a c c i p e r e uel l a m b a r e p o t e s t , ita

tris iniusti n o n a u f e r e n d a est. Iusti pro i n i u s t o u e x a r i u e r i s s i m e non

p u s q u a n d o p e r i n c r e m e n t a s i c u t luna u s q u e a d p l e n i t u d i n e m crescit. Ter-

tur e t c u m q u i b u s os c r u d e l i s regis r e p u t a t u r Greci in P r o u e r b i i s p r o n u n -

are f o u n d in p r o v e r b s 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 4 9 , a n d 5 0 of t h e K u e s list. On t h e

6 6 . Intacalta: u n i d e n t i f i e d ; it a n d rufa m a y b e h o p e l e s s l y corrupt. Hellmann

II. 2. On t h e source of t h i s s t a t e m e n t , see n o t e 16 t o i n t r o d u c t i o n .

I I I . 1. Volatilibus caeli: cf. G n . 1 . 2 6 a n d 2 8 , a n d 2 . 1 9 .

IV. 5. Palant: t h i s s h o r t e n e d f o r m of propalo, w h i c h recurs in t h e C a m b r i d g e

I epistola 12-! - 1 4 III 3

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manuscript, is found Proverbium 6 9 . T h e t w o s t a t e m e n t s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e Proverbia Greco

T h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e K u e s list of Proverbia Grecorum c o n s t i t u t e s t h e origi