Marston MS 43     Northeastern Italy, s. XV 2
Treatise on Cardinal Virtues, in It.		

ff. 1r-30v  Qui in questo libro se intende di tractare de le 
quactro virtu cardinale stracte da massimo valerio et da molti 
altri filosafi. [text:]  Similemente como la misericordia et 
La Unita Guardano lo Rei Et la clementia Exalta la sua sedia 
cosi le quactro uirtu Cardinale Sono quagi A modo quactro Colonde 
[sic] le quale sostengono la sedia sua...et per tanto lo dolce 
parlare di costui et la scusa del superchio bevere Et la sin//  
[catchword:  plice]

	Unidentified treatise, incomplete, on the Cardinal Virtues; 
material taken mostly from Valerius Maximus, with additional 
material from Augustine (De civitate Dei, De beata vita, Epistolae), 
Bible (Proverbs), Cicero (De officiis, etc.), Seneca (Epistolae 
morales, De ira, De constantia), Macrobius, Aristotle, Vegetius, 
the "Storie Romane" of "Arineo" (f. 6r), and "Salino" (f. 23v).  
The presence of the "versificatore" (f. 11r), cited in Latin 
(Walther, Sprichwoerter  33507), and a similar constellation of 
sources suggest that Vincent of Beauvais' Speculum Doctrinale was 
a major (though not exclusive) source for this author. 
	The headings are as follows: f. 1v Comenca A tractare de la 
Giustitia; f. 2r-v Como Se deueno Ordinare le Giuste legge Capitulo; 
ff. 2v-3r De l'oseruatione de le Legge; ff. 3v-5v De la Giustitia 
In conseruare la Reipubilica [sic]; f. 5v Poem, 6-line, beginning 
O quanto serria macto chil facesse...; ff. 5v-6v Di conseruare la 
giustitia verso li nimici; ff. 6v-8r Qui se Intende di Tractare de 
la Giustitia In espetie; [Note that between ff. 6-7 two leaves are 
missing which in the old foliation had been numbered ff. 42-43]  
ff. 8r-9r Qui se intende de tractare de la virtu de la prudentia 
overo discretione; f. 9r-v De la Prudentia de li philosafy; ff. 
9v-10r De le Parte de la Prudentia; ff. 10v-11v De Inteligentia; 
ff. 11v-13r De le Parte di Prouidentia; ff. 13r-14r De le parte de 
la Giustitia Secondo Marcobrio [sic]; f. 14r Sequita di vedere 
de la virtu de la temperantia la quale e molta [sic] utile a li 
principi; ff. 14v-15r De continentia Capitulo; ff. 15r-17r De 
L'astinentia Contra Lo Vitio de l'arabiata Luxuria; ff. 17r-18r 
De la castita de l'antique donne; ff. 18r-19r Del onore che faceuano 
Li omini Antiqui Ale Vergine; ff. 19r-20v De la Continentia Contra
La Varitia; ff. 20v-21r De la Umilita de lantiqui; ff. 21r-22v De 
la Continentia de li philosofy; ff. 22v-24r De la Clementia; 
f. 24r-v De la modestia de Li antiqui Filosaphy Capitulo; ff. 25r-27r 
In questa ultima parte resta da vedere de la virtu de la forteza 
la quale virtu e molto da comendare; f. 27r-v De la Fidutia delli 
omini Antiqui; ff. 28r-29r De la Patientia che foro ne li saui 
filosafi; f. 29r-v De la Patientia In sostinere le pene del Corpo;  
f. 30r-v De la patientia Che forono ne li antiqui In perdonare de 
le Ingiurie. 
	Paper (watermarks:  similar to Briquet Coutelas 5157, 5159), 
ff. i (paper) + 30 (early foliation 36-67; leaves with 42-43 missing) 
+ i (paper), 285 x 195 (210 x 115) mm.  39 long lines.  Double 
vertical and horizontal bounding lines (Derolez 13.36).  Additional 
rulings on f. 8r to delineate space for decorative intial.  Prickings 
in upper and lower margins. 
	I 10 (-1, 2, 9, 10, with loss of text), II-III 12.  Horizontal 
catchwords, surrounded by elaborate penwork designs, touched with 
yellow, center of lower margin, verso.
	Written by a single scribe in humanistic cursive script with 
notarial features, above top line.
	28 pen and watercolor initials, heavily influenced by Greek 
models, 24- to 10-line (with larger initials at the main divisions 
for Justice on f. 1r, Prudence on f. 8r, Temperance on f. 14r, and 
Strength on f. 25r), in green, red or pale purple on paper ground, 
with intricate designs of scrolling and intertwining vines, pale 
yellow with touches of unburnished gold, terminating in spiky leaves.  
Berries, pale purple, red or green with geometric pen designs attached 
to the vines. Folio 1r, ends of initial S terminating in dragon heads;
ff. 14r and 25r, unidentified arms (or, 2 or 3 bars nebuly purpure), 
incorporated into the initial.  Sketches, in lead, visible beneath most 
initials.  Headings in red.  Majuscules touched with yellow.
	Binding:  Italy, s. xix-xx.  Paste-paper case binding in yellow, 
green and red.

Written in Northeastern Italy in the second half of the 15th century
according to A. C. de la Mare; was part (ff. 36-67) of a larger
codex.  Unidentified arms incorporated into decorative initials on 
ff. 14r and 25r; early provenance unknown.  Belonged to Federico 
Patetta  (1867-1945), Professor of the History of Law at the University 
of Turin at the beginning of this century (his notes:  f. 1r, "MS no. 
131;" back pastedown,  "Aij [?]. I, 458."  Unidentified notes:  "4552," 
in pencil, on front pastedown and on f. 30v.  Purchased from the Turin 
dealer Bourlot by H. P. Kraus, who sold it in 1958 to Thomas E. 
Marston (bookplate).

Bibliography:  Faye and Bond, p. 69, no. 43.

Barbara A. Shailor