Marston MS 138     Western France, s. IX 2/3-3/4
Priscian, Institutiones (fragment)

ff. 1r-2v  //Plautus in rudente:  homunculi quanti estis eiecti ut
natant...preterea haec beta malua hic betaceus.  maluaceus.  Explicit
liber tertius artis prisciani gramatici caesarensis.  Incipit liber quatus
[sic] de denominativo.//  ff. 3r-4v  //do.  ut dulcis.  dulcedo.  acris.
acredo.  sin a uerbis secundarum terminationes personarum...obseruare ut
supradictum est.  Vnde liber libertas.//

Two bifolia containing the conclusion of Bk. III (chs. 34-44) and part
of Bk. IV (chs. 9-20); H. Keil, ed., Grammatici latini (Leipzig,
1855-80) v. 1, 109.1-116.2 and 122.18-128.16.  Marston MS 138 cited
by M. Gibson, "Priscian, Institutiones grammaticae:  A Handlist of
Manuscripts," Scriptorium 26 (1972) p. 116, and M. Passalacqua, I
codici di Prisciano (Rome, 1978) p. 193, no. 431.  The text here is
accompanied by modest contemporary interlinear glosses, primarily in Latin
with a few in Breton.  Notes in outer margins, trimmed.

Parchment (thick), ff. 4 (two bifolia), 315 x 215 (260 x 168) mm.  31
long lines.  Single vertical and horizontal bounding lines; ruled in hard
point with a blunt instrument.
Perhaps originally a quire of 6 leaves, with the inner bifolium now
wanting.
Written in elegant caroline minuscule script.  Heading on f. 2v in rustic
capitals.
Heading touched with red and enclosed in a red rectangle.  Initial
letters stroked with red or yellow (faded).
Leaves stained and affected by pen trials.
Unbound; boxed. Two disbound bifolia originally cut in at five supports and
kettle stitches.  Discoloration from turn-ins and traces of boss attachments.

Written in Western France in the second or final third of the 9th century
according to B. Bischoff (letter on file); leaves removed from
unidentified binding.  Purchased from B. M. Rosenthal in 1957 by Thomas E.
Marston.

Bibliography:  Faye and Bond, p. 80, no. 138.

Barbara A. Shailor