Marston MS 171     Germany, 1493
Antonio Beccadelli, De dictis et factis Alphonsi V, etc.

1. ff. 1r-95v  Anthonij panormite in Alfonsi Regis dicta et facta memoratu
digna.  Prohemium. [prologue:]  Xenophon is quem greci non [remains of book
stamp obscures text:  ab re?] musam atticam uocant:  dictorum aut factorum
socratis commentarios edidit...accendere cantu. [letter of Pius II, f. 2r:] 
Eneas Episcopus senensis Antonio panormite poete clarissimo. S.P.D.  Siluester
chimensis antistes cuius consilio in suam me curiam...uideris esse commentum.
[commentary of Pius II, f. 2v:] In prohemium primi libri.  Alfonsus. tanto est
socrate. maior: quanto grauior romanus homo...[text, Beccadelli:] Orabant et
quidem suppliciter Ioanne...Nam vitam in qua tot populorum uita consistit
sine magna causa periculis obiectare nolim.  [f. 94r:]
Alfonsi Regis oratio in expeditionem contra turcos inimicos
hiesu [sic] cristi.  Scio plerosque vestrum demirari patres conscripti.  
Qui cum totiens de expeditione in turcos uerba fecerimus eam...sit confestim
suscipere.  Alfonsi Regis dicteria atque facta memoratu digna.  Expliciunt
Anthonius panormita poeta clarissimus compilauit.

Antonio Beccadelli (Panormita), De dictis et factis Alphonsi V, with
a letter of Pope Pius II and his commentary on the text.  The text of 
Panormita alternates with the commentary of Pius II throughout.  For the
works of Panormita (arts. 1 and 3) see Antonii Panormitae De dictis 
et factis Alphonsi Regis Aragonum libri quatuor...(Basel, 1539); for
those of Pope Pius II (arts. 1, 2, 4) see Aeneas Sylvii
Piccolominei...opera
(Basel, 1551) pp. 472-98.

2. ff. 95v-96r  Eneas.  Oratio a magnanimo Rege atque ipso Alfonso digna,
Digitus hic dei est...et tueri et amplificari poterit.  Expliciunt dicta
Enee Siluij Episcopi Senensis ad Anthonium panormitam poetam clarissimum de
Serenissimi Alfonsi Aragonum Regis incliti dictis et factis.

Pope Pius II, In orationem pro suscipiendo in Turcos bello.

3. ff. 96r-102r  Incipit eius Triumphus.  Postea quam Rex Cum Principibus
regni decreuerunt conuentum celebrare neapoli relicto beneuento Primum
auersam deinde templum diui Anthonij...aduesperascente perductus est.

Antonio Beccadelli, Triumphus Alphonsi regis.

4. f. 102r-v  Eneas.  Cum rediret Alfonsus subactis turcis.  liberata
gretia [sic] et spolia illa cruenta nephandique mahumeti caput 
retulerit...inueniemus quod de tanto rege ad posteros referamus...ad dicteria
tua adijceremus.  Tu vale et boni consule.  Ex neapoli...[with text dated
1456].

Pope Pius II, Oratio in triumphum Alphonsi.

5. ff. 103r-105r  Ad gloriosum Principem Alfonsum Arroganie [sic] Regem
Enee Senensis episcopi Oratio incipit.  Modestius fortasse fuerit Rex maxime
ac pijssime Audito Iohanne solerij apostolico legato patre optimo ac
doctissimo diuina re diutius protracta:  fugiente iam die...bernardinus haud
dubie impetrabunt Amen.  [colophon:]  Laus deo. finitus est liber vicesima
die Iunij Anno et cetera .93.  ff. 105v-110v ruled, but blank

Pope Pius II, Oratio ad Alphonsum Aragoniae.

Paper (watermarks:  unidentified Tete de boeuf, plainly visible but not
located in Briquet or Piccard), ff. i (paper) + 110 + i (paper), 205 x 157
(142 x 87) mm.  27 long lines.  Single vertical and horizontal bounding lines;
ruled in hard point.
I-XI 10.  Quires signed in ink with Arabic numerals, upper right corner,
recto.
Written in small gothic bookhand by a single scribe; first word(s) of each
major section of text written in majuscules.
Red initial outlined in black ink, 3-line, on f. 1r.  Plain red
initials, with either decorative dots or knobs, 2- to 1-line, throughout.
Headings in red.
Binding:  Place and date uncertain.  A pieced-together binding with a brown
sheepskin spine and early wooden boards covered with suede-like skin.  Traces
of one fastening, the catch on the upper board.  Wormholes in text block
repaired.  Residue of rectangular label on upper board.

Written in Germany in 1493 (colophon, art. 5); contemporary table of contents,
presumably removed from original paper flyleaf or wrapper, pasted inside front
cover:  "Alphonsi Regis dicteria atque facta memoratu. digna per Antho.
penormitam [sic] compillata et Eneam siluium Episcopum Senensem
[compil
crossed out] appostillata [sic]."  Purchased in 1957 from Leo S. Olschki of
Florence by L. C. Witten (inv. no. 1663), who sold it in 1958 to
Thomas E. Marston (bookplate).

secundo folio:  excitabo

Bibliography:  Faye and Bond, p. 83, no. 171.

Barbara A. Shailor