Excerpt on Pliny the Elder from Suetonius Tranquillus, De viris illustribus ; Prefatory epistle to the Historia Naturalis , Pliny the Elder, Epistula ad Vespasianum; Pliny the Elder, Historia naturalis (books 1-18)
This manuscript consists of books 1-18 of Pliny the Elder (b. 23,
d. 79)'s Historia naturalis (Natural History), preceded by an
excerpt on Pliny the Elder from Suetonius Tranquillus (b. 69, d.
140), De viris illustribus (Concerning illustrious men) . The
manuscript was probably the first volume of a two volume-set
containing the entire text of the Historia naturalis (see Reynolds,
Text and Transmission (1983)). This copy of the Historia naturalis
agrees closely with the version in 9th-century manuscript Paris,
Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 6795 since both copies
omit the same sections (see Reynolds, Text and Transmission
(1983)). Contents: f. 1r: An excerpt on Pliny the Elder from
Suetonius Tranquillus, De viris illustribus , beginning: 'Vita
Plini Secundi ex catalogo illustrium tranquilli. Plini (sic)
secundus Novem menses (sic) equestribus militiis industrie
functus'. ff. 1r-2r: Prefatory epistle to the Historia Naturalis ,
Pliny the Elder, Epistula ad Vespasianum (Epistle to Vespasian),
beginning: 'Plinius Secundus Vespasiano suo salutem. Libros
Naturalis Historiae, novicium Camenis Quiritium tuorum opus'. ff.
2r-160r: Pliny the Elder, Historia naturalis , books 1-18. Book 1
(ff. 2r-14r), beginning: 'An finitus sit mundus et an unus'. The
beginning of book 2 is imperfect due to a damaged leaf (f. 14),
beginning: '[...] cuius circumflexu degunt cum cuncta, numen esse'
(ff. 14r-26v); Book 3 (ff. 26v-32r); Book 4 (ff. 32r-38r); Book 5
(ff. 38r-45v); Book 6 (ff. 45v-56r); Book 7 (ff. 56r-66r); Book 8
(ff. 66r-76v); the beginning of Book 9 is imperfect due to a
damaged leaf (f. 77) (ff. 77r-85v); Book 10 (ff. 85v-94v); Book 11
(ff. 94v-107r); Book 12 (ff. 107r-112v); Book 13 (ff. 103r-118v);
Book 14 (ff. 118v-124v); Book 15 (ff. 124v-130v); Book 16 (ff.
130v-141v); Book 17, imperfect ending due to missing leaves: 'et
pabulo boum suumque magnificat neque' (ff. 141v-143v); Book 18,
imperfect beginning due to missing leaves, beginning: 'id erat e
pabulis, segere viridi defecte (sic)' (ff. 144r-160r), ending:
'sudorem repositoriis relinquentia, diras tempestates prenunciant'.
Decoration:Seventeen large foliate initials in colours, many with
heads, masks, dragons, hybrids, and/or animals, including a bird
and a dog, most with gold (ff. 1r, 2r, 22v, 26v, 32r, 38r, 45v,
56r, 66r, 85v, 94v, 107r, 113r, 118v, 124v, 130v, 141v). In several
instances it is apparent that the original design has been altered
(e.g., ff. 113r, 130v). Large initials in yellow, blue, red, or
green, some with penwork decoration in another colour. Two initials
apparently excised (ff. 14r, 77r).
