| In 2009, in the historical archive of San Petronio in Bologna, a palimpsest bifolium was discovered. The upper script (scriptio superior) is a portion of St Augustine’s De civitate Dei, in half-uncial. The lower script (scriptio inferior) was subsequently discovered by Maria Maddalena Modesti and Annafelicia Zuffrano of the University of Bologna to be Gothic, apparently written by Arian Goths in Northern Italy in the first half of the sixth century. Since I could find no English translation of the text, I made my own, which is presented en face below. |
| [ ] | Loss of text due to holes or cuts in the parchment. Letters within the braces are reconstructed. |
| . | (Period.) A letter or sign of punctuation. |
| / | “or” |
| < > | Reconstruction of letters omitted by the writer. |
| ( ) | Abbreviations. |
| { } | Uncorrected misspellings or unclear insertions. |
| (Underlining) Letters that are legible only in part. | |
| italics | Letters reconstructable with certainty. |
| superscript | Letters written small. |
| Folium 1 rectum | |||
| 1 | [............./.]an. nasei unsis F(rauj)a G(u)þ unsar, | Ps 105 (106):47 | … Save us, O Lord our God, |
| 2 | {jah lis unsis} [............/.u]s þiudom, in þaimei nu bauam |
{and gather us} … from the peoples among whom we now live |
|
| 3 | [......../.bisun]jane unsis• iþ ussindo unsib- | … round about us, but especially (from) those being wic- | |
| 4 | [jaim jah frawau]rhtaim wisandam: Bisunja- | Ps 11 (12):9 | ked and sinful, those walking around |
| 5 | ne uns[ibj]a[i gag]gand• akei Þu F(rauj)a bairgais un- | Ps 11 (12):8 | impious, but do Thou, O Lord, protect |
| 6 | sis jah gawitais unsis faura kunja þamm[a] du | us and watch over us from this race unto | |
| 7 | aiwa. Inuh þis jah sa audaga praufetus Da- | eternity. And because of this the blessed prophet Da- | |
| 8 | weid ar./.a leika bikausjands kuni manne du | vid … (to/for/with) his body testing the race of men to | |
| 9 | ...d ize F(rauj)in, jah Skapa [h]ropeiþ qiþanda• na- | Ps 11 (12):2 | … their Lord, and to the Creator he cried out, saying, |
| 10 | sei mik F(rauj)a unte fairl[ag] weihs aiþþau airkns• | “Save me, O Lord, since the saint or the pure man lay afar. | |
| 11 | nasei mik F(rauj)a unte [ni]st saei nasjai ufar Þuk F(rauj)a• |
Save me, O Lord, because there is none who might save beside Thee, O Lord, | |
| 12 | nih airus nih agg[i]lus nih andbahts nih ahma | cf. Is 63:9 | nor is there a messenger nor an angel nor a servant nor a spirit; |
| 13 | ak silba F(rauj)a qam du nasjan unsis• swa auk jah | Rm 7:24 | but the Lord himself came to save us, as moreover also |
| 14 | Pawlus qiþiþ• wainahs ik manna ƕas mik lau- | Rm 7:20 | Paul says, “A wretched man am I! Who will release me |
| 15 | seiþ us þamma leika d[a]užaus þis• nih witoþ• | cf. Is 63:9 | from the body of this death?” And neither the Law |
| 16 | nih praufeteis• nih stauos• nih þiudanos• nih | nor the prophets nor the judgements nor the kings nor | |
| 17 | reiks• in ƕis• in žizei witož trudan warž• stau- | a prince; because of what? Because of the fact that the law was trampled upon, the judge | |
| 18 | am fra[t]rudan warž• praufetum usquman | was trodden down, the prophets killed, | |
| 19 | warþ• weihaim gamaurgiž warž• [i]n[r]iurida | the holy places are cut short, brought to ruin | |
| 20 | aiþþau frawardida ........./.einana[../.] | or destroyed … … | |
| 21 | n[is]t saei waurkjai þiuþ nist un[d] ainana• | Rom 3:12 [= Ps 13 (14):1,3 or Ps 52 (53):4] |
there is not anyone who works good, not even one. |
| 22 | Allai ushniwun sama[na unb]r[ukj]ai wau[r]þun• | Rom 3:12 [= Ps 13 (14):3 = | All have stooped, together they have become worthless. |
| 23 | Inuh þis ik þa(n) qaþ in allaim wailadede is awi- | Rm 1:8 || Ps 52 (53):4] | Because of this I then, for all His benefices, gave |
| 24 | liudo g(u)ža meinamma žair<h> I(es)u X(rist)u saei ist [n]as- | 1 Tim 4:10 | thanks to my God through Jesus Christ, He Who is the Sav- |
| 25 | jands allaiz[e] manne þishun þize ga[l]aub- | ior of all men, especially of be- | |
| 26 | jandane• sa a[u]k þa(n) qaþ ganasjiþ managein | Mt 1:21 | lievers. He also then said, “He will save His multitude |
| Folium 1 versum (Toja Apaustaule = Acts of the Apostles) | |||
| 1 | seina af frawaurhtim ize• a[.........../.] | Mt 1:21 (contd) | from their sins. … |
| 2 | in Tojam Apaustaule sama[.........../.] | in the “Acts of the Apostles” the same (one) … | |
| 3 | qiþanda: Nist auk þa(n) qaþ [namo anþar uf] | Act 4:12 | saying, “There is not, furthermore,” he then said, “any other name under |
| 4 | himina atgiban mannam in [þammei skulum] | “heaven given to men in which we must | |
| 5 | ganisan weis• alja in namin [þein]a[mma] þeinai- | “be saved.” Except in Thy name, of Thy … | |
| 6 | zos [þ]a(n) naseinais nist marka nih mitads• þei- | salvation, then, there is neither limit nor measure. Of | |
| 7 | naizos naseinais ............./..rae.. na- | Thy salvation, … {Is}rae{l}. | |
| 8 | sei mik F(rauj)a• Þuei Nauel us swaleikamma midja- | cf. Gn 7:23 | Save me, O Lord, Thou who, from such a deluvian |
| 9 | sweipainais watin g[a]nasides• Þuei Lod us Sau- | vgl. Gn 19:29 | water hast saved Noah, Thou who, from the |
| 10 | daumos gawargeinai g[an]asides• Þuei Israel | cf. Ex 14:23-30 | damnation of the Sodomites has saved Lot, Thou who hast save Israel |
| 11 | us faraoni jah wairam se[in]aim ganasides• | from the Pharaoh and his men, | |
| 12 | Þuei jainans þrins magu[n]s Ananeian Aza- | cf. Dn 1:6-7 | Thou who hast saved those three lads, Ananias, Azarias |
| 13 | reian Mesael us handam....u.a jah in agis- | cf. Dn 3:19-25 | and Misael from the hands … and in the |
| 14 | leikamma auhna funins brinnandin gana- | frightful oven of burning fire, | |
| 15 | sides• Þuei d./. mel usb[u]gjondane• aiwa ne- | Thou Who … {at?} the time of those who redeem, we took for eternity | |
| 16 | mum iþ im manwu............/.in.../. ganasides• | if in preparation/ready for them … hast saved; {???} | |
| 17 | Þu nu þa(n) qaþ F(rauj)a jah mik nasei ei ƕopau• qiþan- | cf. Jer 17:14 | “Thou now,” he then said, “O Lord,” and “save me” so that I might boast, saying, |
| 18 | dan• in G(u)þa [n]aseins meina jah wulþus [m]eins | Ps 61 (62):8 | “In God is my salvation and my glory” |
| 19 | jah F(rauj)ins is[t] naseins jah ana managein þeinai | Ps 3:9 | and “of the Lord is salvation, and on Thy multitude |
| 20 | [þi]uþeins þeina• n[a]sei nu mela fraistubnjos | Thy blessing.” Save (me) now in the time of temptation | |
| 21 | al[l]ans þans wenjandans du Þus• Þuei ja[h P]ai- | Ps 5:12 | all those hoping in Thee, Thou Who hast also saved Peter, |
| 22 | tr[u] sagqanana standandan in marein gana- | having sunken, standing in the sea, | |
| 23 | sides• at Paitrau qiþandin• nasei unsis þa(n) | cf. Mt 8:25 | but with Peter saying, “Save us,” he at that time |
| 24 | qa<þ> F(rauj)[a] fraqistnam: Bi þanei jah Lukas insok | said, “Lord, we are perishing!” Apropos of which Luke also narrated, | |
| 25 | qiþa[n]da in Tojam• insandei d[u] Iauppein jah | Act 10:32 / 11:13 | saying in Acts, “Send to Joppa and |
| 26 | athait Seimona saei ananam[ni]da Paitrus | call Simon who is called Peter” | |
| Folium 2 rectum | |||
| 6 | [hi]minis jah wairþa galeiks þamma hauhistin• a- | cf. Is 14:14-15 | “{ascendam super altitudinem (nubium) [= ussteiga ufar hauhiþa “height”?]} of heaven and become like unto the Most High,” |
| 7 | kei jainþro dalaþ atdraga þuk þa(n) qaþ imma | “but thence down I will tear thee” then said to him | |
| 8 | F(rauj)a allwaldands• unte G(u)þ hauh<h>airtaim andstan- | 1 Pt 5:5 (Prv 3:34) | the almighty Lord, “Because God opposes the proud, |
| 9 | diþ• iþ haunidaim gibiþ anst: bi þanei gameliþ | but to the humble gives grace.” Apropos of this it is written | |
| 10 | ist• ƕaiwa usdraus us himina l./.zana {dia} sa in maur- | cf. Is 14:12 | how Satan {?}, the devil, fell from heaven, he the one in the morn- |
| 11 | gin urrinnanda• bi þanei F(rauj)a qaþ• gasaƕ satanan | Lc 10:18 | ing coming up, regarding which the Lord said, “I saw Satan |
| 12 | swe lauhmunja dri[u]sandan us himina• in ƕis• | like lightning falling from heaven” because of | |
| 13 | in hauh<h>airteins sein[a]izos: Inuh þis qiþiþ prau- | his pride. And because of that the Prophet | |
| 14 | fetus bi ina• ni gabauiþ in midjamma garda | Ps 100 (101):7 | says about him, “There shall not dwell in the midst of my home- |
| 15 | meinamma taujands hauh<h>airtein þa(n)nu in žam- | stead one practicing pride,” thus, in this | |
| 16 | ma faurasuggwanin liuþa þa(n) qaþ þatei ni sijai | publicly-chanted verse, he furthermore claimed that there is no | |
| 17 | G(u)þ swe allai hausideduþ praufetu insakan | God, as you have all heard — through the prophet — declare | |
| 18 | jah qiþan• qaþ unfroþs in hairtin seinamma• | Ps 13 (14):1 | and say, “The fool in his heart said |
| 19 | nist G(u)þ• Sa sama ist jah unsibjis bi þamma qiþa- | ‘There is no God’.” Such a one is also excommunicated with that | |
| 20 | nin• qaž unsibjis ei frawaur<k>jai in sis silbin• | Prv 8:36 {Ps 35 (36):2} |
having been said; (he) said, “The wicked man that would sin against himself, |
| 21 | sa sama ist jah fijands• bi þamma gamelidin• fi- | Mt 13:28 | the same one is also the enemy.” Regarding that it is written, |
| 22 | jands manna þata gatawida ...[.].... diabau- | “An enemy agent has done this,” …, the devil, | |
| 23 | lu• jabai nist G(u)þ ƕas gataih žus žata namo ƕas | if it is not God, who divulged to thee that name, who | |
| 24 | gakannida þus akei in žammei afaikiþ in þam- | made (it) known to thee, but that in it he abjures himself in that | |
| 25 | ma sik afdomeiþ jah gawargeiþ• jabai nist G(u)þ | he curses and condemns himself, if it is not God | |
| 26 | bi ƕana .[.]/.þn../.s../.þ• gatawida G(u)þ þana mannan | Gn 1:27 | of whom … {did … say?}, “God created man”? |
| Folium 2 versum | |||
| 6 | da anþar du imma• jabai nist G(u)þ bi ƕana qaþ | Mt 1:23 | -ed the other to him. If it is not God, of whom did |
| 7 | Esaeias• sai magažs in kilþein ganimiþ jah | Is 7:14 | Isaiah say, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb and |
| 8 | gabairiþ sunu jah haitan<d> namo is Inmanuel | bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel,” | |
| 9 | þatei ist gaskeiriþ miþ unsis g(u)þ• jabai nist | That which is interpreted, “God with us”? If it is not | |
| 10 | G(u)þ bi ƕana qaþ praufetus• G(u)þ meins ni fair<r>- | Ps 37 (38):22 / 70:12 | God about whom the Prophet said, “My God, do not distance |
| 11 | jais þuk af mis• jah anþara managa• akei ni | Thyself from me” and many other things, but in the case that one did not | |
| 12 | wilda galaubjan Skap[a] jah Dagand allaizo | cf. 1 Cor 7:15 | want to believe the Creator and Illuminator of all |
| 13 | wiste• saei daig ainƕarj[a]mmeh hairtona ize• | Ps 32 (33 ):15 | beings, He Who molds for each their hearts |
| 14 | saei fražjiþ in alla waurstwa ize• swa wesun | He Who understands in all their works, as there were | |
| 15 | sumai þaiei habaidedun hiwi gagudeins• iž | 2 Tim 3:5 | some who had the appearance of godliness, but |
| 16 | maht izos inwidandans• þaiei iddjedun in wast- | Mt 7:15 | reject its power, “those who go about in gar- |
| 17 | jom lambe• iþ innaþro þa(n) s<i>nd wulfos wilwan- | ments of sheep while inwardly are plundering wolves.” | |
| 18 | dans• swa leiks was sa unselja Kaein saei us- | cf. Gn 4:8 | Suchlike was the malevolent Cain who |
| 19 | qam swesamma broþr• galeiks was diabulau sa | murdered his own brother; similar to the devil was the | |
| 20 | afguda farao• saei qaþ ni kann þana f(rauja)n jah Is- | Ex 5:2 | impius Pharaoh, he who said “I know not the Lord and I |
| 21 | rael ni fraleta• inuh þis jah in marein uf- | will not let Israel go, and because of this into the sea | |
| 22 | sag<g>qids warž [•] swa leiks was jah sa unselja Na- | Ex 14:25, Dt 11:4 | he was sunk; suchlike was also the impious |
| 23 | bukaudaunausaur saei qaþ du jainaim | Nebuchadnezzar, he who said to those | |
| 24 | þrim magum: Iþ ƕas ist G(u)þ saei usþinsai izwis | Dan 3:15 | three lads, “What kind of God is He Who might tear you |
| 25 | us handum meinaim [i]nuh þis jah inmaidiþs | out of my hands” and because of this he was changed | |
| 26 | warþ du jiuhta• jah matida hawi swe [a]uhsa j<a>h | cf. Dn 4:29,33 | into a draught animal and ate hay like an ox and |
| Prof. Dr. Carla Falluomini |
| Università di Torino |
| Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici |
| via Sant’ Ottavio 20 |
| I10124 Torino |
| E-Mail: carla.falluomini@unito.it |
| Interpreted in the light of A Linguistic Analysis of the Codex Bononiensis by Roland SCHUHMANN, 2016 https://saw-leipzig.academia.edu/RolandSchuhmann |
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| Deus vult ! | — Brian Regan ( Inscriptio electronica : Brennus@brennus.bluedomino.com ) |
| Dies immutationis recentissimæ : die Jovis, 2017 Jan 26 |