VARIOUS READINGS OF THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE ROYAL LIBRARY
NUMERO TWENTY To which the discourse of St. Basil *On Reading Gentile Books* (a) was compared.
NOTICE OF THE MANUSCRIPTS
A, no. 476, 12th century. B, no. 480, 11th century, in which the paragogic *nu* occurs more than once placed before a consonant letter. C, no. 481, 11th century. Two or three pages are missing, from *ekeinos edeixen* (col. 573 D) to *touti men gar* (col. 576 D 2). D, no. 482, 11th century. Several pages are missing from the words *sparton* (col. 569 D 7) to *tes adikias horos* (col. 576 A 10). It ends incomplete at *atmous ge*, col. 584 A 9. [E], no. 487, 12th century. [F], no. 488, of the same century. [G], no. 497, 10th century, written by the hand of Nicetas, a Greek *nauarch* (admiral), while he was held captive in Africa. Leo the Deacon recounted the deeds of this Nicetas in his *History*, which D. Hase published in Greek and Latin. Nicetas was an unhappy leader in warfare, but more unhappy in transcribing books, as will be evident from the various readings. [H], no. 498, 10th century. [I], no. 500, 11th century. A manuscript of excellent quality, incomplete at the end from the words *therion opote* (col. 588 A 9) to the end of the oration. The so-called iota subscripts are placed next to the words, as in inscriptions; in the manuscripts already listed, they are missing in both instances. [K], no. 860, 14th century, produced by an unlearned scribe. It abounds in errors; it is written, for example, *ou kai pistame* for *ouk epistamai*, etc. [L], no. 912, 12th century. Iotas are subscribed. [M], no. 962, 14th century. [N], no. 963, 15th century. [O], no. 1340, of the same century. [P], no. 1773, 15th century. *Iota* and *upsilon* bear a diaeresis as often as they are not used in a diphthong compound. This is also sometimes to be seen in older manuscripts, but not by design as it is here; no or few iotas are subscribed. [R], no. 2755, 15th century. [S], no. 2998, 14th century. Our oration is contained in the last leaves of the codex, which are somewhat torn. [T], no. 3021, 16th century, written, it seems, by an Italian man; for it is read at the end: DIVO GENIO L. T. [U], no. 3044, of the same century. [V], no. 230. It consists of two parts: the former is of the 9th century; the latter is more than a hundred years more recent. It belonged to the library of St. Germain-des-Prés, which the Royal Library received after the suppression of the monastic institution, where it exists separately arranged, preserving the old numbers of the books.
VARIOUS READINGS
Col. 564 C. In the title, more manuscripts have *homilia logos*; the majority omit both. The little word *tous* seems to be expunged; for the discourse pertains not to youths in general, but to certain youths, the cousins of St. Basil, as is clear from his introduction. An iambic poem of the same subject is read among the *Poems* of St. Gregory Nazianzen, inscribed to the youth Seleucus, which some attribute to St. Gregory, others to St. Amphilochius, his friend. Col. 564 C 3. Among the oldest manuscripts, five or six have *symbouleusai* or *synoisein*. Ibid. 8. *kat'ampho* PT. Ibid. 10. *hodou* fifteen manuscripts; *hodon* LNRT; *hodon* with *o* superscript P; in the margin: *rep. hodon* U. In L *hodon* is of the second hand. Ibid. 12. *hymin hyparcho hoste* P. Ibid. 14. *hymas te* FLNORTU; *hymas te nomizein*, with *ein* written above, P. Ibid. 14. *ei me ti ara tes aletheias me hamartano* G; but the vulgate reading is written above. Ibid. 15. *gnomes: pothein*, omitting *me* B; *pros me*, *eme* written above *me* G. Ibid. D. *dexethe* or *an* (*an* written well above) *dexesthai* G. Col. 565 A 2. *ei de me ge ego* G. Ibid. *oud' an eipoimi* R. Ibid. 5. *synoronta* GH; *ta deonta exeurota* PT. Ibid. 10. *eis didaskalou* H, *es didaskalou* P. Ibid. 13. *ephyurekenai* I; *touto men gar auto* G. Shortly five manuscripts *symbouleuson*. Ibid. 14. *dein hapax* L. Some manuscripts *eisapax* in one tenor. Ibid. B. *ploio* C, *hymon* CM. Col. 565 B 2. Six manuscripts *synesesthai* with *sigma*. Ibid. 3. *par' heauto dechomenous* G. Ibid. 4. *tina goun* N. Ibid. 6. *ouden einai pantapasi* G; *einai chreston* P. S. Ibid. *anthropinon touton bion* INRU. Ibid. 8. *nomizomen ho ten s.* D; *ten synteleian hymon mechri* G. Ibid. 4. *oukoun, ou* G; *oukoun, ou* H; *oukoun ou pro* V. Ibid. 11. *panton timas* B; *tas panton* E; *tas par' anthropon timas* G. Ibid. 15. *mega; all' oude* G. *mega; all' epi makroteron* N. Ibid. 14. *epi makroterais* V; *prosemen* EFG. Ibid. C. *kataskeuen* AG. Ibid. 3. *kai ouk* manuscripts fourteen.
(a) From the edition of the same discourse given at Paris in the year 1819, directed by C. A. R. FRÉMION, professor of humanities at the Faculty of Paris.