Add MS 41329

TRAVELS of Sir John Mandeville in an Italian translation, differing considerably both from the first printed edition of 1480 and from the version in I Viaggi di Gio. da Mandavilla edited by F. Zambrini, 2 Vols., 1870. A list of the Italian MSS. is given by R. Röhricht, Bibliotheca Geographica Palaestinae, 1890, p. 79. For the relation between the Italian and the original French see J. Vogels, 'Das Verhältniss der italienischen Version der Reisebeschreibung Mandeville's zur französischen', in Festschrift dem Gymnasium Adolfinum zu Moers zur Jubelfeier seines dreihundertjährigen Bestehens gewidmet, Bonn, 1882. The present MS. opens with a prefatory note beg. 'Questo libero fo conposto' and ending 'et questo ho principiato achopiar adi 10 Marzo 1469'. The text begins: 'Douete Sapere che Latera Santa'. The translation is at times so loose as to resemble a paraphrase. Among peculiarities may be mentioned:-(1) On f. 16 after 'siano sepolture' (='sieno tombe' in Zambrini, vol. i, p. 67) the MS. continues: 'Perche Jo ho trouato Jn la Jn marzine (sic) del libro doue Jo achopiai queste altre parole pur le metero. Alchuni dichono che Sono Sepolture, et anno letere Latine greche e braiche. Le latine dicono Cussi: Vidi pyramides Sine te dulcissime frater' followed by five more hexameters;-(2) On f. 17 after 'e chiamassi monzibelo' (Zambrini, vol. i, p. 69) the MS. proceeds 'et Jn mare puocho Lontano da questa Jxola Lie lixola de bulchano de Stronboli et de bulchanelo ... et apresso vna jxola chiamata lipari la quale Soleua ardere mo al prexente non arde perche le done de quella Jxola Se auodo alla nostra dona de non beuer mai vino Se quello fuogo zesaua et zesso et chussi Le done non beue vino questo ho visto jo personal mente';-(3) On f. 17 b (Zambrini, vol. i, p. 71) after 'dicolata Santa Catarina' the MS. reads: 'et elli al prexente le cholone doue lafuro data suxo et heue la prixone doue Jlategniuano';-(4) On f. 22 (Zambrini, vol. i, p. 91) the description of Jerusalem is introduced by ten extra lines beg. 'Qui nui Jntreremo Neli perdoni' and ending 'ne partiro da lo esempio mio fato per el dito misser zuane da media villa';-(5) On f. 23 (Zambrini, vol. i, p. 96) Numa Pompilius and not Julius Caesar is responsible for the addition of two months to the Roman calendar. Paper; ff. iv + III. II¼ in.x 8 in. A.D. 1469. Gatherings of 14 leaves (first13), with catchwords. Erased bookplate of shield with motto. Modern binding of brown morocco by R. Raparlier.