Kings MS 32

'M. VALERII MARTIALIS Epygrammata': the fourteen books preceded by the Libellus Spectaculorum. There is no heading to lib. i (f. 5), but the prefatory epistle has an illuminated initial. The text, as in other late Italian MSS., is contaminated and not representative of any one of the three original recensions. In arrangement, apart from minor transpositions, &c., the chief features are:-(a) between i. 15 and i. 16 are placed i. 42-103;-

(b) after i. 41 occur iv. 25-68;-(c) between iv. 88 and 89 is written (but erased) the nine-line epigram of uncertain authorship (sometimes attributed to Cato, see Royal MS. 15 B. xix, artt- 25d and 37) beg. ' Rure morans quid agam respondeo pauca rogatus'. Some of these peculiarities occur also in Arundel MS. 136 (an example of the B recension, Q. of the editions, see Postgate's Corpus Poetarum and Lindsays Oxford text). The last epigram of lib. xiv is that on Focale (xiv. 137 Of Lindsay, xiv. 142 of Postgate). None of Torquatus Gennadius' subscriptions (characteristic of the B type) are given. There are annotations (few in the last five books) written by the scribe in red and green ink, beg. 'Pyramis metam (sic) fuit lata in uertice acuta'. Vellum; ff. 172. 9 in. x 5¹/₂ in. Written in Italy, end of XV cent. In , hand of 'italic' type. The scribe uses as a vocative sign suprascript o between two straight strokes ^{o .} Gatherings (beg. f. 2) of 10 leaves (last ¹²), with catchwords. 33 lines to a page. Sec. fol. 'Non falsa'. Lesser initials in blue; illuminated initials to each book and border on f. 2 of interlaced white vine-tendril ornament with blank medallion for arms. Bound like nos. 16, 17, &c. Belonged to Joseph Smith, Consul at Venice, Bibl. Smith., Addenda, p. xliii, col. i.