Add MS 38858

LA DANSE MACABRE: the shorter and earlier version of the poem, as published in 1485 and reprinted by V. Dufour, La Dance Macabre des SS. Innocents de Paris, 1874, where it is attributed (p. 86) to Jean Charlier de Gerson, chancellor of Paris University (d. 1429). Beg. "Creature raisonnable Qui desire vie eternelle." The text agrees in some notable points with Dufour's MS. C, and like it omits the last stanza but two. Verse iv of the address to the Carthusian (f. 6 b) and verse v of the Poor Man's speech (f. 8) have fallen out. For a detailed discussion of the Dance of Death and accounts of the different texts and editions see Massmann, Literatur der Totentänze, 1841 ; Langlois, Essai sur les Danses des Morts, 1851 ; W. Seelman, Die Totentänze des Mittelalters, in Niederdeutsches Jahrbuch, xvii, 1891. Paper: ff. iv + 12. 7³/₄ in. x 5¹/₈ in. xv cent. Formed ff. 26-37 of a larger volume. The intrusion of forms like cose, cambre, checy, doucheur, points to a Northern French origin. (The similar MS. C is from Lille). On f. 1 b are verses in a 15th cent. hand on the Virgin birth: "Tout ainsy que descent en la fleur la rousee la fache ou mirouer et en coeur la pensee la voilx en la maison sans porte deffermee entra le filx de dieu en la vierge honnouree." Belonged, in the 15th cent., to a Franciscan, "Chest a frere Robert Delabbaye Cordelier" (f. 12) ; in 16th cent. (f. 1) to P. Wyon. On ff. iiib, iv, are the following notes : "Je l'ai acheté chez Lechene en 1830, et je l'ai fait relier par Boutigny," and "acheté chez Claudin, 1870, £2 0. 0." Hodgkin's bookplate as F.S.A. (sale-cat., lot. 401).

Poetry: Dance Macabre: 15th cent.: Fr.

Dance of Death: La Danse Macabre: 15th cent.

includes:

• f. 1b Poetry: Four lines on the Virgin birth: 15th cent.: Fr.