Boethius, Consolatio philosophiae, with gloss, Middle Dutch translation – Physical Reconstruction
Parchment · 2 bifolia · 1431 – 1480 CE · Flanders · 410 x 300 mmF-6egt
Leuven, KU Leuven Bibliotheken Bijzondere Collecties, Ms. 1621
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Roos in't Velt, Vlaamse Erfgoedbibliotheken, 2023
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Boethius, Anicius Manlius Severinus
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Summary
One of the most important philosophical works of the Middle Ages was De consolatione philosophiae (The Consolation of Philosophy) by the late-Roman author Boethius (c. 480-524/525). He probably wrote it in prison while awaiting execution. These two doubleleaves contain fragments from Book V, which is written in a mixture of prose and poetry. In 1485 Arend De Keysere published the Middle Dutch translation of the work in Ghent. These fragments are the only known handwritten examples of this Middle Dutch translation that are older than the printed version, with slight variations between the manuscript and the printed version. The pages were once reused as book covers, probably for an account book, which ensured their survival.