Paul Acker

Handlist to the rich collection of manuscripts contained in five major libraries across New York, giving a full account of their provenance. This volume provides detailed descriptions of Middle English prose materials found in the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscripts Library, The Pierpont Morgan Library, The New York Public Library, The New York Academy of Medicine Library, and New York University Bobst Library (Special Collections). The manuscripts tend to be less well known than those in English libraries, with overlooked texts such as the Pseudo-Hildegard Anti-Mendicant Prophecy; The Book of Palmistry; a subject index of legal statutes; culinary and medical recipes; and English instructions to Latin prayers in Books of Hours. Other manuscripts of note include Trevisa's translation of De proprietatibus rerum by Bartholomaeus Anglicus, used as a copy-text for Wynkyn de Worde's first edition printed ca. 1495; and deluxe illustrated manuscripts of The Pilgrimage of the Soul and Ordinances of Chivalry. The introduction to the volume highlights the particular interests of the various collectors and the influences and characteristics underpinning their acquisitions. All but one of the manuscripts described from Columbia University were acquired by George A. Plimpton (1855-1936), whose firm, Ginn and Co., published spelling books. His collection records an interest in the history of education, with MS 258, a primer probably compiled for an English schoolchild, being a highlight. John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) specialized in expensive, illustrated manuscripts, aided in his purchases by Belle da Costa Greene, who became the first director of the Morgan Library as a public institution under J.P. Morgan, Jr. Curt F. Bühler became the Keeper of Printed Books at the Morgan in 1934, bequeathing to the Library the manuscripts that he had bought over the years. James Lenox and John Jacob Astor established the New York Public Library, with Lenox donating two Wycliffite Bibles and Astor a third. The New York Academy of Medicine owns two manuscripts relating to the work of the French surgeon Guy de Chauliac.

" On peut d crire ou peindre un beau paysage; le prestige des pinceaux ou de l' l gance peut rappeler les images, les nombrer, les arranger, les accumuler. Mais faire passer dans lame ce calme int ressant qu'inspire un lointain champ tre, cette exaltation produite par l'aspect de montagnes majestueuses, ou ce contentement profond que donne la vue d'une riche campagne charg e de moissons: ah que l'art c de ici et qu'il rende la nature des droits qu'il ne saurait usurper Ainsi s'exprime en 1771, dans le petit volume o il note selon le go t de l' poque ses impressions de voyageur, le marquis de Pezay son arriv e Colmar. Et, son coeur sensible s'extasiant toujours, il continue, sur le m me mode, la fois bucolique et lyrique: Les moissons ne sont pas plus riches que les filles ne sont jolies. L , tous les yeux sont grands, les cheveux fournis, les dents nettes, les bras bien attach s, les bouches roses et dispos es au sourire... l tous les r giments veulent tre en garnison... Quel plaisir de voir tout ce joli peuple r pandu dans ces belles campagnes que le vert teint de ces pr s m ris forme un agr able m lange avec le blanc de tous ces faucheurs en chemise et de ces jolies faneuses Quelle vin dans tous ces paysages Quelle joie pure Que ces champs allemands sont fran ais Quel spectacle pour un roi ..."

First published in 1998. The following monograph is a revised and updated study which developed as a result of three experiences of the author: an advanced tutorial in Old English, a Fulbright year in Iceland, and a year teaching Old Icelandic. It is intended as a contribution to the ongoing revision of oral theory.

First published in 1998. The following monograph is a revised and updated study which developed as a result of three experiences of the author: an advanced tutorial in Old English, a Fulbright year in Iceland, and a year teaching Old Icelandic. It is intended as a contribution to the ongoing revision of oral theory.