Two Leaves from French Book of Hours with Psalms
“As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Blessed is the man who has filled his desire with them; he shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies at the gate.”
BEAUTIFUL INTRICATE LEAVES FROM A 15TH-CENTURY FRENCH BOOK OF HOURS.
Two illuminated manuscript leaves on vellum from a French Book of Hours in Latin. Beautiful gilded design with diversely colored extensions, including dark pink, light red, and subtle shades of blue, gold, black, and green. Floral-patterned designs outside the text depict flowers and fruits. Seventeen lines of text per page. 3 2-line initials in gold on blue and pink background. Additional 10 1-line initials in gold on blue and pink backgrounds. Red rubricated text. Text from Psalm 127:4–5 and Psalm 128:1–6.
Text in Latin reads:
Ad uesperas Sicut sagittae in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum. Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta Donapatu. Psalmus Beati omnes qui timent dñ̄m qui ambulant in viis eius. Labores manuum tuarum. quia manducabis, beatus es, et bene tibi erit. Uxor tua sicut vitis abundans in lateribus domus tuae. Filii tui sicut nouellae olivae in circuitu mensae tuae.
Ecce sic benedicetur homo qui timet dñ̄m. Benedicat tibi Dominus ex Sion: et videas bona Ierusalem omnibus diebus vitae tuae. Et videas filios filiorum: pacem super Israel. Gloria. A Pulchra es et decora filia Ierusalem terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata. Qualis cedrus exaltata sum in Libano: quaet cypressus in monte Sion: sicut palma exaltata sum in Cades: et quasi plantatio rosae in Jericho. Deo gratias. ℣ Ora pro nobis Sancta Dei Genetrix: ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Sancta Dei Genitrix. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. ℣ Ora pro nobis Sancta Dei Genitrix. ℟ Ut digni tata es Sancta Dei Genetrix, sup duxos angelor ad caelestia regna. Domine exaudi orationem meam et dñ̄o: n̄ms ad te veniat or̄.
Famulos tuos, quos Domine dedicas ignio, ut qui tibi placere de actibus nostris non valemus genua, assis tu Domine nostra idu, ad tuam misericordiam saluemur. Per eundem Dominum nostrum.
English Translation:
At Vespers: As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Blessed is the man who has filled his desire with them; he shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies at the gate. Glory be to the Father. Psalm. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You shall eat the labor of your hands; because you shall eat, you are blessed, and it shall go well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine along the sides of your house. Your children are like young olive shoots all around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life. And may you see your children’s children: peace upon Israel. Glory be to the Father. You are beautiful and lovely, O daughter of Jerusalem, terrible as an army set in array. Like a cedar exalted am I in Lebanon; and like a cypress on Mount Zion; like a palm exalted in Cades; and like the planting of a rose in Jericho. Thanks be to God. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God: that we may be made worthy to approach the Lord our God. You are praised, O Holy Mother of God, who led the angels to the heavenly kingdom. Lord, hear my prayer, and let it come to you, O Lord. Your servants, whom, O Lord, you have consecrated with fire—so that we, who are not able to please you by our deeds, nor even bend the knees—assist us, O Lord, in our weakness; may we be saved by your mercy. Through the same our Lord.
This passage is from Psalm 127:4-5 and Psalm 128:1-6 in fine Gothic Script.
Size of each page: 161 x 119 mm; Size when opened: 236 x 161 mm
Likely Paris: c.1450. Small marginal tear to second leaf. Minor marginal scattered browning. A bright, clean bifolium.
Price: $810 .