The Book of Splendours

Introduction.

4. — Cod. Borgianus siriacus 149, at the same library, dated to the year 2012 of the Greeks, i.e., 1701 of our era¹.

5. — In the manuscript catalogue of the Vatican Library, Supplementum ad catalogum codicum orientalium, one finds the indication, under the heading Codices syriaci no. 465 (6), of a manuscript likely written in Rome, of a later period, which contains a part of the great Grammar of Barhebraeus. Up to the beginning of Chapter 3 of Book I, the text is followed page by page by a translation in carchouni Syriac written in Arabic script. The manuscript ends abruptly at chapter 4 of Book II.

6. — Ms. B. 5. 6. of The Library of Trinity College, Dublin (T)², dated to the 24th of Qānūn I December 1610 of the Greeks, December 24, 1298 of our era.

7. — Ms. B. 5. 34 of the same library (Tr), dated to the 24th of Ḥazīrān June 1889 of the Greeks, June 24, 1578 of our era³.

8. — Ms. Or. 3335, at the British Museum (𝔏)⁴, written in nestorian East Syriac script, dated from Mosul the 16th of Tammūz July of the year 1643 of the Greeks, July 16, 1332 of our era. Various original leaves are missing from this manuscript and have been replaced in most cases by new leaves. Such is the case for the parts of the text that correspond in our edition to pages 6.26 (le-taḥt below) – 9.4 (d-napšā of the soul), 15.8 (le-mašlam to finish) – 31 (d-raḥmā of the friend), 250.12 (d-māryā of the Lord) – 253.9 (le-tamān to there). By contrast, there is a complete gap corresponding to pages 3.32 (aylen those who) – 6.25 (den however?) of our edition. In manuscript 𝔖ᵃ, which derives from this manuscript (see no. 18), the text has no lacunae.

9. — Ms. Add. 7201 of the British Museum (L)⁵, according to the catalogue, from the 17th or 18th century.

1. See the notice by Addaï Scher in the Journal asiatique X, 13, p. 281 (no. 149).
2. T. K. ABBOTT, Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin . . . Dublin, 1900, p. 403, no. 1504.
3. T. K. ABBOTT, Catalogue, p. 403, no. 1503.
4. G. MARGOLIOUTH, Descriptive List of Syriac and Karshuni MSS. in the British Museum acquired since 1873, London 1899, p. 15.
5. (ROSEN ET FORSHALL), Catalogus codd. mscr. orient. qui in Museo Britannico asservantur I, London, 1838, p. 94; cf. MARTIN, op. cit., Preface, p. 12 sq.