The Greek Grammar of Roger Bacon

Boethius, Bede, Grosseteste.

The respect Bacon felt for Boethius, Bede, and Grosseteste was limitless. This is proven by our Grammar as well as by Bacon's other writings. He praises Boethius because "Boethius alone knew all languages" original: "Solus Boethius scivit linguas omnes" (Opus Tertium x. p. 33). He also writes: "Boethius alone, as the foremost translator, fully understood the power of languages" original: "Solus Boethius primus interpres novit plenarie potestatem linguarum" (Opus Majus, iii. vol. I, 28p. 67 Bridges). We also read in our grammar (p. 28): "But Boethius is of greater authority both in languages and in the sciences." original: "Sed Boethius maioris auctoritatis est et in linguis et in scienciis."

Bacon refers to Bede as being "most literate in grammar and in languages in their original form" original: "literatissimus in grammatica et linguis in originali" (Opus Minus, p. 332). In our grammar, we read (p. 41): "We can place the Venerable Bede behind no one among the Latin poets or teachers of grammar, since he is a saint of God, older than Priscian Bacon is factually incorrect here. Bede (c. 672–735 AD) lived two centuries after the grammarian Priscian (fl. 500 AD). The editor marks this error with "sic"., and far more learned in both divine and human matters." original: "Nemini inter Latinos poetas nec doctores grammaticae possumus venerabilem Bedam postponere, cum sit sanctus Dei et antiquior (sic) Prisciano et longe literatior tam in divinis quam in humanis." In this case, as in others, many more examples could be cited.

It is unnecessary to quote every instance where Bacon praises his revered Robert Grosseteste, the Bishop of Lincoln. He never tires of praising him as a scholar, a dedicated churchman, and a promoter of learning who made great sacrifices for his work. "And Lord Robert alone, called Grosseteste The name literally means "Great-head" in French, translated here as "Grossum Caput" in the Latin text., knew the sciences" original: "Et solus dominus Robertus, dictus Grossum Caput, novit scientias" (Opus Majus, iii. vol. I, p. 67 Bridges). He also writes: "Indeed Lord Robert, Bishop of Lincoln, and Brother Adam Marsh, the greatest scholars in the world, were perfect in both divine and human wisdom" original: "Dominus vero Robertus episcopus Lincolniensis et frater Adam de Marisco, majores clerici de mundo, et perfecti in sapientia divina et humana" (Opus Tertium, xxiii. p. 75).

Consistent with this, we read in our grammar (p. 118): "...just as Lord Robert of holy memory, formerly Bishop of Lincoln and a most famous doctor, explained in his commentaries on the books of Dionysius This refers to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, a Christian philosopher whose Greek works Grosseteste translated and explained. and corrected other translators." original: "...sicut dominus Robertus sanctae memoriae, quondam episcopus Lincolniensis, doctor famosissimus, exposuit in suis commentariis super libros Dionysii et corrigit ceteros translatores."