Scholia Bernensia : an edition of the scholia on the Eclogues of Virgil in Bern Burgerbibliothek manuscript 172
David Daintree
The central feature of this dissertation is an
edition the marginal notes, or glosses, on the
Eclogues Virgil, to be found in Bern Stadtbibliothek
MS 172, a ninth-century manuscript written carolingian
minuscules and known as 'floriacensis' after its
place origin, monastery Fleury.
Together with clearly related set glosses in
MSS 165 167 same Library, these commentaries
have long borne collective name Scholia Bernensia.
Central my thesis proposition that
commentaries were not copied transmitted the
same type 'reverence' that was accorded classical
literary works, but they constantly subjected
to modification, deletion interpolation at the
discretion scholar scribe who them, in
accordance perceived needs those for whom
they intended.
It follows, then, established methods of
textual criticism, by which an ancient original
literary work restored from extant

manuscripts, cannot employed handling of
commentaries no single antique original
may ever have existed. To put it another way, each
commentary may indeed derived largely original
sources, well legion, itself a
new unique composition assembled diversity of
sources varying age value, compiler's
discretion.


It further follows all has been said above
that final printed edition commentary ought to
reflect something character (or
family manuscripts) derived, the
often composite nature version ought
not obscured, modern editor to
resist temptation fabricate coherent and
integrated padding out borrowings
from such Servius, whenever echoes older and
respected commentator fall upon ear. modern
edition should, closer a
diplomatic version, precise text as
transmitted through ages very much more importance
to student commentaries than the
scholar whose primary interest lies classics themselves;
to latter actual process transmission
will only incidental.


This will also assess evidence for
an Irish 'interlude' tradition Scholia
Bernensia commentaries, particular for
the now well-established immediate
precursor our one compiled Adamnan,
Abbot Iona (ob. 704), incorporating body material
which he turn Filargirius (or
Philargyrius), otherwise unknown pagan of
the putative Milan school.