A New Prologue of Walafrid Strabo
Courtney M. Booker
In this article, evidence is put forward for a new editorial prologue by the ninth-century scholar and poet Walafrid Strabo. Long thought to be short preface composed printed sixteenth-century French jurist Pierre Pithou, text’s appearance in manuscript from 1508 (Wrocław, Biblioteka Uniwersytecka Akc. 1949/397) demonstrates an earlier origin. Through close examination of manuscript’s contents, together with independent provided marginalia Pithou himself, text shown have come Walafrid’s pen. Written as didactic Episcoporum de poenitentia ... relatio Compendiensis, two texts were conjoined Thegan’s Gesta Hludowici 841–842 both expose fraudulence rebellion against Emperor Louis Pious 833, underscore cruel cunning Archbishop Ebbo Reims. This small compilation was incorporated soon thereafter famous librarian Reichenau, Reginbert, within larger historical that relate glory Franks Carolingian dynasty.
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