The Text

The manuscripts of the Letters fall into two clearly defined parts; from I to LXXXVIII inclusive, and from LXXXIX to CXXIV. They are divided into books; but in this translation we shall number them only by letters. For a more detailed description the reader is referred to Hense’s preface to the 1914 Teubner edition.

MSS. available for the first part of the Letters are⁠—

1. Two Paris MSS. of the 10th century, p and P.

2. Another Paris MS. of the 11th century, b.

3. The codex Laurentianus, of the 9th or 10th century, containing letters I⁠–⁠LXV. This is designated as L.

4. The codex Venetus, of the same date, containing Nos. LIII⁠–⁠LXXXVIII, V.

5. The codex Metensis, of the 11th century, known as M.

6. The codex Gudianus, of the 10th century, which contains scraps of the earliest letters. Designated as g.

For the second part of the Letters, LXXXIX⁠–⁠CXXIV, there is a more limited choice. The best MS. is⁠—

• Codex Bambergensis, of the 9th century, known as B.

• Codex Argentoratensis, A, which was destroyed in the siege of Strasbourg, of the 9th or 10th century.

Other MSS., either of less importance or of later date, may be found in Hense’s preface.2