WILSON, B.,
Guillaume de Conches 'Glosae in Iuvenalem. Edited, with introduction and notes.
J. Vrin, Paris, 1980. 207p. Sewn. Some pencil strikes in the margins. Series: Textes Philosophiques du Moyen Age, XVIII. (Rare). ‘In the first volume of the distinguished Textes philosphiques du Moyen Age to appear in over ten years, Bradford Wilson provides a very adequate edition of the ‘Glosae in Iuvenalem’ attributed to William. Wilson faced several serious problems in editing these gloses, which are preserved in three very different manuscripts. (…) This volume lacks the extensive indexing and references to sources and analogues which enrich Jeauneau’s edition of William’s ‘Glosae super Platinum’, but quotations and allusions are identified and Wilson provides some references to passages in William’s other works. Wilson seems to follow the original faithfully, and he carefully footnotes his emendations. The result is a highly readable edition which makes his twelfth-century gloss available for serious study for the first time. The glosses provide an important new source of information about the Middle Ages’ knowledge and use of Juvenal. The edition will also be especially welcome to those interested in the cathedral schools, medieval satire, or the continuation of the classical tradition. The text shows an interest in and understanding of classical satire which helps to explain the outpouring of satire in the twelfth century. The commentator clearly expresses his view of why satire is written in his description of Juvenal as ‘reprehend ipsa vice, has utilitate ut auditorium retreat a viciis.’ (p.89) He rarely passes up an opportunity to relate a classical myth and consequently provides a gold mine of information about the twelfth-century’s knowledge of such myths as Orestes (pp.95-96), Ulysses (pp.100-101), and the Minotaur (pp.110-11). The work is a welcome addition to our sources of information about twelfth-century thought.’ (JOHN NEWELL in Speculum, 1982, p.959). From the library of Prof. Carl Deroux.
€ 95.00
(Antiquarian)