AP12

Intellectual counterpoint

The text copied here, Pseudo-Ptolemy's Centiloquium, is a fundamental text of astrology first written in Arabic and translated several times to Latin. It often circulates with a commentary by an 11th century Arabic author known in Latin sources under the name “Haly”. This commentary is also copied in this manuscript. The marginal letters “p” (1) and “h” (2) mark the line in the text when Pseudo-Ptolemy Centiloquium and Haly commentary begin. In addition to this, a rubricated letter (i.e. marked with red ink) indicates the precise place in the line marking the alternance. This is one among many means at the disposal of medieval copyists to intertwine a text and its commentary: they were masters in the art of “intellectual counterpoint”!