Íslenzk tunga - 01.01.1960, Side 122

118
DOKTORSVÖRN
SUMMARY
The present article — the main part of which contains the speech delivered
at the public defence by Róbert A. Ottósson of his doctoral dissertation Sancti
Thorlaci Episcopi Ojficia Rhytmica et Proprium Missœ in AM 241 A Folio —
deals especially with the dating of the fragments bound together in the manu-
script AM 241 a, fol. It is evident that the fragments derive from two different
manuscripts, a psalter from about 1300 or the first quarter of the fourteenth
century, and a later liturgical book, dating from the first quarter of the fifteenth
century. Contrary to common belief, it is shown to be uncertain that the psalter
belonged to the episcopal see in Skálholt during the Middle Ages; it is also
doubtful if the liturgical book ever belonged to the Cathedral. The fragments
were probably bound together on account of the prayer of St. Gregory: it is
well known that St. Thorlac used to pray an apology of St. Gregory in the
morning.
The first supplement deals with the only Icelandic text found in 241, a trans-
lation of a prayer found in De psalmorum liber by Alkuin. Paleographic as well
as philological evidence permits one to date it to about 1300 or the first quarter
of the fourteenth century. This further permits one to date the psalter, since it
appears that the Latin text is by the same scribe. It is also shown that the scribe
mastered a Latin book hand as well as a different Icelandic one, influenced by
the letter hand. On philological grounds the translation is shown to have been
made about 1200 or even earlier, i. e. a century at least earlier than the extant
copy. The text is published here for the second time (it was first published in
Leifar jornra kristinna frœða íslenzkra, Copenhagen 1878, pp. 182—185).
The second supplement deals with the Prayer by St. Gregory. The text is
printed in full, showing that its continuation from p. 34 is found on p. 13 of
241. This makes possible a reconstruction of the original psalter. Variant
readings are supplied from the ms. Bibl. Mazarine 512 from the eleventh cent-
ury. The opportunity is taken to point out the use of apologies and loricae in
Iceland.
The third supplement sketches the remnants of a Litany of All Saints found
in 241 and points out the rubric, that accredits it to Gennadius noster, whoever
that may be.
The main article — on the whole very favourable to Dr Ottósson — further
deals with some minor inaccuracies in his work.