Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.10.1967, Side 227
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a pair of conj ugate leaves and then sticking an odd leaf on is used
in 779c III (where ff. 22+29 are strengthened, and f. 30 attached
to them). It seems fairly certain that 180e consists of a single leaf
followed by a normal gathering of 8 leaves.
The sole exception is then the last gathering in 564d, which
contains only 6 leaves. 564d is the last manuscript in group II. It
may justly be concluded that Jon Torfason made a smaller gathering
than usual because he knew how much space he needed to finish
this particular saga and he did not intend at that time to go any
further. The possibility that the end of group II was also the end of
the anthology is much strengthened by this consideration.
The facts conceming leaves and gatherings at the beginning and
end of each of the four parts are the following. Group I begins
with a gathering of seven leaves: ff. 1 + 6, 2+5 and 3+4 are
conjugate, and f. 7 is single, so one leaf is missing at the beginning.
It ends with a gathering of seven leaves, so one is missing at the
end too. Group II begins with a normal gathering, and ends with
a gathering of six leaves (from which nothing is missing however).
J6ns saga leikara (588f) consists of a single leaf and three bifolia,
ff. 1, 2+7, 3+6 and 4+5; almost certainly the start of the saga
coincided with the beginning of a gathering, and one leaf is missing
at the end. Finally Karl Magnus krønike (180e, discussed above)
probably consists of a single odd leaf at the beginning followed by a
complete gathering, with nothing wanting at the end.
Two conclusions can be drawn from these facts. The first is that
the above-mentioned list of multiple possibilities as to the order of
the parts can be somewhat reduced. It seems very likely that group
II, ending with E>or8ar saga hrebu, was the end of the anthology.
As to the beginning of the volume, that cannot have been Karl
Magnus krønike, which begins with one odd leaf, nor group II if
this was the end as has just been supposed. Of the two other parts
group I seems the more likely, although for highly speculative
reasons. Firstly, Rémundar saga is a more substantial text with which
to begin a volume than Jons saga leikara. Secondly, group I lacks a
single leaf at the beginning; this may readily be supposed to have
contained a general title-page for the whole volume, and possibly a
list of contents compiled as the copying progressed.
The second conclusion is that whatever order the four parts are