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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
102 INTRODUCTION
65. Whilst upon this subject of manuscripts of our Author,
I will give some particulars regarding a very curious one, con-
taining a version in the Irish language.
This remarkable document is found in the Book of Lismore,
belonging to the Duke of Devonshire. That magnificent book,
Notice of a finely written on vellum of the largest size, was
currsiiouson Irish discovered in 1814, enclosed in a wooden box, along
Ve of
Polo. with a superb crozier, on opening a closed door-
way in the castle of Lismore. It contained Lives of the Saints,
the (Romance) History of Charlemagne, the History of the
Lombards, histories and tales of Irish wars, etc., etc., and among
the other matter this version of Marco Polo. A full account of
the Book and its mutilations will be found in O'Cur;y's Lectures
on the MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History, p. 196 seqq.,
Dublin, 1861. The Book of Lismore was written about 146o for
q
reference to the Martyrdom of St. Blaize at Sebaste (see p. 43 of this volume), is found also in the Geographic Latin.
It was pointed out by Lazari, that another passage (vol. i. p. 6o) of those otherwise peculiar to Ramusio, is found in a somewhat abridged Latin version in a MS. which belonged to the late eminent antiquary Emanuel Cicogna. (See List in Appendix F, No. 35.) This fact induced me when at Venice in 1870 to examine the MS. throughout, and, though I could give little time to it, the result was very curious.
I find that this MS. contains, not one only, but at least seven of the passages otherwise peculiar to Ramusio, and must have been one of the elements that went to the formation of his text. Yet of his more important interpolations, such as the chapter on Ahmad's oppressions and the additional matter on the City of Kinsay, there is no indication. The seven passages alluded to are as follows ; the words corresponding to Ramusian peculiarities are in italics, the references are to my own volumes.
I. In the chapter on Georgia :
" Mare quod dicitur Gheluchelan vel ABACU " . . .
" Est ejus stricta via et dubia. Ab una parte est mare quo" dixi de ABACO et ab a a nemora invia," etc. (See I. p. 59, note 8.)
" Et ibi optimi austures dicti A VIGI " (i . 50).
After the chapter on Mosul is another short chapter, already alluded to :
" Prope hanc civitatem (est) alfa provincia dicta MUS e MEREDIEN in qud nascitur magna quantitas bonzbacis, et hie jiiuizt bocharini et alia multa, et sunt mercatores hommes et artiste." (See i, p. 6o.)
In the chapter on Tarcan (for Carcan, i.e. Yarkand) :
" Et maior pars horuin habent unuln ex pedibus grossuan et habent gosum in áuld; et est hic fertilis contracta." (See i. p. 187.)
In the Desert of Lop :
" Homines trasseuntes appendztnt bestiis suis capanullas [i. e. campanellas] ut ipsas
senciant et ne deviare possint" (i. p. 197.)
" Ciagannor, quod sonat in Latino S7 A GNUJ1 ALBUM." (i. p. 296.)
" Et in medio hujus viridarii est palacium sive logia, tota super colu;npnas. Et in sunznzitate ca Juslibet columnce est draco magnats circundans totanz columpnanz, et hic substinet eorum cohoperturam cum ore et pedibus ; et est cohopertura tota de çannis hoc modo," etc. (See i. p. 299.)
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