The Eds. disagree about the correct placement of the Con ciò sia gloss in the edition. This disagreement is the product of two conflicting interpretations about the structure and themes of the poem. The purpose of this note is to argue for an alternate placement of the gloss, based on a third reading of the structure and themes of the poem.
Batt. and Ronc. link the Con ciò sia gloss to 1.10, the octave that describes the efforts of Ipolita, once she was elected queen of the Amazons, to prevent any men from entering her kingdom. Lim. (878, n.10) makes the case that the gloss has no particular relationship with 1.10; he argues, instead, that, instead of serving as a note about Ipolita's rule as queen of the Amazons, it is better understood as an introduction to the Teseida narrative as a whole. Noting that in AUT the gloss begins toward the end of 1.7, a few octaves before 1.10, Lim. chooses to link it with 1.6, the first octave in the narrative portion of the Teseida.
Linking the gloss with 1.6 has a certain appeal. Five octaves previously, at the invocation to the Muses that begins the poem (1.1), a gloss discusses the the author's reason for this invocation. Gl. 1.1.1 explains that the author invokes the Muses in observance of an ancient custom long followed by writers: secondo l'antico costume de' componitori. Since 1.6 marks another beginning -- the narrative section of the poem -- it would seem fitting to mark that beginning with a similar gloss referring to the events of the narrative and to the author's intentions in composing the story.
Besides introducing two major divisions of the poem, 1.1 and 1.6 are also identified by rubrics. The rubric at 1.1 announces the beginning of the first book of the Teseida and the author's invocation. The rubric at 1.6 identifies the themes of the next section of the poem (1.6-1.17): the time of and the provocation for Theseus's campaign against the queen of the Amazons (il tempo et la cagione nel quale e per che Theseo, ducha d'Acthene, andò adosso alla reina delle donne amazone). Because both glosses introduce major parts of the poem; because they both discuss the author's intentions; and because 1.1 and 1.6 are both introduced by rubrics, one can understand Lim.'s decision to place the Con ciò sia gloss at 1.6.
The problem with this choice, however, is that it implies that Bocc. miscopied the gloss, placing it in the right margin of fol. 4r instead of giving it a privileged position at 1.6 on the previous page (fol. 3v) -- a position that would have resembled the placement of gl. 1.1.1. Another difficulty with this editorial choice is that no such similar error in layout occurs elsewhere in AUT. In copying AUT, Bocc. makes consistent efforts to place the glosses as close as possible to the texts that they discuss. In order to achieve this, he copies glosses in both margins of a page when necessary, supplies lemmas in order to relate text and glosses, and even uses paired symbols to connect glosses with their subjects. If Bocc. had intended the gloss for 1.6, he would not have placed the relatively unimportant glasses about Egeo (1.6.1) and Scizia (1.6.2) in their prominent position in the margin to the right of 1.6. Instead, he could have constructed these as interlinear glosses or placed them in the left margin at 1.6. The long gloss announcing la principale intenzione dell'autore di questo libretto could then have occupied the right margin at 1.6.1-.7.6, including the space now occupied by the gloss on Belo (gl.1.7.1). The Belo gloss could then have been placed in the left margin or moved to fol. 4r and copied in the position now occupied by the Con ciò sia gloss.
The most sensible approach concerning this gloss is to assume that it is positioned precisely where Bocc. meant it to be. The manuscript evidence certainly supports this argument. In NO the glosses beginning at 1.6 are copied in the right margin and in the same sequence that they appear in AUT: the Egeo and Scizia glosses at 1.6.1 and 1.6.2; the Belo gloss at 1.7.1; and the Con ciò sia gloss beginning at 1.8.5. (This last gloss cannot be placed at the beginning of 1.8 as in AUT, however, because of the different layout of the MSS. In NO, the lower margin of fol. 3v is occupied by a drawing for which there is no provision in AUT; in addition, the right margin of 4r is narrower in NO. As a result, the Belo gloss in NO occupies a different marginal space -- from 1.6.8 to 1.8.4. This, in turn, displaces the Con ciò sia gloss, which follows: the gloss, which fills the margin to the right of 1.8 in AUT, must begin at 1.8.5 in NO.)
Besides examining the appearance of the glosses in NO, it is useful to look at their placement in the MSS with the short-commentary glosses. The gloss appears in MSS from all three families, but it is never copied at 1.6. The alpha copy (RL) has the gloss at 1.1.1, where it serves as a general statement of the author's intention for the whole poem; in the gamma copy (P2), the gloss begins at 1.9.3; and in the beta copy (MT), the gloss appears at the end of 1.8.
The position of the gloss at 1.8 in MT is the most certain indication of its location because MT does not have marginal glosses. Instead, in MT the glosses are copied in the same column as the poem, immediately after the octave to which they refer. Marginal or interlinear symbols link the glosses with their point of reference in the poem. No such symbol appears in 1.8, which implies that the gloss refers to the entire octave. In sum, then, in all five MSS where it appears (AUT, NO, RL, P2, and MT), the Con ciò sia gloss is associated not with 1.6 or 1.10, but rather with 1.8. For these various reasons this edition links the Con ciò sia gloss with 1.8.
One final, thematic reason supports this choice of 1.8 as the location of the gloss: the history of the Amazons begins at 1.6 (where the women determine to rule themselves) and continues in l.7 (where they kill their husbands). At 1.8 the Amazons make a political decision that sets in the motion the events of the Teseida: they elect Ipolita as their queen, a role that she exercises for some years (1.9-12), until Theseus determines to make war on Ipolita and her women (1.13). The rubric at 1.6 states that the subject of 1.6-1.17 is to be Theseus's campaign against the queen of the Amazons. The election of Ipolita in 1.8 is thus the specific act that motivates the events of the narrative that are highlighted and summarized in the Con ciò sia gloss. For this reason, while 1.6-.7 can be considered as Bocc.'s prologue to the narrative, 1.8 should be considered as the true beginning of the narrative. Bocc. thus copied the gloss at 1.8 in order to indicate that this is the appropriate point for the author to announce his understanding of and intentions for the narrative to follow.
Edition: e 'n cotal
AUT: Encotal
NO: Enchotal
Edition: guisa
AUT: guisa
NO: ghuisa
Edition: libere
AUT: libere
NO: libere
Edition: si fero,
AUT: sifero·
NO: sifero
Edition: ben
AUT: ben
NO: benche
Edition: che poi
AUT: chepoi
NO: benche poi·
Edition: mantenersi
AUT: mātenersi
NO: mantenersi·
Edition: non potero.
AUT: nōpotero·
NO: nonpotero
Edition: Rechato
AUT: Rechato
NO: Rechato·
Edition: adunque
AUT: adunque
NO: adunque
Edition: co'
AUT: co
NO: coferri
Edition: ferri
AUT: ferri
NO: coferri
Edition: ad effecto
AUT: adeffecto
NO: adeffetto
Edition: lor
AUT: lor
NO: lormalvoler
Edition: malvoler,
AUT: malvoler|
NO: lormalvoler
Edition: voller
AUT: voller
NO: voler
Edition: maestra
AUT: maestra
NO: maestro
Edition: et duce
AUT: ⁊̣duce
NO: educe
Edition: che
AUT: che
NO: chechorreggesse
Edition: correggesse
AUT: correggesse
NO: chechorreggesse
Edition: ciascun
AUT: ciascun
NO: caschun
Edition: lor
AUT: lor
NO: lor
Edition: difecto
AUT: difecto
NO: difetto
Edition: et ad
AUT: ⁊ adben
NO: al
Edition: ben
AUT: adben
NO: benviver·
Edition: viver
AUT: viver
NO: benviver·
Edition: desse
AUT: desse
NO: desse
Edition: forma
AUT: forma
NO: forma
Edition: et luce;
AUT: ⁊luce
NO: ⁊ luce
Edition: né ad
AUT: nead
NO: neatalvoglia
Edition: tal
AUT: tal
NO: neatalvoglia
Edition: voglia
AUT: voḷglia
NO: neatalvoglia
Edition: dier
AUT: dier
NO: dier
Edition: lungo
AUT: lungo
NO: lungho
Edition: rispecto,
AUT: rispecto
NO: rispetto
Edition: ma
AUT: ma
NO: ma
Edition: delle
AUT: delle
NO: delle
Edition: donne
AUT: donne
NO: donne
Edition: che 'l luogho
AUT: chelluogho
NO: chelluogho
Edition: produce
AUT: produce·
NO: produce
Edition: elesser
AUT: Elesser
NO: Elesson
Edition: per
AUT: ꝑ
NO: ꝑ
Edition: reyna
AUT: reyna
NO: reina
Edition: en la
AUT: enla
NO: en lalor
Edition: lor terra
AUT: lorterra
NO: lalor terra
Edition: Ypolita
AUT: ypolita
NO: ypolita
Edition: gentil,
AUT: gentil
NO: gentil
Edition: mastra
AUT: mastra
NO: mastra
Edition: di guerra.
AUT: diguerra·
NO: dighuerra
Edition: La quale,
AUT: Laquale
NO: Laquale
Edition: ancora
AUT: ancora
NO: anchor
Edition: che femina
AUT: chefemina
NO: chefemina
Edition: fosse
AUT: fosse
NO: fusse
Edition: et
AUT: ⁊
NO: edi
Edition: di bellezze
AUT: dibelleççe
NO: edi bellezza
Edition: piena
AUT: piena
NO: piena
Edition: oltre
AUT: oltre
NO: oltra
Edition: misura,
AUT: misura
NO: misura
Edition: prese
AUT: prese
NO: prese
Edition: la signoria,
AUT: lasingnoria
NO: la signioria
Edition: et
AUT: ⁊
NO: essi·
Edition: sì rimosse
AUT: sirimosse
NO: essi· rimosse
Edition: dassé
AUT: dasse
NO: dasse
Edition: ciascuna
AUT: ciascuna
NO: ciaschuna
Edition: feminil
AUT: feminil
NO: feminil
Edition: paura,
AUT: paura
NO: paura
Edition: et
AUT: ⁊
NO: eintal
Edition: in tal
AUT: intal
NO: eintal
Edition: guisa
AUT: guisa
NO: ghuisa
Edition: ordinò
AUT: ordino
NO: hordino
Edition: le sue
AUT: lesue
NO: lesue
Edition: posse,
AUT: posse
NO: posse
Edition: che 'l rengno
AUT: chelrengno
NO: cherregnio
Edition: suo
AUT: suo
NO: suo
Edition: et
AUT: ⁊
NO: esse
Edition: sé
AUT: se
NO: esse
Edition: fece
AUT: fece
NO: fece
Edition: sicura;
AUT: sicura
NO: sichura
Edition: né di vicine
AUT: Nedivicine
NO: Nedivicina
Edition: genti
AUT: genti
NO: genti
Edition: avea
AUT: avea
NO: avea
Edition: doctanza,
AUT: doctāça
NO: dottanza
Edition: sì
AUT: si
NO: sissi
Edition: si fidava
AUT: sifidava
NO: sissi fidava
Edition: nella
AUT: nella
NO: nelle·
Edition: sua
AUT: sua
NO: sua
Edition: possanza.
AUT: possança·
NO: possanza
Edition: ¶
AUT: ¶
NO: ¶
Edition: Rengnando
AUT: Rengnādo
NO: ¶
Edition: adunque
AUT: adunque
NO: Regniando
Edition: animosa
AUT: animosa
NO: adunque
Edition: costei,
AUT: costei
NO: animosa chostej
Edition: alle
AUT: alle
NO: alle
Edition: sue
AUT: sue
NO: sue
Edition: donne
AUT: donne
NO: donne
Edition: fé
AUT: fe
NO: fe
Edition: comandamento
AUT: comādamento
NO: chomandamento
Edition: che
AUT: che
NO: chegreci·
Edition: Greci,
AUT: greci
NO: chegreci·
Edition: Trazii,
AUT: traçii
NO: trazy
Edition: Egiptii
AUT: egiptii
NO: egipty
Edition: o
AUT: o
NO: o
Edition: Sabei,
AUT: sabei
NO: sabei
Edition: né
AUT: ne
NO: neuomini
Edition: huomini
AUT: huomini
NO: neuomini
Edition: altri
AUT: altri
NO: altri·
Edition: alcun
AUT: alcunị
NO: alchun
Edition: nel tenimento
AUT: neltenimēto
NO: nel tenimento
Edition: entrar
AUT: entrar
NO: entrar
Edition: lasciasser,
AUT: lasciasser
NO: lasciasser
Edition: se
AUT: se|
NO: sesse
Edition: esse
AUT: ẹsse
NO: sesse
Edition: avean
AUT: avean
NO: aven
Edition: di lei
AUT: diḷlei
NO: dilei
Edition: la gratia
AUT: lagratia
NO: lagrazia
Edition: chara;
AUT: chara
NO: chara
Edition: ma
AUT: ma
NO: ma
Edition: ciascuno
AUT: ciascuno
NO: caschuno
Edition: spento
AUT: spento
NO: spento
Edition: di vita
AUT: Divita
NO: Divita
Edition: fosse
AUT: fosse
NO: fosse
Edition: che vi s'appressasse,
AUT: chevisappressasse
NO:
Edition: se subito
AUT: sesubito
NO: sesubito
Edition: il terren
AUT: ilterren
NO: ilterren
Edition: non
AUT: nō
NO: non
Edition: isgombrasse.
AUT: isgombrasse.
NO: isghonbrasse
Edition: Se per
AUT: Seꝑ
NO: Seper
Edition: ventura
AUT: ventura
NO: ventura
Edition: lì
AUT: li
NO: li
Edition: fosser
AUT: fosser
NO: fosser
Edition: venute
AUT: venute
NO: venute
Edition: femine,
AUT: femine
NO: femine
Edition: di qual
AUT: diqual
NO: diqual
Edition: parte
AUT: parte
NO: parte
Edition: si volesse,
AUT: sivolesse
NO: sivolesse
Edition: da llor
AUT: dallor
NO: dallor
Edition: beningnamente
AUT: beningnamēte
NO: benigniamente
Edition: ricevute
AUT: ricevute
NO: ricevute
Edition: comandò
AUT: comādo
NO: chomando
Edition: fossero
AUT: fossero
NO: fussero,
Edition: et,
AUT: ⁊
NO: esse
Edition: se lor
AUT: selor
NO: esse lorpiacesse
Edition: piacesse
AUT: piacesse
NO: lorpiacesse
Edition: d'esser
AUT: desser
NO: desser
Edition: con loro
AUT: cōloro
NO: cholloro
Edition: insieme,
AUT: īsieme
NO: insieme
Edition: ritenute
AUT: ritenute
NO: ritenute
Edition: dovessono
AUT: dovessono
NO: dovessenesser
Edition: esser,
AUT: esser
NO: dovessenesser
Edition: sì
AUT: si
NO: si
Edition: che
AUT: che
NO: che
Edition: sì riempiesse
AUT: siriempiesse
NO: senon piesse
Edition: il luogho
AUT: Illuogho
NO: Illuogho
Edition: di color
AUT: dicolor
NO: dicholor·
Edition: che lì
AUT: cheli
NO: chelli·
Edition: morieno
AUT: morieno
NO: morieno
Edition: di quelle
AUT: diquelle
NO: diquelle
Edition: che
AUT: che
NO: che
Edition: d'altronde
AUT: daltronde
NO: daltronde
Edition: lì
AUT: li
NO: livenieno
Edition: venieno.
AUT: venieno·
NO: livenieno
Edition: ¶
AUT: ¶
NO: ¶
Edition: Sotto
AUT: Sotto
NO: ¶
Edition: tal
AUT: tal
NO: Sotto·
Edition: legge
AUT: legge
NO: tal
Edition: più
AUT: piu
NO: legge
Edition: anni
AUT: anni
NO: piu
Edition: quel
AUT: quel
NO: anni·
Edition: rengno
AUT: rengno
NO: quel regnio
Edition: istette,
AUT: istette
NO: stette
Edition: e' porti
AUT: eporti
NO: eporti·
Edition: furon
AUT: furon
NO: furon
Edition: ben
AUT: ben
NO: ben
Edition: guardati,
AUT: guardati
NO: ghuardati
Edition: sicché
AUT: sicche
NO: sicche
Edition: non vi
AUT: nōvi
NO: nonvi
Edition: venia
AUT: venia
NO: venia
Edition: nave
AUT: nave
NO: nave
Edition: né lengno,
AUT: nelengno
NO: nelegnio
Edition: o
AUT: o
NO: o
Edition: da
AUT: da
NO: dafortuna
Edition: fortuna
AUT: fortuna
NO: dafortuna
Edition: o
AUT: o
NO: ho
Edition: da
AUT: da
NO: da
Edition: altro
AUT: altro
NO: altro
Edition: menati
AUT: menati
NO: menati
Edition: che fosser
AUT: chefosser
NO: chefusser
Edition: lì,
AUT: li
NO: li·
Edition: che non lasciasser
AUT: chenōlasciasser
NO: chenon lasciasser
Edition: pengno
AUT: pengno
NO: pegnio
Edition: oltre
AUT: oltre
NO: oltral
Edition: al parer
AUT: alpiacer
NO: oltral piarer·
Edition: loro;
AUT: loro|
NO: loro
Edition: et
AUT: ⁊
NO: ⁊
Edition: malmenati
AUT: malmenati·
NO: mal menati