This small-format manuscript begins with a description of the festivities for the translation of the relics of St. Otmar and Notker Balbulus into the rebuilt Church of St. Otmar in the year 1628 (pp. 4–46). There then follow poems written for this feast (p. 47–630). These are overwhelmingly the work of the young monks Athanasius Gugger, Basilius Renner and Chrysostomus Stipplin, all of whom professed in 1626, as well as the monastery schoolboy Placidus Bridler (professed in 1630). Most of the poems are written in Latin, a few are also in German or Greek. In general, several poems together form an emblem, which then ends with a Latin and a German explanation of the image. Several emblems are summarized as a so-called affixio on a theme; frequently, following an affixion appears an appendix with logogriphs (letter-riddles) or other riddles. The images for the 1628 affixiones have not survived, although it is clear from the description of the translation-festivities that 976 large-format leaves with images, verses, and explanations hung in the cloister of the abbey (pp. 31–32). On pp. 631–727 there are further emblems and speeches of the same authors on various occasions in 1631. (sno)

Online Since: 04/25/2023