Abstract

One of the most peculiar features of the transmission of texts in medieval times is the custom of reproducing long passages from a text originating from another author, whether unchanged or with slight modifications, with no reference to that fact by the author responsible. Moreover, through paraphrases, abbreviationes, breviaria, compendia, compilationes, or even florilegia and tabulae, medieval culture disassociated numerous authors of their texts, sometimes even transforming the ideas in the original text and extending their reception beyond any intention foreseen by the primary author. Because of this, whenever we approach a medieval text, whether published or extant in manuscript form, we need to bear in...