Paris et Vienne: un manuscrit, trois incunables

Of the novel of Paris et Vienne composed in the south of France by Pierre de La Cépède, a long version survives (the so-called “Burgundian” version, transmitted by the manuscript Brussels, KBR, 9632-9633, is illustrated by the Master of Jean de Wavrin) and a short version transmitted by a single handwritten copy, but which enjoyed great success thanks to an early transition to print. The article studies in parallel the manuscript, the two Lyon incunabula and the Antwerp incunabula: study of the structure (chapters, titles), lessons and variants. It is necessary to underline the role of the first Lyon printer, Le Roy, who maintains lessons close to the handwritten copy, while introducing others, the most numerous, which will be maintained in the continuation of the transmission, notably in the Antwerp version. from Leeu. However, Le Roy’s incunable is not free from errors, some of which were corrected by his successors, some only by the Antwerp incunable. The work of these printers must be taken into account. Far from being passive transmitters, they want to provide their readers with books that are both beautiful and correct.