De bdellio. Bdellium est arbor nobilissima in oriente, colore nigra, magnitudine olee, folio roboris, fructu caprifici; lacrimam habet, cuius quidem natura est que et gummi. Nigra est, cum in offas volvitur. Cum vero lacrima recens est, translucet ere similis. Odorem habet optimum, et cum frangitur, pinguescit, gustu amara. Odoratior utique est infusione vini. Huius arbor in Bactria nascitur. Hec Plinius dicit et Glosa super Genesim de bdellio arbore.
- Translation
- Vocabulary
- Notes
Of the bdellium. The bdellium is the most noble tree in the east, black in color, with the size of an olive tree, with leaves of oak, [and] with the fruit of a wild fig tree; it has gum, whose nature indeed is that also of the gum tree. It is black, when it is rolled into pieces. Truly when there is new gum, it is translucent similar to air. It has the best scent, and when broken up, it grows richer, with a bitter taste. In any case, it is more fragrant than an infusion of wine. The tree of this grows in Bactria. Pliny says these things and a Glossa on Genesis of the bdellium tree.
aera, is/os, m or f – air
amarus, a, um – bitter, harsh, sour
Bactria or Bactriana, ae, f – Bactra, an ancient Iranian civilization in Central Asia
bdellium, i/ii, n – bdellium, the plant itself
caprificus, i, n – wild fig tree
cummis (gummis), is, f – gum
folium, i/ii, n – leaf, petal
Genesis, is/eos, f – genesis, Genesis (Bible chapter)
glossa, ae, f – gloss, explanation added to text; glosses assembled into a commentary
gustus, us, m – taste
infusio, onis, f – infusion
lacrima, ae, f – juice or gum of a plant
odor, oris, m – scent, smell, stench, perfume
odoratus, a, um – fragrant
offa, ae, f – morsel, chunk, piece
olea, ae, f – olive, olive tree
oriens, entis, m – daybreak, dawn, the east
Plinius, i/ii, m sg – Roman family name, held by Pliny the Elder
pinguesco, ere, 3 no perf, pass, or supine – grow fat or rich
robur, oris, n – oak tree
transluceo, ere, evi, etum, 2 – shine across or through, be translucent or transparent
ver, veris, n – spring (season)
volvo, ere lvi, lutum, 3 – roll, tumble
olee = oleae
que = quae
ere = aerae, similis takes dative, ae to e
ablative of comparison
hec = haec
refers to an unknown gloss, explanation added to text, or glosses assembled into a commentary, possibly the Glosa Ordinaria