Hosea. From the figure that occupies the left-hand compartment extends a scroll, at one end of which is the word Œzeciel, with a number referring to the twenty-fourth chapter; and in the other part are the words:
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Corona tua capite ligata fiet, et calciamenta in pedibus.
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Thy tire shall be bound upon thine head, and thy shoes upon thy feet. xxiv, 17.
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The corresponding scroll, attached to the other figure, contains, at one end, Ozee, with a reference to the second chapter; and in the other part are the words:
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Sponsado te mihi in sempiternum.
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I will betroth thee unto me forever. ii, 19.
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In the central compartment, between the upper and lower busts, is depicted the Type, or principal subject. It represents the reward of righteousness in heaven; the designer having introduced the Redeemer as bestowing the Crown of Life upon one of the elect Spirits. The antitype, on the left, is the Daughter of Zion crowned by her spouse, with the following leonine verse underneath:
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Laus anime vere
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O soul divine! it rightly knew,
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The other antitype, on the right, represents an Angel addressing St. John, having beneath it this verse:
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Sponsus amat sposam,
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And Christ, the bridegroom, far above
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And in the bottom space is this verse:
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Tunc gaudent anime sibi quando bonum vatur omne.
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Then souls rejoice with great delight,
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The first edition of the book contains forty engravings on wood, printed on one side only of the leaf. The prints face each other; two pages of illustrations are always followed by two pages of blank paper. The book was put together in sections of two leaves, a method of making a book contrary to prevailing usage. Manuscript books of that period were usually made up in sections of four double leaves, which were nested together in one section. This deviation from established usage was, apparently, caused through the error of the engraver, who cut, on the same block, the two pages which faced each other. It was, consequently, impossible to nest
