Ambr. C 222 inf., f. 360r

F. 360r of manuscript Ambr. C 222 inf. marks the transition from Idyll XVI (vv. 104-109) to Idyll XVIII (vv. 1-38). The page clearly demonstrates the skill of the so-called “mercenary scribe” in coordinating poetic text and scholia, achieving a balanced use of space even when the commentary is relatively sparse. The scholia on Idyll XVI are arranged along the upper and outer margins, closely tracking the progression of the text. By contrast, the hypothesis to Idyll XVIII is not placed in the outer margin (as, for example, on f. 350r), but begins within the written area and then extends outward to the edge of the page. In the outer margin, the scribe set the two scholia on the text in exact alignment with the corresponding poetic lines. The final scholium on the page, relating to v. 35 (ad αἱ δὲ ταῦτά γε), is positioned directly opposite the line of verse in the outer margin, producing a striking sense of graphic order, while the lower margin remains entirely blank.

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