CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #549

Georg von LOGAU to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Padova, [1530]-09-18

Manuscript sources:

1	fair copy in Latin, AAWO, AB, D. 6, f. 129-130
2	copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8242 (TK 4), a.1530, f. 70-73
3	register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 379

Prints:

1	DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 98, p. 60-61 (English register)

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus

AAWO, AB, D.6, f. 130v

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Ioanni DantiscoIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋, episcopo Culmensi designato, dignissimo et inclyti Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊regis PoloniaeSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋ ad Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊caesaream maiestatemCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋, amico suo in Maio.

Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊AugustaeAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋

AAWO, AB, D.6, f. 129r

Salutem plurimam dico.

Ceterum, quae de condicione mea et successu rerum, quae tibi utique curae esse et pro humanitate tua et benevolentia erga me scire te velle mihi persuadeo, scribere nunc breviter possum, haec sunt. Tandem, mi honorande Dantisce, saxum illud, quod iam diu atque anxie veluti Sysiphus alter volvo, ah, tandem utcumque constitit, ut Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliamItaly (Italia)⌋ optatam et intermissa virtutis et litterarum studia revisere mihi licuerit. Itaque quasi a longo veterno expergefactus et ipse ad me rediisse et ingenium text damaged⌈[m]m text damaged⌉, vigor, alacritas et libertas illa mea pristina mihi plane restituta videntur, ac sentio, Dantisce, quantis gaudiis et voluptatibus eos perfundi et beari necesse est, qui re vehementer et superinscribed⌈etet superinscribed⌉ ex animo desiderata potiuntur. Non, me text damaged⌈[e]e text damaged⌉ Hercule, ut quidam sinistri et malevoli homines interpretati sunt, propterea ut voluptatibus et beluinis deliciis me dedam, sed ita sim felix, omnia mihi ex sententia eveniant contingantque. Virtutis et litterarum amor et causa ea studia, si illi voluptatem et delicias vocant, recte et mecum, et Iove aequo iudicant. Quid enim illis iucundius, quoid suavius, quid text damaged⌈[id]id text damaged⌉ beatius hic ego me quemvis Epicurum superare fatebor libentissime. Absit text damaged⌈[t]t text damaged⌉ dicto invidia et arrogantia, atque utinam ea gaudia diuturna mihi essent text damaged⌈[ent]ent text damaged⌉, et quam solida, quam optarem.

Sed multum vereor, mi humanissime Dantisc, profectus enim sum in Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliamItaly (Italia)⌋, ut te scire arbitror, studio et cupiditate summa spe etiam aliqua facultate sane exigua et paene nulla. Quippe sumptum privato, quanto summo conatu corradere et extorquere vix potui, nulla text damaged⌈[a]a text damaged⌉ AAWO, AB, D.6, f. 129v hactenus externa ope aut subsidio vel adiutus, vel sublevatus superinscribed in place of crossed-out adiutus⌈adiutus sublevatus sublevatus superinscribed in place of crossed-out adiutus⌉. Multa enim me praeter meam et omnium exspectationem et spem omnino fefellerunt. cf. Verg. A. 11.312-313 nec quemquam incuso: potuit quae plurima virtus / esse, fuit ⌊Nec me ipsum incuso - potuit, quae plurima virtus esse, fuitcf. Verg. A. 11.312-313 nec quemquam incuso: potuit quae plurima virtus / esse, fuit ⌋. Omnia corradens, aere alieno dissoluto octoginta ex Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊AugustaAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋ aureolos mecum extuli. Ex iis hactenus in viaticum et sumptus, et libros, vestesque et res studiis ac usui necessarias XL amplius hactenus impensi residua pecuniola. Quam diu cum famulo, quo commode et honeste carere non possum, vivere hic queam, in ea praesertim annonae etiam caritate, quae tam gravis est, quam Jan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌊LeviciusJan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌋ tibi dicet, ipse optime intelligis, mi experientissime Dantisce.

Equidem in angustum meae cogantur copiae. Post Deum Optimum Maximum summa et praecipua mihi spes est in optimi et sanctissimi principis, et erga me paterna pietate spectanti Stanislaus Thurzó (*1470 – †1540), 1497-1540 Bishop of Olomouc⌊episcopi OlomucensisStanislaus Thurzó (*1470 – †1540), 1497-1540 Bishop of Olomouc⌋ beneficentiam et liberalitatem. Is pro amore et bonitate sua summa ab omnibus neglectum et desertum numquam me ipse neque neglexit, neque deseruit. Secundum hunc multo maximam fiduciam concepi de Loxani et Venceslai nostri, lectissimorum hominum et praeclare de nobis meritorum, amicitia et benignitate. Quorum in aula regia benevolentia et cura de me, studiis et fortunis meis semper exstitit singularis, necessariis maxime et dubiis temporibus meis, quibus ut pro humanitate tua et auctoritate, et gratia, quibus apud eos plurimam polles, me et studia mea diligenter et de meliore nota commendes, vehementer etiam atque etiam te rogo, et ne me in proposito honestissimo et studiis pulcherrimis summa cum {cum} voluntate et animi impetu versantem deserant, ne prius quoque cum perpetua et summa iactura iterum et iterum mihi contigit, medio in studio inceptum studiorum meorum cursum interrumpere cogor.

Polliciti sunt illi ultro mihi opes et praesidium suum meque spe optima confirmarunt. Et certo mihi persuadeo eos mihi et virtuti meae non defuturos, modo id in tempore ac mature fiat. Scis enim, mi Dantisce, quam ubique sit miserum egere, et in Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliaItaly (Italia)⌋ etiam periculosum. Fit enim pro ea, qua esse solet, humanitate illa natio, credo, ne inhospitalis videatur, ut multi propter aes alienum, quantumvis exiguum, publicitus hospitio excipiantur, id quod vestris aliquot hominibus, iisdem amicis meis, non multo ante tempore contigit indignissime. Qui honos ne et mihi aliquando habeatur, longe in posterum prospiciendum mihi videtur. Sum enim minime, ut scis, ambitiosus, eiusmodi praesertim honorum, verum, mi honorande amice, nunc etiam patrone, quoniam nescio, quo meo iure satis familiariter et paene impudenter amicitia tua et bonitate utor, ne an abutor dicam, hominis praesertim ea virtute et dignitate praediti, quia vero semel frontem perfricui, hoc etiam tibi iniungo negotii, quod ut suscipere non graveris, vehementer abs te contendo.

Agas cum Venceslao itemque cum Loxano nostro, ut pro me absente AAWO, AB, D.6, f. 130r praerogativam seu, ut vocant, gratiam exspectativam sacerdotii sive canonicatus Sacrosanctae Crucis Wrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in southwestern Poland, on the Oder river, historical capital of Silesia, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs⌊VratislaviaeWrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in southwestern Poland, on the Oder river, historical capital of Silesia, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs⌋ ab inclito Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊rege nostroFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ impetrent, quod illis propterea etiam factu facillimum est, quod diplomata super eiusmodi donationibus ab ipsis confici solent. Concessum est hoc idem externis et alienissimis hominibus, indignissimis etiam et sycophantis, me praeterito et neglecto hactenus, illa in patria genito. Ea utique familia eademque or ea denique⌈eademqueeademque or ea denique⌉ ingenii et virtutis praerogativa libet enim magnifice loqui et certe decet adversus ignorantes, quid quaque in re verum rectumque sit. Scis enim neglectae contemptaeque virtutis stimulos et impetus acerrimos et molestissimos solere existere.

Et tamen sunt et inveniuntur, si diis placet, qui me conqueri, qui dolere vetent, et aegre ferant, eo, dii boni, miseriarum recidimus, ut pulsatis rogandum sit et pugnis cesis adorandum. cf. Tib. 3.2.5-6 ⌊Non ego firmus in hoc, non haec patientia nostro ingenio frangit fortia corda dolorcf. Tib. 3.2.5-6 ⌋, sane videre licet, et nimium licet, ac nunc quidem, si umquam antea, quas turbas, quas tempestates, quam miseros tumultus haec perversitas et indignitas neglectae contemptaeque virtutis ediderit. Et vereor, ne sit editurus text damaged⌈[us]us text damaged⌉, nisi resipuerimus, et Deus nos propitius respexerit, ne aliquid de improviso existat, ut ludum ac iocum dicas fuisse priora illa, prae ut illius rabies, quae sit designatura.

Me vero nulla cuiusquam iniuria et terror ab instituto pulcherrimo et rectissimo sensu dimovebit meaque virtute me involvam probamque pauperiem sine dote quaeram, cf. Hor. Carm. 2.16.13-14 vivitur parvo bene, cui paternum / splendet in mensa tenui salinum ⌊modo liceat mihi paupere cul[...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ vivere et modo splendeat in mensa tenui salinumcf. Hor. Carm. 2.16.13-14 vivitur parvo bene, cui paternum / splendet in mensa tenui salinum ⌋ , ut inquit Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (*68 BC – †8 BC), Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus⌊poetaHorace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (*68 BC – †8 BC), Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus⌋ sane bonus. Parvo bene vivetur. Id vero nescio, quo meo fato et infelicitate mihi non contigit. Itaque aliena ope egeo et obnoxius esse cogor. Praeclare tamen paper damaged⌈[en]en paper damaged⌉ mecum agi puto, quod optimis et honestissimis ac ad virtutem natis hominibus, quod amicis, inter quos eximiam spem concepi, et te, mi humanissime Dantisce, Logum tuum tua liberalitate in studiis suis aliquando usurum, cum praesertim voluntati tuae, de qua certo mihi persuasum est, etiam faculta[...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉s non sit omnino defutura. Es enim nuper a sapientissimo et aequissimo Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊regeSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋ tuo dignitate et opibus non contemnendis, quamquam virtus illa tua eximia multo mereatur ampliora, nonnihil auctus et ornatus.

Haec ego, mi honorande antistes, bonitate et humanitate illa tua ac facilitate singulari fretus et excitatus liberius fortassis, prolixius certe et satis verbose ad te scripsi, eo etiam magis, quod cum Jan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌊LeviciusJan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌋ aliquot dies Padova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌊PataviiPadova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌋ substi paper damaged⌈[sti]sti paper damaged⌉sset, plusculum otii nactus eram. Ignosces igitur pro virtutibus tuis mihi, qui paper damaged⌈[qui]qui paper damaged⌉bus me commovisti, hoc tum me consecutum existimabo. Cum mihi vel tribus paper damaged⌈[bus]bus paper damaged⌉ saltem verbis responderis et, quid profeceris in causa mea apud Venceslaum paper damaged⌈[laum]laum paper damaged⌉ AAWO, AB, D.6, f. 130v et Loxanum profeceris.

Lazzaro Bonamico (*1547 or 1478 – †1552), humanist, distinguished Latinist and poet, lecturer in Latin and Greek at the University of Padua (POCIECHA 4, p. 261; CE, vol. 1, p. 166)⌊LazarusLazzaro Bonamico (*1547 or 1478 – †1552), humanist, distinguished Latinist and poet, lecturer in Latin and Greek at the University of Padua (POCIECHA 4, p. 261; CE, vol. 1, p. 166)⌋ meus, idemque tuus, Padova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌊PataviumPadova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌋ ad professionem Graecarum et Latinarum litterarum conductus ille quidem dicitur, sed nondum huc accessit, Bologna (Bononia), city in Italy at the southern end of the plain of the Po valley, between 1506 and 1860 it belonged to the Papal State⌊BononiaeBologna (Bononia), city in Italy at the southern end of the plain of the Po valley, between 1506 and 1860 it belonged to the Papal State⌋ est et circa finem huius mensis huc dicitur venturus. Litteras tuas in commendationem meam peramice et luculenter scriptas ex Venetiis ad text damaged⌈[d]d text damaged⌉ Lazzaro Bonamico (*1547 or 1478 – †1552), humanist, distinguished Latinist and poet, lecturer in Latin and Greek at the University of Padua (POCIECHA 4, p. 261; CE, vol. 1, p. 166)⌊eumLazzaro Bonamico (*1547 or 1478 – †1552), humanist, distinguished Latinist and poet, lecturer in Latin and Greek at the University of Padua (POCIECHA 4, p. 261; CE, vol. 1, p. 166)⌋ perferendas curavi.

Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌊CornelioCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌋ nostro iuveni ingenii et virtutis laudibus [...] tex damaged⌈[...][...] tex damaged⌉natissimo et promptissimo Achates one of the characters from Virgil's "Aeneid", a friend of Aeneas⌊AchatiAchates one of the characters from Virgil's "Aeneid", a friend of Aeneas⌋ et Patroclo tuo, amico meo lectissimo salu text damaged⌈[lu]lu text damaged⌉tem, cui me commendari percupio. Non piguisset me etiam ad ipsum scribere, nisi ad te quae scribo, ad illum scripta fere existimarem. Solent enim pro summa vestra coniunctione et lege necessitudinis omnia inter nos esse communia.

Salvere etiam iubeo eximium virum Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊P(hilippum) MelanchtonemPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ litterarum et notitiae nuper inter nos conflatae causa.

Tu vero mihi hoc quoque ignosces, mi Praesul, neque arrogantiae aut superbiae meae ascribes, quod reverentias, paternitates, amplitudines et hoc genus fumosarum adulationum litteris non immiscuerim, memini enim me ad te, hoc est Dantiscum, virum doctum et prudentissimum scribere, qui haec non tam affectare, quam ridere et contemnere soleat. Et simul video veteres illos ab huiusmodi ms. o(!) ⌈ii ms. o(!) ⌉ deliciis vel ineptiis potius procul refugisse. Si tamen iis delectaris, quid negotii est deinceps ascribere.

Bene vale, Logi tui memor, quem pergas, ut facis, amare.

Padova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌊PataviiPadova (Patavium, Padua), city in northern Italy, Veneto, on the Bacchiglione river, 40 km N of Venice⌋, XVIII Septembris hidden by binding⌈[embris]embris hidden by binding⌉ [...] hidden by binding⌈[...][...] hidden by binding⌉.

Dignitatis tuae studiosissimus Geor hidden by binding⌈[r]r hidden by binding⌉gius Logus s(cripsit)