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Letter #3401

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Achatius? von] ZEHMEN (CEMA) jr.
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-07-03

English register:

Dantiscus thanks the addressee for his kind and frequent letters, and reassures him of his goodwill.

He is also grateful for the news sent to him, and asks for more news to be forwarded more frequently. He notes the deplorable state of the fatherland, yet he can see no way out of the crisis. He places his hope for improvement in God.

In a postscript, Dantiscus writes that just as this letter was about to be sealed, another letter arrived from the addressee and his father [probably Achatius von Zehmen (Czema)] contaning greetings and wishes for a long life. This is a welcome message which is well received and kindly reciprocated.

Dantiscus sees no way out of the unfavourable state of public affairs. Through God’s grace, it might be possible to achieve things which are beyond what they can perceive. He has done what he was asked to do on the sheet of paper enclosed with the letter.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 372r (c.p.1, b.p.)
2rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 370v (t.p.)

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 553

 

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

 

Iuniori Czem

Quod saepius nos tuis litteris invisis, nobis est gratissimum et delectamur isto tuo erga nos amore et complacendi, quo uteris, studio , eo enim cotidie te nobis reddis cariorem, ita ut minime tibi, quod tamen novissimis tuis litteris facere videris, de nostro erga te benevolo animo sit dubitandum, amamus te plurimum, idque ob honestos tuos mores et excultum ingenium, et vellemus nobis aliquando exhiberi occasionem, quo hanc nostram benevolentiam tibi possemus reddere testatiorem, numquam deerit prona nostra voluntas.

Gratificatus etiam es nobis multum cum adiunctis novitatibus et ut saepius huiusmodi perscribas, rogamus. Animo advertimus quidem patriae statum esse afflictissimum, quomodo vero huic malo sit occurrendum et ille in integrum restituendus, non videmus. Omnia Deo sunt committenda, qui aliquando dabit meliora et laetiora tempora.

Bene vale.

Datae ex arce nostra Heilsberg, III Iulii 1548.

Postscript:

Scheda in litteras iunioris Czem

Cum hae litterae fere essent obsignandae, alterae nobis a te reddebantur, quibus nobis tuo et magnifici parentis tui nomine omnia fausta cum longaeva vita precaris. Nos hanc tuam et parentis tui optionem grato animo suscipientes tantumdem et si quid addi potest, vobis coniunctim reprecamur.

Quomodo vero per nos rei publicae status iam fere collapsus sustentari et restaurari debeat, non videmus nec in nobis consilium, quo hoc malum, quod nobis omnibus impendet, averti posset, invenimus. Gratia divina erit nobis exspectanda, ut ex ea omnia moderentur et alium finem quam eum, quem nos anim{i}advertimus, sortiantur . Cum inserta in tuas litteras scheda hoc, quod fieri petiisti, egimus etc.