Letter #6260
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Georgius SABINUSHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1546-06-05
English register:
Dantiscus expresses his delight at the addressee’s poem, which he received upon his return [to Heilsberg (Lidzbark) from the diet of Royal Prussia].
He describes spring in metaphors drawn from classical mythology.
He invites the addressee, his wife [Anna Schwarzerdt], and Melchior Isinderus, to visit him for Whitsun [13 June].
He praises the addressee’s erudition, which the latter owes to his father-in-law [Philipp Melanchthon].
While writing, a messenger arrived with a letter from the duke [Albrecht von Hohenzollern], which extinguished his poetic inspiration.
Public affairs have torn him away from the poem he had begun. He encourages the addressee to come.
Early printed source materials:
Prints:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus
Comptas floribus et rosis novellis,
Et terrae variis virentis herbis,
Quas hoc ver redolens reduxit orbi,
Nuper, docte, tuas, Sabine,Muses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts ⌊MusasMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts ⌋
In nostro reditu fluentisŁyna (Alle), river in Royal and Ducal Prussia, flowing into the Pregel (Pregolya, Pregoła) ⌊AllaeŁyna (Alle), river in Royal and Ducal Prussia, flowing into the Pregel (Pregolya, Pregoła) ⌋
Ad ripas, modulis simul canentes
Pimpleis resonans ab ore carmen,
Carmen, dulce, suave, perpolitum,
Et post hoc iter omne, taediosum
Quod nobis fuerat, placens ademit.
Et terrae variis virentis herbis,
Quas hoc ver redolens reduxit orbi,
Nuper, docte, tuas, Sabine,
5
Vultu vidimus obvias serenoIn nostro reditu fluentis
Ad ripas, modulis simul canentes
Pimpleis resonans ab ore carmen,
Carmen, dulce, suave, perpolitum,
10
Quod nos exhilaravit ac refecitEt post hoc iter omne, taediosum
Quod nobis fuerat, placens ademit.
Quare tot tibi gratias habemus,
Quot fert germina nunc humus tumescens
Frondentes procul arbores in antris
Et nostris prope quae manent in hortis,
Quo iam celsa petuntOreads in Greek mythology, mountain nymphs and companions of Artemis ⌊OreadesqueOreads in Greek mythology, mountain nymphs and companions of Artemis ⌋
Pindos (Pindus), mountain range Northern Greece ⌊PindiPindos (Pindus), mountain range Northern Greece ⌋ culmina gressibus citatis
Dryad in Greek mythology, a tree nymph, especially one associated with oak trees ⌊DryadesDryad in Greek mythology, a tree nymph, especially one associated with oak trees ⌋ suas choreas
Impigroque gradu suasNapaeae in Greek mythology, nymphs of glens and groves ⌊NapaeaeNapaeae in Greek mythology, nymphs of glens and groves ⌋
In pratis et agris aquisque ducunt.
Quot fert germina nunc humus tumescens
15
Hoc sub tempore, quo comas resumuntFrondentes procul arbores in antris
Et nostris prope quae manent in hortis,
Quo iam celsa petunt
20
Et quo nunc Impigroque gradu suas
In pratis et agris aquisque ducunt.
Iam quaecumque videntur undiquaque
In campis vel in intimis virectis
Rident omnia, cuncta laeta rident.
Hoc ut tempore, mi Sabine, festo
Quod sunt pollicitae tuaeMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts ⌊CamenaeMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts ⌋ —
Quo iam singula gaudiis resultant
Qui replet pia corda Christianis,
Certo creditur, huc velis venire,
A te poscimus, ac tui iugalis
Anna Schwarzerdt (*1522 – †1547), daughter of Philipp Melanchthon; from 1536 wife of Georgius Sabinus (NDB, Bd. 22, p. 320-321) ⌊ConsortemAnna Schwarzerdt (*1522 – †1547), daughter of Philipp Melanchthon; from 1536 wife of Georgius Sabinus (NDB, Bd. 22, p. 320-321) ⌋ thalami venire tecum.
Melchior Isinderus (Melchior Isinder) (*ca. 1520 – †1588), Studied at Wittenberg; pupil of Philipp Melanchthon; 1548 doctorate in theology from the University of Wittenberg; Professor at the University of Königsberg, among other subjects of Greek and theology; 1549 Rector ⌊InsiderusMelchior Isinderus (Melchior Isinder) (*ca. 1520 – †1588), Studied at Wittenberg; pupil of Philipp Melanchthon; 1548 doctorate in theology from the University of Wittenberg; Professor at the University of Königsberg, among other subjects of Greek and theology; 1549 Rector ⌋ item, velimus, una
Ut tecum veniat vocatus hospes.
In campis vel in intimis virectis
25
Aut in vallibus, aut iugis in altis,Rident omnia, cuncta laeta rident.
Hoc ut tempore, mi Sabine, festo
Quod sunt pollicitae tuae
Quo iam singula gaudiis resultant
30
Et quo Spiritus affuturus ille,[1]Qui replet pia corda Christianis,
Certo creditur, huc velis venire,
A te poscimus, ac tui iugalis
35
Ut tecum veniat vocatus hospes.
Pro Volsca tamen Anna Schwarzerdt (*1522 – †1547), daughter of Philipp Melanchthon; from 1536 wife of Georgius Sabinus (NDB, Bd. 22, p. 320-321) ⌊AnnaAnna Schwarzerdt (*1522 – †1547), daughter of Philipp Melanchthon; from 1536 wife of Georgius Sabinus (NDB, Bd. 22, p. 320-321) ⌋ sit Camilla in Virgil's Aeneid a warrior who fights against the Trojans during the war in Latium; daughter of King of the Volsci Metabus and Queen Casmilla ⌊CamillaCamilla in Virgil's Aeneid a warrior who fights against the Trojans during the war in Latium; daughter of King of the Volsci Metabus and Queen Casmilla ⌋,
QuaeTurnus legendary king of the Rutuli and chief antagonist of Aeneas in Aeneid by Virgil. ⌊TurnoTurnus legendary king of the Rutuli and chief antagonist of Aeneas in Aeneid by Virgil. ⌋ tibi gessit in The Latins an Italic tribe that included the early inhabitants of Rome and the region of Latium ⌊LatinosThe Latins an Italic tribe that included the early inhabitants of Rome and the region of Latium ⌋
Fidas suppetias deditque, quidquid
A caroPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian and humanist; collaborator and friend of Martin Luther; author of the Augsburg Confession. Strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the Leipzig disputation between Martin Luther and Johann Eck; he also attended the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 and the religious colloquy of Worms in 1557. ⌊patrePhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian and humanist; collaborator and friend of Martin Luther; author of the Augsburg Confession. Strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the Leipzig disputation between Martin Luther and Johann Eck; he also attended the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 and the religious colloquy of Worms in 1557. ⌋, cuius es profunda
Factus splendidus eruditione,
Praeclarum quoque nactus es per orbem
Cum magno pariter favore nomen.
Quae
Fidas suppetias deditque, quidquid
40
Sermonis Latii est politioris,A caro
Factus splendidus eruditione,
Praeclarum quoque nactus es per orbem
Cum magno pariter favore nomen.
45
Scribenti modo fertur appulisseVestri
Est a quo mihi litteras amicas,
Pulsans ostia, redditurus. Illum
Dum sic excipio, recessit omnis
50
Conceptus calor atque me puellaeSolum
At curae redeunt molestiores.
Quas res publica dat, trahuntque longe
A coeptis numeris. In is morari
Testis noster amor, sibi Sabinum
Promittens animo benigniore,
Quidquid scribitur, esse metiendum.
Quodsi forte licentiaGaius Valerius Catullus (*ca. 84 BC – †ca. 54 BC) ⌊CatulliGaius Valerius Catullus (*ca. 84 BC – †ca. 54 BC) ⌋
Michael Marullus (Michael Tarchaniota, Μιχαήλ Μάρουλλος Ταρχανειώτης) (*1458 – †1500), Greek humanist, scholar, and neo-Latin poet; author of epigrams and hymns ⌊MarulliMichael Marullus (Michael Tarchaniota, Μιχαήλ Μάρουλλος Ταρχανειώτης) (*1458 – †1500), Greek humanist, scholar, and neo-Latin poet; author of epigrams and hymns ⌋,
Fit, cum copia largior negatur
Intento gravibus subinde rebus.
Si te versiculi parum diserti
Huc ducent, satis est. Vale venique!
Quas res publica dat, trahuntque longe
A coeptis numeris. In is morari
55
Quam gratum fuerit, tibi sit in teTestis noster amor, sibi Sabinum
Promittens animo benigniore,
Quidquid scribitur, esse metiendum.
Quodsi forte licentia
60
Interdum vel et utimur Fit, cum copia largior negatur
Intento gravibus subinde rebus.
Si te versiculi parum diserti
Huc ducent, satis est. Vale venique!
Ex
[1 ] Pentecost, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit, fell on June 13, 1546