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Letter #2306

Eustathius KNOBELSDORF to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Wittenberg, 1540-04-19
            received Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1540-05-30

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BCz, 1597, p. 1019-1024

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Salutem plurimam dico.

Serius, quam par erat, Celsitudinis Tuae, illustrissime Princeps, nactus sum litteras[1], quae si in tempore ad me pervenissent, consilio Celsitudinis Tuae non tantum non libenter acquievissem, verum etiam gratissimum fuisset tam expectatam occasionem offeri, non tam Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn, parentes[2], fratres et quicquid mihi vel sanguine, vel affinitate iunctum est, quam Celsitudinem Tuam coram videndi. Iam enim dudum exoptabam mihi aliquam oportunitatem dari, qua iam olim ex facie cognitam nunc scriptis et rebus coniunctissimam complecterer, exoscularer, eiusque iucundissima fruerer consuetudine, contemplarer administrationem, quam non nisi exactissimam iudico. Sed cum hanc integram hiemem fugiens pestem in diversis regionibus peregrinatus essem vixque me studiis loco solito[3] abdidissem, allabuntur cf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53;
Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54
carminacf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53;
Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54
cum epistula Celsitudinis Tuae[4] , quibus in Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn revocabar, si quicquam periculi esset labis grassantis. Quod ut legi, non parum ignaviae meae stomachabar me non potius Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornPrussiamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn statim petiisse, ubi non tantum iucundissimis confabulationibus parentum[5] iam senio confectorum fructus essem, verum habuissem, cuius maturitate et prudentia inscitia adolescentiae meae erudiretur. Sed quod factum est, infectum fieri non potest. Studia mea repetii, quibus perdius pernoxque inhaereo, pestis evanuit necque quicquam auditur, quod mihi iustam fenestram abeundi aperiret. Decem igitur illi ioachimici, quos a liberalitate Celsitudinis Tuae accepi, praesidio meis studiis fuerunt. De quibus octo statim expendere coactus sum, cuidam mihi hoc biennio privatim cf. Iustiniani Institutiones Institutionumcf. Iustiniani Institutiones Justinian I (Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus) (*ca. 482 – †565), 527-565 Byzantine EmperorIustinianiJustinian I (Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus) (*ca. 482 – †565), 527-565 Byzantine Emperor quattuor libros enarranti, reliquos duos sumptibus impend[ere]. Pro quibus Celsitudini Tuae nunc dignas gratias habere quidem poss[um], agere vero vel referre minime, in tempore enim mihi afferebantur, cum loculi sic peregrinationibus exhausti essen[t], ut vix teruncius restaret, ob quod etiam gratissimi fuerun[t]. Sed cum iam Celsitudinem Tuam familiariter ita, uti meis congerron[i]bus soleo, semel coepi confabulari, oro obsecroque, ne Celsitudo Tua in malam partem accipiat, si cum ea liberius ac demisse{t} collocutus fuero, non iam cum reverendissimo principe meo, verum maecenate patrono ac patre verba facere puto, quod ut credam, cf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53;
Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54
Paraenesiscf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53;
Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54
illa tua longe humanissima me incitat, iubet et cogit. Cum satis superque diu de rebu[s] meis deliberarem et exquirerem, quidnam praecipue studiis meis conduceret, decrevi me inde alio conferre ob multa[s] rationes, verum cum nusquam locus commodior occurreret, coepi nonnihil ambigere et consilium initum repudiare. In Italy (Italia)Itali[am]Italy (Italia) me quidem invitabat clarissimus ille orator Pietro Bembo (*1470 – †1547), Italian scholar, poet, literary theorist, historian, editor of Petrarch; an exponent of Ciceronian purism and one of the most important figures in the development of the Italian language as a literary medium; from 1513 secretary to Pope Leo X; in 1538 elevated to cardinal (CE, vol. 1, p. 120-123)BembusPietro Bembo (*1470 – †1547), Italian scholar, poet, literary theorist, historian, editor of Petrarch; an exponent of Ciceronian purism and one of the most important figures in the development of the Italian language as a literary medium; from 1513 secretary to Pope Leo X; in 1538 elevated to cardinal (CE, vol. 1, p. 120-123) Jacopo Sannaz(z)aro (Iacobus Nazarius, Actius Syncerus) (*1457 or 1458 – †1530), Italian poet from Naples famous as the author of "Arcadia"; poet at the court of king Ferdinand I, member of the Neapolitan Academy (CE, vol. 3, p. 193-194)SanosariusJacopo Sannaz(z)aro (Iacobus Nazarius, Actius Syncerus) (*1457 or 1458 – †1530), Italian poet from Naples famous as the author of "Arcadia"; poet at the court of king Ferdinand I, member of the Neapolitan Academy (CE, vol. 3, p. 193-194) Vida, in France (Gallia, Francia), the kingdomGalliamFrance (Gallia, Francia), the kingdom Guillaume Budé (Guilielmus Budaeus) (*1468 – †1540), French humanist, scholar, royal librarian; together with Jean du Bellay persuaded Francis I. to found the Collegium Trilingue; 1502 ambassador of the King of France Francis I at the coronation of Pope Julius IIBudaeusGuillaume Budé (Guilielmus Budaeus) (*1468 – †1540), French humanist, scholar, royal librarian; together with Jean du Bellay persuaded Francis I. to found the Collegium Trilingue; 1502 ambassador of the King of France Francis I at the coronation of Pope Julius II cum reliquis doctissimis viris, verum utriusque aditum mihi praeclusit cf. Cic. Rhet. Her. 2.36.4 caeca illa Dea innitens globocf. Cic. Rhet. Her. 2.36.4 , in Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriaRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn delitescere neque consultum esse duxi, neque adhuc duco, cum admodum 1adulescens sim neque quicquam solidi in praecipua doctrina nactus, nil dubito, quin si hac aetate ab honestissimis scholis avellerer, me non tantum mihi consummati in usum reipublicae allaturum, verum etiam ea oblivioni mandaturum, quae nunc qualicumque cum laude incoepi. Postremo iam omni moto lapide mihi occurrit Leuven (Louvain, Lovanium), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, 25 km E of Brussels, University town from 1425, today in BelgiumLovaniumLeuven (Louvain, Lovanium), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, 25 km E of Brussels, University town from 1425, today in Belgium Law GermanyInferioris GermaniaeLaw Germany, ut scis, celeberrimum gymnasium, mihi saepius a praestantibus viris commendatum, quod cum non tantum audirem variarum sectarum turbinibus carere, verum etiam humanissimis civibus praeditum esse. Consultum fore studiis meis credidi, si ibi unum atque alterum, si fieri posset, annum degerem. Ad Tuam igitur Celsitudinem tamquam ad sacram anchoram refugio, cuius sententiae et arbitrio consilium hoc meum satis tenue et puerile subiicio oroque, ut Paternitas Tua id in medium consulat, quod aetati meae praecipue usui fore credit, et ad id me praesidio auxilioque suo adiuvet. Ad quem enim alium rectius confugiam? Parentes[6] iam sunt decrepiti et sic extenuati, ut insigne aliquod praesidium ab eis exspectare supervacaneum sit ac paene nefas . Quicquid in prima aetate opum vel ex patrimonio, vel industria cumulaverunt, id iniuria incendii depopulantis totam Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn eripuit et devastavit. Accedit numerus tot children of Georg von KNOBELSDORF liberorumchildren of Georg von KNOBELSDORF , quos notoria iniuria afficerem, si paterer in me totum conferri, eosque legitimo patrimonio spoliarem. Amici, si qui sunt, parcent sumptibus, nonulli fortassis etiam perire impensas credunt, quae in bonarum artium notitiam collocantur, nec quicquam litteras ad rempublicam (quales The Cyclopes mythological figures, gigants with a single eye in the middle of foreheadCyclopesThe Cyclopes mythological figures, gigants with a single eye in the middle of forehead multos reperias) momenti habere credunt. Sed cum Celsitudini Tuae non tantum {non} utilitas studiorum perspecta sit, verum etiam publicis suis No. XLII, p. 169 - 208 testata sit se futuram asylum quoddam meorum studiorum, oro, ne me Celsitudo Tua negligat, sed iuvet feliciter cf. Ov. Rem. 114; Gel. 17.10.5.3 supremam manum imponerecf. Ov. Rem. 114; Gel. 17.10.5.3 rebus magnis impensis meorum inceptis. Hoc, qualicumque acessione litterarum, quam hactenus ingeniolo meo feci, procul dubi[o] in tanta paenuria doctorum iam hoc efficere possem, ut me etiam honestissime sustentarem, sed cum longe alium scopum mihi praefixerim Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriaequeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn illustrationem honorem et utilitatem privatis commodis praetulerim, quicquid meis studiis impenderis, non mihi, sed Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriaeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn atque adeo toti tuae provinciae collatum credas. Quod si Celsitudo Tua non restiterit, verum auctor erit meae profectionis Leuven (Louvain, Lovanium), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, 25 km E of Brussels, University town from 1425, today in BelgiumLovaniumLeuven (Louvain, Lovanium), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, 25 km E of Brussels, University town from 1425, today in Belgium versus, ego ad futuram Sexagesimam[7] , ut vocant, vel citius in Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn cum tota mea supellectile advolavero indeque soluta navi felicibus ventis Deo volente in Law GermanyInferioris GermaniaeLaw Germany partes aliquantisper concessero. Interea tamen oro, ne et hic existentis Paternitas Tua obliviscatur. A parentibus[8] nunc nihil sumptuu[m] accepi, de reliquo hic diu durare non potero in tanta caritate et paenuria omnium rerum, sed totum me Celsitudini Tuae commendo, quae me inter inhumanos hos homines fame perire non sinet, cui nunc omnia fausta precor. Faxit Christus, ut Paternitatem Tuam salvam et incolumem reversus offendam, cui Tuam Celsitudinem committo optoque, ut diu nobis et Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of ThornpatriaeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn pancratice valeat.

Tuae Celsitudini fidelissimus Eustathius Knobelsdorf (Constans Alliopagus) (*1519 – †1571), neo-Latin poet, studied at the universities in Frankfurt an der Oder (1534-1544), Wittenberg (1538), Leipzig, Louvain (1540), Paris, and Orleans; from 1533 Dantiscus provided financial support for his education; 1544 secretary of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter; 1546 Canon of Ermland; 1546 Canon of Wrocław (Breslau); 1546-1548 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1548-1551 administrator of the Chapter's estate in Allenstein (Olsztyn); 1552 Custos of Ermland; 1553 Vicar General of the bishopric of Ermland; 1558-1564 administrator of the diocese of Ermland in the absence of Bishop Stanisław Hozjusz; 1559 Chancellor of the Wrocław Chapter; 1565 Dean of the Wrocław Chapter; 1567 General Judicial Vicar of the diocese of Wrocław (BORAWSKA 1996 Życie, p. 70, 103; KOPICZKO 2, p. 152; SBKW, p. 152; KNOBELSDORF)Eustathius a KnobelsdorfEustathius Knobelsdorf (Constans Alliopagus) (*1519 – †1571), neo-Latin poet, studied at the universities in Frankfurt an der Oder (1534-1544), Wittenberg (1538), Leipzig, Louvain (1540), Paris, and Orleans; from 1533 Dantiscus provided financial support for his education; 1544 secretary of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter; 1546 Canon of Ermland; 1546 Canon of Wrocław (Breslau); 1546-1548 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1548-1551 administrator of the Chapter's estate in Allenstein (Olsztyn); 1552 Custos of Ermland; 1553 Vicar General of the bishopric of Ermland; 1558-1564 administrator of the diocese of Ermland in the absence of Bishop Stanisław Hozjusz; 1559 Chancellor of the Wrocław Chapter; 1565 Dean of the Wrocław Chapter; 1567 General Judicial Vicar of the diocese of Wrocław (BORAWSKA 1996 Życie, p. 70, 103; KOPICZKO 2, p. 152; SBKW, p. 152; KNOBELSDORF)