Letter #580
Karel UUTENHOVE to Ioannes DANTISCUSGhent (Gandavum), 1532-01-19
English register:
Uutenhove was delighted by Dantiscus’ most kindly and at the same time festive letter. The tone of the letter suggests that the party itself was still more festive.
If Robbius’ stories are to be believed, it would be better if his wife does not find out. She will surely treat him to a shouting match and a good thrashing; Uutenhove would like to see his reaction.
Dantiscus should know that Robbius is constantly bragging about the many cups he has emptied and the delicious mouthfuls he has devoured, and is showing Dantiscus' gift around. Recently they also celebrated Dionysia, where Robbius behaved more comically than any poet or painter could depict.
There is no further news except that everyone there is doing well and remembers Dantiscus. He is extremely grateful that Dantiscus has offered him every possible support. Uutenhove will never be able to render any service to equal Dantiscus' immense benevolence. This letter has been handed to Dantiscus by a relative, Frans Uutenhove, who wants to be recommended to Dantiscus and would like to accompany Dantiscus to Poland as a member of his household. He may be rather impetuous but he is refined and faithful, so Uutenhove dares to recommend him. If Dantiscus should decide, when in Poland, that he is of no use to him, he would do Uutenhove a favour by finding him a good employer.
Willem De Waele, Lord secretary [Omaar van Edingen] and Uutenhove’s sister Iodoca recommend themselves to Dantiscus. Uutenhove asks to be recommended to Dantiscus' acquaintances to whom he is known. He bids Dantiscus farewell, as a contemporary Maecenas, and closes his letter with festive greetings.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendo in Christo Patri, domino Ioanni Dantisco, episcopo Culmensi ac regis Poloniae apud caes[ar]em oratori facundissimo etc.
Ubi, ubi fuerit.
Salutem plurimam.
Incredibilem voluptatem accepi ex tuis tam humanis tamque festivis litteris, ornatissime Praesul. Certe humaniores fuere, quam quae mihi a tanto viro scribi debuerant, festivae vero adeo, ut nec ipsa festivitas potuisset excogitare festiviores. Si vera sunt, quae de Robbio nostro audio, quod non omnino difficile crediderim, felix est nimium, inquam, felix, quod uxor eius non resciverit, alioqui audiret, quod minime vellet, nam ego arbitror illam minime mutam esse. Ostendisset, mihi crede, sibi non deesse linguam ac fortassis etiam nec manus, at ego tum optarim vultus illius contemplari ac gestus, dum ita tractaretur. Nimirum Chaeream, illum, qui eunuchum induerat, nobis exprimeret. Scis, quid is nunc agat? Iactat cyathos, quos istic ebibit et delicatos bolos, quos voravit, ac tuo munusculo superbus nusquam se non ostentat. Iis superioribus diebus celebravimus Dyonisia, sed quae ille tum egerit, nemo pictor, nemo poeta satis exprimere possit. Quae si vidisses, iurares hominem magis ridiculum reperiri non posse. Sed de illo hactenus.
Quod scribis, ut te certiorem facerem de his, quae hic aguntur, prorsus non video, quid scribere possim, quam nos valere, suaviter vivere ac tui haud quaquam immemores esse. Quod tuum officium ac, quacumque in re possis, auxilium offers, habeo gratias immortales nec video, quid umquam dignum tam immodica tua erga me benevolentia praestare possim. Hoc autem, quod vel imprimis tibi gratum fore arbitror, faciam, te dum vivam amabo, colam, venerabor.
Qui has ad te fert, est mihi sanguinitate coniunctus, Francisco Utenoveo huic nomen est. Qui vehementer cupit per me tibi commendari ac peroptaret, si tibi commodum esset, tuae familiae adscribi tecumque in Poloniam proficisci. Iuvenis, ut arbitror, non omnino ineleganti ingenio est, at nonnihil feroculus fide tali, ut pro illo non dubitarem meam opponere. Si videas illum, ubi fo[r]te in Poloniam perveneris, tibi parum idoneum, commoda illum, quaeso, alicui bono domino. Si id efficere poteris, me tibi plurimum devinxeris, quamvis iamdudum tibi sim sane devictissimus. Certe verebar nonnihil hac commendatione tibi molestus esse, sed istis persuasum est me tantum apud te valere, ut plane puderit abnuere.
Vale.
Dominus Gulielmus a Wale, dominus scriba et soror nostra Iodoca commendant se tibi plurimum. Si qui istic sunt, qui Utenhovium norunt, quaeso, ut et illis commendatus sim.
Rursus vale Dantisce, Maecenas huius temporis.
Gandaui, festivans XIIII Calendas Februarias, anno M D XXXI.
Carolus Utenhoveus Tuae Dignitati addictissimus scripsit