Letter #79
Iacobus ROBBIUS Aldenardus to Ioannes DANTISCUSGhent (Gandavum), [1531-11-28?]
English register:
In a hilarious way, Robbius pretends to be very angry, because he apparently is the only one of Dantiscus’ companions who did not receive a copy of his Victoria Serenissimi Poloniae Regis. Did Robbius do something wrong? Does Dantiscus consider him so stupid and void of literacy as to be unable to add to Dantiscus’ glory? It may well be that Robbius’ parents educated a rude, stupid and even lazy son, lacking any distinctive character, but they did give him the ability to admire what he was unable to praise in accordance with its worth. Perhaps Dantiscus may think that Robbius would not have praised him enough, but had he had a copy of his Victoria, then he would have shown it to his friends, which would have greatly benefitted his reputation. Dantiscus may defend himself by saying he gave Karel Uutenhove three or even four copies, one of which was destined for Robbius. But he should have known the character of the people of Ghent, who make money out of absolutely everything! In place of the copy he never received, Robbius will write a pagella of his own, by which Dantiscus may obtain forgiveness for his wrongdoing. After that Robbius will have a fresh opportunity to send him a much longer letter, for his company is very dear to him.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Magnifico Viro, domino Ioanne(!) Dantisco episcopo Culmensi atque excelsi regis Poloniae oratori facundissimo
Bruxellae
Egon tale aliquid commerui, doctissime Orator, ut paginam tuam victoriarum invictissimi regis Poloniae nuntiam singulis, quasi lampada, tradi et multorum manibus teri viderem, solas autem meas avolarent et fugerent, ut Priapi falcem? Huccine rediit aequitas tua? Hoccine est humanum factum? Ecquid, obsecro, facies ei, qui damnum dederit aut malum? Solus ego dignus fui, ut de te mihi persuasam exspectationem adimeres? Ille ego tibi visus sum, qui ob ingenii inopiam et blaesae linguae defectum Dantisci nomen nullis praeconiis celebrare potuissem neque quicquam per Robbium accessurum tibi gloriae atque etiam incrementi? Enimvero tametsi rudem, ignavum et plane inertem me educarunt parentes et naturalis iudicii protinus expertem, habeo tamen diis gratias, quod hoc dono me dignati sunt, ut sciam admirari, quod pro merito nequeo laudare.
Proinde si labori tuo debitas non tribuissem laudes, apud me nihilominus cum primis honorifica vocalibus latuisset pagella cum summa admiratione intrantibus conclave meum frequenter obiecta et visa tui memoriam inculcasset. Tantae molis opus erat in epistola Utenhovio data cum pagellis: “Robbium nostrum cum egregio saluta poculo”. Illa ferme verba fuerunt tua et dixisse unicuique partem et tunicam. Ego sane omnibus modis meam singulis commendare probitatem non desino. Tu interim mihi duplicas malum, non enim quod a te volo, hoc habeo, sed quod nolo, accipio. Pro pagella scilicet scommata, quibus passim rideor, aiunt me Laufellae(!) aut Pholi (quorum meminit Iuvenalis) congiorum potorem Dantisco attestante. Sed ad pagellam redeo. Dices forte: Carolo ternas aut quaternas dedi. Ea lege et mente, ut te faceret participem. Immo, hercle, participem! Postquam numerassem eo usque singrapho obseratas, retinuit, ut ne characterem viderem. Adhuc ignoras Teutonicos nostros praesertim Gandavenses, qui tam sunt rapaces, ut etiam pulveres platearum, lutum et sterquilinia venalia exponunt. Verum dum pro pagella tua mihi detenta ego tibi pagellam reddam, non epistolam, hanc missam facio addito, si cupias, delicti tui veniam impetrare. Dabis quamprimum in lucem, emergant commentarios illos poenitentiales, quorum dedisti mihi videndi exemplaris copiam prandio illo heroico, dum ultimo apud te divertebam. Rursum mihi prolixioris epistolae conscribendae nascitur occasio, quod tanto tempore nobiscum os et conspectum convictum et colloquium tuum, quo plerisque ex nostratibus nihil contingere posset optabilius. Nobis dii invident. Est, quod queror. Ceterum nolo cum diis more gigantum congredi, ne tandem Aethnam sentiam.
Igitur vale, Honorandissime Praesul, et me ut deditissimo famulo utere.
Gandavi, ex aedibus Utovianis.
Servus tuus paratissimus Iacobus Robbius Aldenardus