ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM TO HIS DEAREST

COMPATRIOT JOANNES FROBENIUS,

GREETINGS.

An ornamental woodcut initial 'C' contains a bird, possibly a phoenix or an eagle, perched upon a stylized branch.

Although everything of my friend More's has always pleased me beyond measure, I still distrusted my own judgment somewhat, on account of the very close friendship between us. But when I see learned men with one voice subscribing to my verdict, and even more vehemently admiring the man's divine talent—not because they love him more, but because they see more—I seriously applaud my own opinion, and I will not hereafter fear to speak openly what I think. What, after all, would that admirable natural felicity not have achieved if Italy had trained this talent? If it were entirely free for the sacred rites of the Muses, if it had ripened to its proper fruit, and, as it were, its own autumn? He played with Epigrams while still a very young man, and mostly as a boy. He never left his Britain, except once or twice, fulfilling an embassy on behalf of his prince among the Flemings. Beyond his married life, beyond domestic cares, beyond the performance of public duty and the waves of legal cases, he is distracted by so many and such great affairs of the realm that you would wonder he has leisure even to think about books. Therefore, we have sent his Progymnasmata preparatory exercises and Utopia to you, so that, if it seems good, they may be printed by your presses and commended to the world and to posterity. For such is the authority of your workshop that a book pleases the learned even by this name alone, if it is known to have issued from the Frobenian house. Farewell well, together with your excellent father-in-law, your most sweet wife, and your honey-sweet children. Take care that my little godson, Erasmus, born among letters, is trained in the best of letters. Louvain, August 25th, 1517.