Utopia

I omit here the commendation of his learning and character for the reason that he is the most sworn friend of ERASMUS, that most illustrious man and one who has deserved so well of sacred and profane letters and of every kind, with whom I myself have long since entered into a fellowship of friendship through letters exchanged back and forth. Farewell, my most beloved Lupset, and greet LINACRE Thomas Linacre, a prominent English humanist and physician, that pillar of the British name (insofar as it pertains to good letters), who is no longer just yours (as I hope), but also ours, by my words either in person or by an intermediary letter, and do this at the very first opportunity. For he is one of the few to whom I would very gladly approve of myself if I could, since he himself, while acting here in person, has proven himself to me and to my friend and fellow student of studies, Jean Ruel, and I greatly admire his excellent learning and exact diligence, and I strive to emulate him. I would also like you to send, or as I said, to speak, one or two greetings on my behalf to MORE. I both love and venerate this man, whom I have long since considered and spoken of as one consecrated to the shrine of Minerva the Roman goddess of wisdom, because of his book about the island of the New World, Utopia. For our age and future ages will have his history as a seedbed of elegant and useful institutions, from which each may import and adapt established customs to their own state. Farewell, Paris, the day before the Calends of August.

Hexastichon A poem of six lines