De ortu et causis, subterraneorum lib. V

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST
POWERFUL DUKE OF SAXONY,
LANDGRAVE OF THURINGIA, MAR-
quis of Meissen, Count Palatine of Saxony, Burgrave of Altenburg &
Magdeburg, Count of Brehna, Lord of the Pleissnerland, AUGUSTUS,
Archimarshal of the Holy Empire & Elector,
Georgius Agricola sends greetings.

An ornamental initial letter 'Q' containing a depiction of a figure within the circular frame of the letter.

SINCE I hold my dear fatherland in esteem, as it is fitting for all to do, I cannot, most excellent Prince AUGUSTUS, but love you, who have recently raised up the state once afflicted by long and destructive wars. Since I hold this love for you by merit and right, I must not fail to congratulate you on the peace which, by the grace of God and your vigilance, it now enjoys, and upon the higher degree of dignity and honor which you have attained. I pray to the immortal God that this peace may be safe and eternal for the fatherland, and for you and your son ALEXANDER, whom you have received from Anna, daughter of the most serene King of the Danes, may it be glorious and stable. For what is more sad, more damaging, or more disastrous than war? Conversely, what is more joyful, more fruitful, or more healthy than peace? From war, as if from a foul and putrid swamp, flows depravity, crime, calamity, and ruin. From peace, as if from a pleasant and pure spring, flows honesty, virtue, prosperity, and health. For the common herd of soldiers rages openly with insolence, crime, and disgrace. They violate the modesty of women, pollute life with lewdness, defile it with adultery, and contaminate it with incest. They commit looting and robbery, drive the innocent from their paternal goods, bring devastation to the fields, and destroy the machinery of the mines. They incite fires by which houses, both public and private, are consumed, and they frequently perform unworthy—and not rarely wicked—slaughters, without any distinction of sex or age. For this reason, war can rightly be called the seminary of every injury. But when there is peace, laws are requested, decrees are enacted, and commands are written. Because these set forth rewards for virtues and establish punishments for vices, they provide hope to the good and cause fear in the wicked. In this way, everyone is instructed in every duty and lives with virtue; or if anyone commits crimes and disgraces, they do not have impunity, as they do when the trumpet sounds for war. Therefore, just as Pindar Greek poet, 5th century BC skillfully calls quiet or tranquility the daughter of Justice, so peace is not unskillfully called the mother of Law.