The Dialogue (Mire Festivus), which in the edition of 1710 occurs between the first and second parts of the Epistolæ, bears especial marks of Hutten's manner, and is doubtless by him. The interlocutors are three of the illustrious obscure, Magisters Ortuinus, Lupoldus, and Gingolphus, and the first act of the comedy consists in their observations upon the promoters of learning, Reuchlin, Erasmus, and Faber Stapulensis, who afterwards make their appearance, and the discussion becomes general, but no impression can be made upon the stupid and prejudiced monks. The theme is, of course, the inutility of the new learning, Hebrew and Greek and correct Latinity. One short passage seems to me admirable:
"M. Ging. Et Sanctus Ambrosius, Sanctus Augustinus, et alii omnes zelossimi doctores non sciebant ipsi bene tot, sicut iste Ribaldi? M. Ort. Ipsi deberent interponere suis. M. Lup. Non bene indigemus de suo Græco. M. Ging. Videtur eis, qui sciunt dicere tou, tou, logos, monsotiros, legoim, taff, hagiotatos, quod ipse sciunt plus quam Deus. M. Ort. Magister noster Lupolde, creditis, quod Deus curat multum de iste Græco? M. Lup. Certe non, Magister noster Ortuine, ego credo, quod Deus non curat multum."
Ranke, in his History of the Reformation, has very justly estimated the merits and character of these remarkable productions:
"We must not look for the delicate apprehension and tact, which can only be formed in a highly polished state of society, nor for the indignation of insulted morality expressed by the ancients: it is altogether a caricature, not of finished individual portraits, but of a single type;—a clownish sensual German priest, his intellect narrowed by stupid wonder and fanatical hatred, who relates with silly naïveté and gossiping confidence the various absurd and scandalous situations into which he falls. These letters are not the work of a high poetical genius, but they have truth, coarse strong features of resemblance, and vivid colouring."
Ranke mentions another satire, which appeared in March, 1520, directed against John Eck, the opponent of Luther, the latter being regarded in the light of a successor of Reuchlin, under the title of Abgehobelte Eck, or Eccius dedolatus, "which, for fantastic invention, striking and crushing truth, and Aristophanic wit, far exceeded the Literæ Obsc. V., which it somewhat resembled." I have not yet been able to meet with this; but such high praise, from so judicious a critic, makes me very desirous to see and peruse it.
S.W. Singer.
Mickleham, July 3. 1850.
Footnote 8:[(return)]
"Ubi primum exissent Ep. Ob. V. miro Monachorum applausu exceptæ sunt apud Britannos a Franciscanis ac Dominicanis, qui sibi persuadebant, eas in Reuchlini contumeliam, et Monachorum favorem, serio proditus: quamque quidam egregie doctus, sed nasutissimus, fingeret se nonnihil offendi stylo, consulati sunt hominem."—Erasm. Epist. 979.
Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum.—Your Querist H.B.C. (Vol. ii., pp. 55-57.) will find, in the 53rd vol. Edinb. Rev. p. 180., a long article on these celebrated letters, containing much of the information required. It is worthy of remark, that in page 195. we are told