Memoirs of Journeys to Venice and the Low Countries | Page 7

courier. Herewith let me be commended to you,
and I also commend my mother to you. I am wondering greatly why
she has not written to me for so long, and as for my wife, I begin to
think that I have lost her, and I am surprised too that you do not write
to me, but I have read the letter which you wrote to Sebastian Imhof
about me. Please give the two enclosed letters to my mother, and have
patience, I pray, till God brings me home, when I will honourably
repay you. My greetings to Stephen Pirkheimer and other good friends,
and let me know if any of your loves are dead. Read this according to
the sense: I am hurried.
Given in Venice, the Sunday before Whitsunday, the year 1506.
--Albrecht Drer
[p.s.] Tomorrow it is good to confess.

8th March, 1506
First my willing service to you, dear Herr Pirkheimer. I send you
herewith a ring with a sapphire about which you wrote so urgently. I
could not send it sooner, for the past two days I have been running
around to all the German and Italian goldsmiths that are in all Venice
with a good assistant whom I hired: and we made comparisons, but
were unable to match this one at the price, and only after much entreaty
could I get it for 18 ducats 4 marcelli from a man who was wearing it
on his own hand and who let me have it as a favour, as I gave him to
understand that I wanted it for myself. And as soon as I had bought it a
German goldsmith wanted to give me 3 ducats more for it than I paid,
so I hope that you will like it. Everybody says that it is a good stone,
and that in Germany it would be worth about 50 florins; however, you
will know whether they tell truth or lies. I understand nothing about it. I
had first of all bought an amethyst for 12 ducats from a man whom I
thought was a good friend, but he deceived me, for it was not worth 7;
but the matter was arranged between us by some good fellows: I will
give him back the stone and make him a present of a dish of fish. I was
glad to do so and took my money back quickly. As my good friend

values the ring, the stone is not worth much more than 10 Rhenish
florins, whilst the gold of the ring weighs about up to 5 florins, so that I
have not gone beyond the limit set me, as you wrote "from 15 to 20
florins." But the other stone I have not yet been able to buy, for 10 one
finds them rarely in pairs; but I will do all I can about it. They say here
that such trumpery fool's work is to be had cheaper in Germany,
especially now at the Frankfurt Fair. For the Italians take such stuff
abroad, and they laugh at me, especially about the jacinth cross, when I
speak of 2 ducats, so write quickly and tell me what I am to do. I have
heard of a good diamond ornament in a certain place, but I do not yet
know what it will cost. I shall buy it for you until you write again, for
emeralds are as dear as anything I have seen in all my days. It is easy
enough for anyone to get a small amethyst if he thinks it worth 20 or 25
ducats.
It really seems to me you must have taken a mistress; only beware you
don't get a master. But you are wise enough about your own affairs.
Dear Pirkheimer, Andreas Kunhofer sends you his service. He intends
in the meantime to write to you, and he prays you if necessary to
explain for him to the Council why he does not stay at Padua; he says
there is nothing there for him to learn. Don't be angry I pray you with
me for not sending all the stones on this occasion, for I could not get
them all ready. My friends tell me that you should have the stone set
with a new foil and it will look twice as good again, for the ring is old,
and the foil spoiled. And I beg you too to tell my mother to write me
soon and have good care of herself. Herewith I commend myself to
you.
Given at Venice on the second Sunday in Lent, 1506.
--Albrecht Drer
[p.s.] Greetings to your loves.

2nd April, 1506
First my willing service to you, dear Sir.
I received a letter from you on the Thursday before Palm Sunday,
together with the