Memoirs of Journeys to Venice and the Low Countries | Page 9

why it should not have
reached you, and there is a letter with it which I wrote to you, and the
stone is done up in a sealed packet and has the same size as is drawn
here, for 1 drew it in my note-book. I managed to get it only after hard
bargaining. The stone is clear and fine, and my friends say it is very
good for the money I gave for it. It weighs about 3 florins Rhenish, and
I gave for it 18 ducats and 4 marzelle, and if it should be lost I should
be half mad, for it has been valued at quite twice what I gave for it.
There were people who would have given me more for it the moment I
had bought it. So, dear Herr Pirkheimer, tell Hans Imhof to enquire of
the messenger what he has done with the letter and packet. The
messenger was sent off by Hans Imhof the younger on the 11th March.
Now may God keep you, and let me commend my mother to you. Tell
her to take my brother to Wolgemut that he may work and not be idle.
Ever your servant.

Read by the sense. I am in a hurry, for I have seven letters to write, part
written. I am sorry for Herr Lorenz. Greet him and Stephen
Paumgartner.
Given at Venice in the year 1506, on St. Mark's Day.
Write me an answer soon, for I shall have no rest till I hear. Andreas
Kunhofer is deadly ill as I have just heard.
--Albrecht Drer

28th August, 1506
To the first greatest man in the world; your servant and slave, Albert
Drer, sends salutation to his magnificent Master Wilibaldo Pirkamer.
By my faith, I hear gladly and with great pleasure of your health and
great honour, and I marvel how it is possible for a man like you to
stand against so many, tyrants, bullies, and soldiers. Not otherwise than
by the grace of God. When I read your letter about this strange abuse it
gave me great fright; I thought it was a serious matter. But I warrant
you frighten even Schott's men, for you look wild enough, especially
on holy days with your skipping gait! But it is very improper for such a
soldier to smear himself with civet. You want to be a regular silk tail,
and you think that if only you manage to please the girls, it is all right.
If you were only as taking a fellow as I am, I should not be so provoked.
You have so many loves that it would take you a month and more to
visit each.
However, let me thank you for having arranged my affairs so
satisfactorily with my wife. I know there is no lack of wisdom in you.
If only you were as gentle as I am, you would have all the virtues.
Thank you, too, for everything you are doing for me, if only you would
not bother me about the rings. If they do not please you, break off their
heads and throw them in the privy, as Peter Weisweber says.
What do you mean by setting me to such dirty work, I have become a
gentiluomo at Venice. I have heard that you can make lovely rhymes;
you would be a find for our fiddlers here. They play so beautifully that
they weep over their own music. Would God that our Rechenmeister
girl could hear them, she would cry too. At your command I will again
lay aside my anger and behave even better than usual.
But I cannot get away from here in two months, for I have not enough
money yet to start myself off, as I have written to you before; and so I

pray you if my mother comes to you for a loan, let her have 10 florins
till God helps me out. Then I will scrupulously repay you the whole.
With this I am sending you the glass things by the messenger. And as
for the two carpets, Anthon Kolb will help me to buy the most beautiful,
the broadest, and the cheapest. As soon as I have them I'll give them to
Imhof the younger to pack off to you. I shall also look after the crane's
feathers. I have not been able to find any as yet. But of swan's feathers
for writing with there are plenty. How would it do if you stuck them on
your hats in the meantime?
A book printer of whom I enquired tells me that he knows of no Greek
books that have been brought out recently, but any that he comes across
he will acquaint me with that I may write to you about them.
And please