Selections from Erasmus

Selections from Erasmus (ed P.S.
Allen)

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Title: Selections from Erasmus Principally from his Epistles
Author: Erasmus Roterodamus
Release Date: June, 2005 [EBook #8400] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on July 6, 2003]
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SELECTIONS FROM ERASMUS ***

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SELECTIONS FROM ERASMUS
Principally From His Epistles
By
P. S. ALLEN
* * * * *
PREFACE
The selections in this volume are taken mainly from the Letters of
Erasmus. Latin was to him a living language; and the easy
straightforwardness with which he addresses himself to what he has to
say, whether in narrating the events of every-day life or in developing
more serious themes, makes his works suitable reading for beginners.
To the rapidity with which he invariably wrote is due a certain laxity,
principally in the use of moods and tenses; and his spelling is that of
the Renaissance. These matters I have brought to some extent into
conformity with classical usage; and in a few other ways also I have
taken necessary liberties with the text.
In the choice of passages I have been guided for the most part by a
desire to illustrate through them English life at a period of exceptional
interest in our history. There has never been wanting a succession of
persons who concerned themselves to chronicle the deeds of kings and
the fortunes of war; but history only becomes intelligible when we can
place these exalted events in their right setting by understanding what
men both small and great were doing and thinking in their private lives.
To Erasmus we owe much intimate knowledge of the age in which he
lived; and of none of his contemporaries has he given us more vivid
pictures than of the great Englishmen, Henry VIII, Colet, More, and

many others, whom he delighted to claim as friends.
With this purpose in view I have thought it best to confine the historical
commentary within a narrow compass in the scenes which are not
drawn from England; and to leave unillustrated many distinguished
names, due appreciation of which would have overloaded the notes and
confused the reader.
The vocabulary is intended to include all words not to be found in Dr.
Lewis's Elementary Latin Dictionary, with the exception of (1) those
which with the necessary modification have become English, (2)
classical words used for modern counterparts without possibility of
confusion, e. g. templum for _church_; (3) diminutives--a mode of
expression which both Erasmus and modern writers use very freely--as
to the origin of which there can be no doubt.
Mr. Kenneth Forbes of St. John's College has kindly gone through the
whole of the text with me, and has given me the benefit of his long
experience as a teacher. I am also obliged to him for most valuable
assistance in the preparation of the notes.
LONGWALL, COTTAGE, OXFORD. June 1908.
In a second edition I have been able to incorporate a few of the
corrections and suggestions made by reviewers and friends. My thanks
are especially due to the Warden of Wadham and to Mr. Hugo Sharpley,
head master of Richmond Grammar School, Yorks.
23 MERTON STREET, OXFORD. June 1, 1918.
* * * * *
CONTENTS
LIFE OF ERASMUS
I. AN ORDINATION EXAMINATION
II. A DOMESTIC AFFRAY (55 : 47)
III. A WINTER JOURNEY (88 : 82)
IV. AN ENGLISH COUNTRY-HOUSE (103 : 98)
V. A VISIT TO COURT (I. p. 6 : i. p. 201)
VI. ERASMUS AT OXFORD (115 : 104)
VII. AN OXFORD DINNER PARTY (116 : 105)
VIII. LEARNING IN ENGLAND (118 : 110)
IX. A JOURNEY TO PARIS (119 : 122)
X. ERASMUS RENDERS ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO COLET
(181 : 180)

XI. A