DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48092#0074
54
durer’s literary remains.
[chap.
two carpets, Anton Kolb will help me choose the most beautiful, the
broadest, and the cheapest. As soon as I get them I will hand them
over to young Imhof to pack off to you. I will also see after the crane
feathers but as yet I have found none. There are however plenty of
swan quills here !—which they use for writing; how would it do in the
meantime if you stuck some of them in your hat ?
A book-printer, of whom I enquired, tells me that he knows of no
Greek books having recently appeared. Any that he comes across he
has promised to let me know of, so that I can write to you. Tell me
again what kind of paper it is you want me to buy, for I know of none
here finer than what we buy at home. As to histories I see nothing
remarkable in what the Italians make, or likely to be specially useful
for your work; it is always one and the same thing; you yourself know
more than they paint.
I have recently sent you a letter by the messenger Kannengiesser.
Also I should like to know what you mean to do to come to an agree-
ment with Kunz Imhof1.
Now let me commend myself to you ; give my willing service to our
Prior for me; tell him to pray God for me that I may be protected, and
especially from the French sickness ; I know of nothing that I now
dread more than that, for well nigh everyone has got it. Many men
are quite eaten up and die of it. And give my greeting to Stephan
Paumgartner, Herr Lorenz, all our lady friends, and those who kindly
ask after me. Given at Venice on the 18th of August 1506.
Albertus Durer,
Noricus civis.
Lest I forget it, Andreas is here and sends you his service; he is
not yet quite strong and is in want of money, for his long illness and
previous debt have devoured everything he had. I have myself lent
him 8 ducats, but don’t tell anyone so, in case it should come back to
his ears. For he might think that I told you in bad faith. You must
also know that he behaves himself so honourably and discreetly that all
men wish him well.
I have a mind if the King comes to Italy to go with him to
Rome, etc.
Venice, 8 Sept. 1506.
Most learned, approved, wise, knower of many languages, sharp to
detect all encountered lies and quick to recognise plain truth!
Honourable much-regarded Herr Wilibald Pirkheimer. Your humble
servant Albrecht Durer wishes you all hail, great and worthy honour
in the devil's name, so much for the twaddle of which you are so fond. I
wager thatfor this'2 you would think me too an orator of a hundred parts.
1 Brother of Hans Imhof, the elder.
2 These words are in Italian in the original.
durer’s literary remains.
[chap.
two carpets, Anton Kolb will help me choose the most beautiful, the
broadest, and the cheapest. As soon as I get them I will hand them
over to young Imhof to pack off to you. I will also see after the crane
feathers but as yet I have found none. There are however plenty of
swan quills here !—which they use for writing; how would it do in the
meantime if you stuck some of them in your hat ?
A book-printer, of whom I enquired, tells me that he knows of no
Greek books having recently appeared. Any that he comes across he
has promised to let me know of, so that I can write to you. Tell me
again what kind of paper it is you want me to buy, for I know of none
here finer than what we buy at home. As to histories I see nothing
remarkable in what the Italians make, or likely to be specially useful
for your work; it is always one and the same thing; you yourself know
more than they paint.
I have recently sent you a letter by the messenger Kannengiesser.
Also I should like to know what you mean to do to come to an agree-
ment with Kunz Imhof1.
Now let me commend myself to you ; give my willing service to our
Prior for me; tell him to pray God for me that I may be protected, and
especially from the French sickness ; I know of nothing that I now
dread more than that, for well nigh everyone has got it. Many men
are quite eaten up and die of it. And give my greeting to Stephan
Paumgartner, Herr Lorenz, all our lady friends, and those who kindly
ask after me. Given at Venice on the 18th of August 1506.
Albertus Durer,
Noricus civis.
Lest I forget it, Andreas is here and sends you his service; he is
not yet quite strong and is in want of money, for his long illness and
previous debt have devoured everything he had. I have myself lent
him 8 ducats, but don’t tell anyone so, in case it should come back to
his ears. For he might think that I told you in bad faith. You must
also know that he behaves himself so honourably and discreetly that all
men wish him well.
I have a mind if the King comes to Italy to go with him to
Rome, etc.
Venice, 8 Sept. 1506.
Most learned, approved, wise, knower of many languages, sharp to
detect all encountered lies and quick to recognise plain truth!
Honourable much-regarded Herr Wilibald Pirkheimer. Your humble
servant Albrecht Durer wishes you all hail, great and worthy honour
in the devil's name, so much for the twaddle of which you are so fond. I
wager thatfor this'2 you would think me too an orator of a hundred parts.
1 Brother of Hans Imhof, the elder.
2 These words are in Italian in the original.