Text.Breler.1611-01.!1v
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Source: Melchior Breler, Bubo Gallicus Franciscus Ravaillart, Athenis Noricorum ad matricem Noricam emissus, Altdorf: Conrad Agricola, 1611, sig. [unsigned]1v–[unsigned]2r [BP.Breler.1611-01]
Summary: Breler expresses his initial hesitation in publishing his work, acknowledging the common skepticism towards new writings in the philosophical genre unless endorsed by a reputable figure. He chooses Remus for his dedication, recognizing his exceptional wisdom, learning, and piety, and his unparalleled experience in philosophy. Breler reflects on the nature of deception and caution, invoking the tragic fate of Henry IV of France, who, despite his vigilance, could not escape assassination. This historical reference serves to illustrate the unpredictable nature of fate and the limits of human caution. Breler likens deceitful individuals to hyenas that mimic human voices to lure their victims, emphasizing the difficulty of distinguishing genuine friends from foes. He concludes by dedicating his prologue to Remus, hoping it will find favor among the noble and learned. Breler aspires that his work, particularly the tragic elements reminiscent of Henry IV's story, will resonate across different languages and nations, ultimately serving as a testament to his loyal service to his king. (generated by ChatGPT)
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[sig. [unsigned]1v] Vir nobilis ac vere magne.
Oraculi vox est, non Poëta: Addo, non Scenæ dictum, sed Delphicæ cortinæ responsum. Qui cavet ne decipiatur, vix cauet, cum etiam cavet, etiam cum cavisse ratus, sæpe is cautor captus est. Et comprobavit hoc immortale illud Gallici Regni Palladium Henricvs IV. qui etsi pridiè quàm parricidæ sui funestas manus cruentaret, in ipsa solenni inauguratione proruentem in se populi impetum ac globum (cui & nefarius ille immixtus erat sicarius) per satellitium submovisset, Gallicanum tamen illum Atrea neutiquam potuit evitare. Ita videlicet Pater ille patriæ ac Francici Regni mortale Numen, post tot repulsas sicas, magni Tragœdiarum scriptoris effatum istud confirmavit: Quem sæpe casus transit, aliquando invenit. Et qui omninò optumus ille Regum personatos istos Brutos et Caßios à probis dignoscere poterat? Qui quales esse consueverint Solinus olim nos docuit: Similes hyænæ, quæ stabula pastorum sequitur, & auditu assiduo addiscit vocamen, quod exprimere possit imitatione vocis hu- [sig. [unsigned]2r] manæ: vt in hominemastu accitum noctu sæviat. In quo ego proloquium meum abrumpo, ac Bubonem istum vt Henrici IV. tragicis Jambis (solius fati interventum excipio) ad DD[ivi] Petri & Pauli Festum hîc à me, auspiciis Humaniß[imi] viri M[agistri] Leonhardi Lemmermanni, in theatrum educendi prodromum Nobilitati tuæ inscribo. Erit fortaßis in eo quod delectet, erit quod proborum aures mulceat, ac male feriatorum radat & scalpat. Quod si etiam duodecim feralis huius Tragœdiæ choros totidem mihi linguæ & nationes recitabunt: Tum vero ego demum optimo me Regi oppidò egregiè militavisse gloriabor. Vale Vir omnium Nobiliß[ime] ac verè Magne.Modern English Raw Translation
Patrician of Augsburg, Doctor of Both Laws, and Counselor of the Nuremberg Commonwealth, from Melchior Breler of Fulda, Master of Philosophy, Crowned Poet, and Lover of Many Languages.
A truly noble and grand man!
What I present here is the voice of an oracle, not of a poet. Moreover, it is not a line spoken on stage but an answer delivered from the Delphic tripod: “He who guards against being deceived is hardly safe, for even when he is on guard, even when he thinks himself prepared, often that very cautious man is caught off guard.” This truth was confirmed by that immortal Palladium of the Kingdom of France, Henry IV. Although, on the day before his assassin stained his hands with blood, he had the onrushing crowd—which concealed that infamous murderer—repelled by his guards during the very ceremony of his solemn inauguration, he was nevertheless unable to escape that French Atreus. Thus, after fending off so many daggers, that Father of his country, that mortal god of the French realm, proved the dictum of the great tragedian: “He whom chance passes by repeatedly, it will ultimately find.”
And who, however excellent a king he might be, could fully distinguish those disguised Bruti and Cassii from the truly honorable? Long ago, Solinus taught us what such people are like: they are akin to a hyena, which follows the shepherds’ tents and, by incessant listening, learns a call that mimics the human voice, so that at night it may lure a man and then savagely attack him.
With that, I shall break off my prologue. I offer this “owl,” as found in Henry IV’s tragic iambs (except for the sole intervention of fate), as a foretaste of what I plan to bring to the stage here at the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, under the auspices of the most gracious Master Leonhard Lemmermann, dedicating this preview to Your Nobility. Perhaps it will contain something to delight, something to please the ears of the upright and to grate and chafe those of the ill-willed. And if indeed the twelve choruses of this grim tragedy shall be recited for me in twelve tongues and nations, then I shall truly boast that I have served my most excellent King in a singularly worthy manner.
Farewell, you most noble and truly great man!Modern German Raw Translation
Edelgesinnter und wahrhaft erhabener Mann!
Was ich hier vortrage, stammt aus dem Munde eines Orakels, nicht eines Dichters. Und ich füge hinzu: Es ist nicht ein Bühnenwort, sondern die Antwort des delphischen Dreifußes. „Wer sich hütet, betrogen zu werden, ist kaum wirklich auf der Hut – selbst wenn er vorsichtig ist und sich für gewappnet hält, wird dieser Umsichtige oft doch überrumpelt.“ Das hat jenes unsterbliche Palladium des Königreichs Frankreich, Heinrich IV., bestätigt. Obwohl er nämlich tags zuvor, bevor seines Mörders Hände das Blutvergießen begannen, bei seiner feierlichen Krönungszeremonie den andrängenden Menschenhaufen – unter denen sich jener ruchlose Mörder befand – durch seine Leibwache zurückdrängen ließ, konnte er jenen französischen Atreus dennoch nicht vermeiden. So hat dieser Vater des Vaterlandes und irdische Gott des französischen Reiches, nach so vielen abgewehrten Dolchstichen, jenes Wort des großen Tragödiendichters bestätigt: „Den, den das Schicksal oft verschont, den ereilt es doch irgendwann.“
Und wie hätte wohl selbst dieser beste aller Könige jene Bruti und Cassii in Verkleidung von den Rechtschaffenen unterscheiden können? Solinus lehrt uns, wie jene Leute zu sein pflegen: Sie gleichen einer Hyäne, die den Hirtenlagern folgt, durch fortwährendes Zuhören das Lockwort zu imitieren lernt und so in der Nacht den Menschen an sich heranruft und über ihn herfällt.
An dieser Stelle breche ich meine Vorrede ab und stelle jenen „Uhu“ – wie in Heinrichs IV. tragischen Jamben (das Eingreifen des Schicksals allein ausgenommen) – zu Peter-und-Paul, hier unter der Leitung des hochhumanen Magisters Leonhard Lemmermann, als Vorläufer auf meine Bühne. Und ich schreibe diese Ankündigung Deiner Edlen Gnaden zu. Vielleicht wird sich darin etwas finden, das gefällt, etwas, das rechtschaffene Ohren erfreut und die der Schlechtgesinnten schmerzt und kratzt. Wenn dann sogar die zwölf Chöre dieser tödlichen Tragödie in ebensovielen Sprachen und Nationen von meinem Werk verkündet werden, so werde ich mich wahrhaft rühmen können, meinem erhabensten König auf hervorragende Weise gedient zu haben.
Lebe wohl, Du hochadeliger und wahrhaft erhabener Mann!