Text.Breler.1611-02.A1v

Melchior Breler

Dedicatory Letter to Johann Christoph Graeter

Back to Authors | Back to Texts by Melchior Breler

Source: Melchior Breler, Schediasmatum Iuvenilium Manipulus unus, Altdorf: Conrad Agricola, 1611, sig. A1v [BP.Breler.1611-02]

---

---

---

Text

 (Show Edit)

[sig. A1r] Ad Dominum Janvm Christophorvm Grætervm Amicum Meum Magnum, & Ex Recentioribus Sinceriorem.

[sig. A1v] Amicorvm optime, optimorvm amicissime.

Nota est illa Poëtæ cuiusdam Flori apud Spartianum vita jocularis & mollicula cantilena.

Ego nolo Cæsar esse,
Equitare per Britannos,
Scythicas pati pruinas.

Nota quoq́ue Imperatoris salsa & faceta responsio:

Ego nolo Florus esse,
Ambulare per tabernas,
Culices pati rotundos.

Mihi si quis proletarius ac ex aulularia effigiatus argilla Momus seu frugis-perda occinat:

Nolo poëta haberi,
Vatesq́ue nominari,
Aut versibus vacare.

Erit confestim in mentem, quod regeram.

Nolo balatro haberi,
Fungusq́ue nominari,
Aut næniis vacare.

Conatus sum enim id ipsum scripto hoc meo, ut non Poëtico, Musæo certe, ostendere. Quod ut ad te etiam potissimum inuiseret, fecit amor & adfectus meus verè Magnus in te amicum meum Magnum. Vale.

M. B.

Modern English Raw Translation

 (Show Edit)

Generated by ChatGPT on 7 March 2024. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.

To Johann Christoph Graeter, my great friend, and among the More recent, the most sincere.

Best of friends, most friendly of the best.

Famous is that playful and delicate song of a certain poet Florus in the life written by Spartianus:

I do not wish to be Caesar,
To ride through the Britons,
To suffer the Scythian frosts.

Also known is the Emperor's witty and clever reply:

I do not wish to be Florus,
To walk through the taverns,
To suffer the round mosquitoes.

If some proletarian made of potter's clay, a Momus or a grain-waster, sings to me:

I do not want to be considered a poet,
Nor to be called a seer,
Or to be devoted to verses.

Immediately it comes to mind, what I would retort:

I do not want to be considered a jester,
Nor to be called a mushroom,
Or to be devoted to trifles.

For with this very writing of mine, not poetic perhaps, but certainly belonging to the Muses, I have tried to show that. And that it would visit you above all was made so by my love and truly great affection for you, my great friend. Farewell.

Melchior Breler.