Martin Luther writes to Helius Eobanus Hessus [1] in Nürnberg.
Quotation:
Grace and peace in Christ. I have received your second letter, enclosing the Dirge for Dürer.[2] Thus you have anticipated me, and written me before I answered your first letter, which I had certainly not expected. I had put it where I could see it, so that I would be sure to answer it by the first available messenger. It is indeed a pious duty to grieve over Dürer, who was a most excellent man; but it was also right for you to call him happy, as one whom, well-prepared and by a blessed death, Christ has taken out of these times that are so turbulent and likely to become even more turbulent, so that he, who was worthy to see only the best things, might not be compelled to look upon the worst. May he rest in peace with his fathers. Amen. . . .
There is no news here to send to your market-place, for Nürnberg is almost the very eyes and ears of Germany, seeing and hearing everything, much of which never reaches us. Greet your dear hind and her dear little fawns. [3] The Lord’s blessing upon you. We bless you in the name of the Lord.
Mart. Lutherus.
Notes
[1] Helius Eobanus Hessus (Jan. 6, 1488 – Oct. 5, 1540) was born at Halgehausen in Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel). His family name is said to have been Koch, but, like other humanists, he apparently renamed himself: Eoban was the name of a local saint (and likely his birth name); Hessus indicates the land of his birth, Helius the fact that he was born on Sunday. In 1504 Hessus entered the university of Erfurt, and soon after his graduation was appointed rector of the school of St. Severus. He soon lost this post and spent the years 1509–1513 at the court of the bishop of Riesenburg.
Returning to Erfurt, he was reduced to severe straits by his alcoholism. In 1517, he was appointed professor of Latin in the university and was prominently associated with the circle of humanist scholars in Erfurt (Reuchlin, Peutinger, Mutianus, and others). He took part in the political, religious, and literary quarrels of the period, finally declaring in favor of Luther and the Reformation for the rest of his life.
The university was seriously weakened by the growing popularity of the new University of Wittenberg, and Hessus tried (but without success) to gain a living practicing first law, then medicine. Through the influence of Camerarius and Melanchthon, he obtained a post in the gymnasium founded by Melanchthon in Nürnberg (1526), but will return to Erfurt in 1533 where he will attempt to make a living as a poet. A lengthy poem will gain him the favor of the Landgrave of Hesse, by whom he will be summoned in 1536 as professor of poetry and history to Marburg, where he will serve until his death.
[2] Epicedion in funere Alberti Dureri Nurenbergensis, aetatis suae Pictorum omnium facile principis, dictum (Epicedion, [Funeral Poem; Dirge] at the funeral of Albrecht Dürer of Nuremberg, easily the leader of all the painters of his age, it is said). Hessus had also sent a copy of this work to Johannes Lang in Erfurt on April 20. Dürer had died on April 6.
[3] At the beginning of 1515, Hessus had married Katharina, the daughter of the Erfurt burgher Heinrich Spater. By 1528, he had a large family.
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