News from Wittenberg.
From Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 248, printed by Schütze, vol. III, p. 65 and by De Wette, vol. V, p. 105.
Grace and peace in Christ! I will not compete with you, my dear Jonas, in writing letters, not without cause: First, because you far surpass us in intellect and eloquence, which, of course, are hereditary gifts; second, because you have richer material for writing, since you associate with such great heroes and affairs that I would almost like to think that the army of the Trojans and the Greeks were dull (frigidas) hosts before Troy, if Homer's poetry had not puffed them up and made such small things shine with immense eloquence. Meanwhile, here we confess Christ in silence and hope, but sometimes with little bravery; we, especially Magister
1) Here Aurifaber, Schütze and Walch have the reading: "Meister Peter; De Wette: M. Petrum. Cf. No. 2205 and No. 2418.
Philip and I (while you are absent) are overwhelmed with things and business to the point of overflowing, while I, as an old man and a retired one, would rather enjoy the pleasure of old age in the garden these days, to look at the wonders of God in the growth of the trees, the flowers, the herbs, the birds 2c.., and this pleasure, even leisure, would be due to me if I had not deserved to be deprived of it by past sins, by burdensome and often useless business. Other things will tell this M. Johannes, the Saxon, my table companion, if I have written something too little, or you would like to know more, if it is otherwise the case that he could know more. In your house it stands well. The daughter of M. Philip, Hanna, is here from the salt works with her husband and children, who have traveled here because it is very comforting for a person to be able to enjoy the sacrament here. I have received the hope that also this tragedy will finally be concluded by a good end and will be a very good comedy, so that we can boast that it was a funny tragedy (tragicomoediam). Amen for the sake of Christ. In it, be well, and tell Myconius that I do not want to answer his letters in turn now, and that I only envy him his leisure, namely the healthy, strong, cheerful and beautiful young man, yes, who is also quite worthy that he partially tastes my leisure. On Monday after Judica [April 8] Anno 1538. Yours, Martin Luther.
No. 2426.