HIERONYMUS WOLF

Significant ink bleed-through from the reverse side of the page makes some areas appear cluttered, though the primary text remains legible.

The harvest is still in the blade original: "messis adhuc in herba est." A proverbial expression meaning that a project is in its early stages and its success is not yet guaranteed.—and we must pray with all our hearts to God, the Best and Greatest, that no unforeseen disaster in these most dangerous times interrupts what has been so well begun. When the situation and the timing demand it, we shall both consider these matters more carefully and discuss them at greater length. I would fear that I might seem to have exceeded proper bounds even now, and that I have been a burden to your Wisdoms with the account of my personal affairs, were it not that these matters themselves pertain in some part to your duty and office; and were it not that I have discovered and perceived through experience your great humanity and the kindness you have shown me individually.

This support has been so welcome and pleasant to me that I now finally find it a joy to live, since I have found such evaluators of our labors—acting as judges and directors of the games Wolf uses the Greek terms βραβευτὰς (brabeutas) and ἀγωνοθέτας (agonothetas), referring to officials who presided over athletic or musical contests in ancient Greece. He is complimenting the city council on their ability to judge intellectual merit.—who are both able and accustomed to judge talent, learning, virtue, and industry correctly, truly, freely, and honestly.

Therefore, I am all the less afraid to dedicate and offer to your Wisdoms this commentary on Isocrates, which was largely born and raised in your school. I offer it not so much in my own name but in the name of our entire college, as a modest monument of our grateful spirit and the respect we owe you. Farewell; and continue, as you are doing, to vigorously