Questions of Greek Grammar

TO THE DISTINGUISHED DOCTOR OF LIBERAL ARTS

and medicine, D. Gerardus Sukerodius,

canon at Saint Peter's in Utrecht,

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Many learned men vied with the printer Christian Wechel, a man of no small reputation, to ensure he would print the erōtēmata questions of that Emanuel Chrysoloras, corrected according to a revised model, using his clean type, and that he would not permit such an excellent grammarian to lie neglected for any longer, as it had previously been printed most crudely and sloppily. They affirmed that he would perform a service of no small value to those less skilled in Greek letters if a Latin version were placed alongside it, as we see done in the case of Theodorus Gaza, and they promised that, lest it be a loss to him, they themselves would lecture on this author publicly. The plan pleased both Christian and certain other friends of no small or common learning, especially Gerardus Morrbius of Kampen, so that they came to me and attempted to compel me with many arguments to take up the task of translating it. And so, finally overcome and defeated by their desire, I unwillingly and plainly forced, took up this burden. For what can a person do when friends press them? I would have preferred to spend this leisure time on medicine, to which I have uniquely devoted myself, leaving all other things aside, so that I might run through it entirely, in which I now continue further studies, and to which I knew I would bring great harm by this translation. If I had wished to serve my own name with some interpretation, it would have been easier and more expeditious from some book of Galen, and that not without great fruit for my studies.

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