EPISTLE

...he referring to the Duke should command that punishment be immediately and severely inflicted upon these deluded little old women original: "delusis aniculis"; Weyer consistently uses diminutive or pitying terms for those accused of witchcraft to highlight their vulnerability and mental state. Instead, Your Highness—appointed to this station by God—wishes that after mature deliberation, an exact inquiry be made as to whether poison was actually administered; only then, if the fact is established beyond doubt, should the requirements of the law be satisfied. This quality truly and deservedly adds to your other most noble and innumerable gifts of mind and character, with which you daily adorn and illuminate the "Sparta" you have obtained original: "Spartam... adornas"; a reference to the Greek proverb "Spartam nactus es, hanc exorna," meaning "You have obtained Sparta, now do your duty by her"—a call to manage one's own realm with excellence (according to the aphorism original: "κατὰ τὸ ἀπόφθεγμα" Your Highness is accustomed to celebrate), such that you turn the eyes of both your own people and all your neighbors toward you.

I shall say nothing here beyond my intended purpose regarding your uncommon devotion to piety; I could bring forward many memorable examples of this, most worthy of imitation, were I not afraid that I might seem to be seeking favor rather than simply reporting the truth. Let this one thing suffice: that you never see the rising sun, nor compose yourself in bed at evening, without first pouring out ardent prayers to God, and through sacred reading, faithfully committing yourself and all those entrusted to Your Highness to His protection.

I will add nothing of your moderation in drinking, for which reason alone you stand as an admirable example not only to all your numerous subjects,

The character of princes is more powerful than laws.

but you also outshine the most illustrious and powerful heroes of your own rank by right. It is no small praise—indeed, you wish it to be a fixed rule—that no one has ever seen Your Highness intoxicated. You uphold the law of King Ahasuerus Esther 1 A reference to Esther 1:8, where the Persian king decreed that "drinking was according to the law; no one was compelled" to drink more than they wished, by which it is strictly provided that no one should urge a contest of drinking cups. But yet—

A quote from the poet Claudian’s "Panegyric on the Fourth Consulship of Honorius," suggesting that subjects imitate the behavior of their leader more than they obey his written laws

From this it also happens that in your presence, no one not only [dares] to swear The catchword "ierare" likely completes the word "deierare," meaning to take an oath or to swear profanely...