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Readings in European History 244a. Hut- ten's Vadis- cus, or the Roman Trinity. 1
In another dialogue, published early in 1520, Hutten meets a friend, Ernhold, in Mayence, and they talk over public affairs. Ernhold asks him what he is irritated about. Hutten. Because five books of the writings of the histo- rian Tacitus were recently printed at Rome, and when I took them to one of our publishers he declared that he dare not reprint them on account of a bull of Leo X which for- bade, in the interests of the Roman printer, that any one should issue the work again within ten years. Ernhold. Then we Germans cannot read the book for ten years, since works printed in Rome rarely reach Germany? Hutten. This irritates me especially, and I am vexed more and more every day to see how our people refuse to leave their superstitions, and continue to think that such a bull should be noticed, which prevents us from advancing our studies and sharpening our wits. When the printer said that if he did as I wished and pleased the scholars he would be immediately excommunicated, I asked him if, should the pope forbid us Germans, under pain of his curse, to have vineyards or make money, we should drink water and throw away our gold. He replied that we should not. ..." But you," I said, " are afraid to let the Germans have Tacitus, when he merits our especial gratitude for having spoken more highly of our people than any other of the ancient writers ? " I should have persuaded him had not a papal legate, who is about here now, roused his apprehensions, telling him that it would be a terrible sin to print the book and that Leo would be very angry if he did so. I was quite excusably enraged at the outcome of the affair. 1 The dialogue secures its name from Hutten's contention that every- thing went by threes in Rome. Three things are carried away from Rome : a bad conscience, a weak stomach, and empty words ; three things disturb the Romans : harmony among the German princes, intel- ligence among the people, and a recognition of the frauds the Romans perpetrate ; three things very few Romans believe : the immortality of the soul, the communion of saints, and the punishments of hell; etc.
