Erasmus writes to his friend Cornelius Gerard, correcting a rumor that he wrote a poem in praise of Saint Bavo, clarifying that it was actually written by their mutual friend William. He discusses his literary works, including a lyric poem and funeral oration, and asks Gerard to help reconcile him with Master Engelbert, whose opinion of Erasmus has been damaged by gossip from other friends.
Erasmus of Rotterdam to Cornelius the Poet and Theologian, Greetings. I know not, dearest Cornelius, with what pleasure your letters detain my mind, though they vehemently kindle in me a longing for you. You write that you have heard I have published a certain history in verse in praise of Saint Bavo. Indeed, false rumor has reported this to you erroneously. For it is not I, but my other self, who is the author of this poem—I speak of William, your most affectionate grandson, with whom I share such a bond of intimacy that you would say one soul inhabits two bodies. Nevertheless, hereafter (since you advise me so kindly) I have resolved to compose nothing which does not either savor of the praises of the saints or of sanctity itself. Or if any of the poems which I send to you should seem somewhat too gentle in tone, you will, with your indulgence, most readily pardon the age in which they were composed. For, excepting a lyric poem, which was in my hands when your letter was returned to me, and a funeral oration, which I thought should be sent to you recently, so that you may clearly perceive what I can do even in prose, and that one satire, all the rest were composed by me as a boy and almost while I was still a layman. Furthermore, I had nothing else at hand to send to you; for whatever remained was partly taken to Alexander Hegius, schoolmaster and once my teacher, and to Bartholomew of Cologne, a man of singular learning and a great lover of poetry, whose poems are in our possession, and partly it was carried off to Utrecht by a certain friend of mine with a kind of friendly violence. But a copy of the letter which I once sent, when asked, to Master Engelbert, a man venerable in life, I have taken care to send to you, in case by your intercession I might perhaps deserve to receive some reciprocal favor from him, which I have not obtained so far. Nor is it for that reason alone that I hold the man suspect on account of either haughtiness or arrogance, but also because of the talkative tongues of my friends, which have most hostilely stained my reputation with him. It will therefore be a mark of your kindness, excellent Cornelius, to reconcile me once more to him, with whom you have very great influence. If you do this, you will perform an act most pleasing to me and not unworthy of your benevolence. Farewell. And may mutual love preserve you, absent, for me in faithful mind.