Vrye at Soest. Despite the grave interest in serious study that the
letters show, there are human touches about them. One begins: 'You
promised faithfully to return, and yet you have not come. But I cannot
blame you; for the road is deep in mud, and I myself too am so feeble
a walker that I can imagine the weariness of others' feet.' Another
ends in haste, not with the departure of the post, but 'The servants
are waiting to conduct me to bed'. Here is a longer sample:


I. LANGEN TO VRYE: from Adwert, 27 Feb. <1469>.

'Why do you delay so long to gratify the wishes of our devout
friend Wolter? With my own hand I have transcribed the little
book of _Elegantiae_, as far as the section about the reckoning
of the Kalends. I greatly desire to have this precious work
complete; so do send me the portion we lack as soon as you can.
The little book will be my constant companion: I know nothing
that has such value in so narrow a span. How brilliant Valla
is! he has raised up Latin to glory from the bondage of the
barbarians. May the earth lie lightly on him and the spring
shine ever round his urn! Even if the book is not by Valla
himself, it must come from his school.

'I write in haste and with people talking all round me, from
whom politeness will not let me sit altogether aloof. But read
carefully and you will understand me. At least I hope this
letter won't be quite so barbarous as the monstrosities which
the usher from Osnabruck sends you every day: they sound like
the spells of witches to bring up their familiar spirits, or
the enchantments "Fecana kageti", &c., which open locks whoever