Repeat the same things, and so to become tedious vnto his reader: for he
sayd a little before, that the Islanders liue vpon fish. His words aboue
recited were these: Island conteineth many people liuing onely with the
food of cattell, and sometimes by taking of fishes. And that I may omit the
rest in which some trifle might be noted whereas he sayeth that bread
groweth not in Island: it is most true: which I thinke is common therewith
to Germany also, because bread groweth not there neither, except it be in
Munsters field where naturall vineger also doth marueillously encrease. But
these toyes, by the liberty of rethoricke forsooth, shall be out of danger.
Howbeit, vnto these reproches, which strangers do gather from the meats and
drinks of the Islanders, we will hereafter briefly answere, Sect. 15.
SECTIO DECIMA.
[Sidenote: Munster. Krantzius.] Incola res maiorum et sui temporis
celebrant cantibus et insculpunt scopulis, atque promontorijs, vt nulla,
nisi cum natura iniuria, intercidant apud posteritatem.
[Sidenote: Frisius.] Citharadi, et qui testudine ludunt, apud eos
reperiuntur quam plurimi, qui pradulci modulamine et volucres et pisces
irretiant et capiant.
[Sidenote: Veterum gesta apud Islandes conseruata.] Quin veterum gesta
aliquot cantibus et poematibus nostratium, vt et soluta oratione, apud nos
conseruentur, non negamus. Quod vero a nobis aut maioribus nostris eadem
scopulis vel promontorijs insculpta sunt, eam non licet nobis, vt neque
illam tantam Citharadorum, aues aut pieces demulcentium, laudem accipere.
Statuimus enim animi esse generosi ac veracis, vt crimina falsa refellere,
ita laudem immeritam sibi haud vendicare, nec, etsi quis tribuat,
agnoscere.
The same in English.
THE TENTH SECTION.
[Sidenote: Munsterus. Krantzius.] The inhabitants do celebrate the actes of
their ancestours, and of their times, with songs, and they graue them in
rocks and promontories, that they may not decay with posterity, but onely
by the defect of nature.
[Sidenote: Frisius.] There be diuers found amongst them that be minstrels,
and can play vpon the lute, who with their delectable musicke ensnare and
take both fowles and fishes.
[Sidenote: The Islanders preserue in writing the acts of their ancestors.]
We denie not but that some woorthy actes of our forefathers be reserued in
the songs and poemes of our countreymen, as also in prose: but that the
same things haue beene engrauen by vs, or by our ancestors in rocks or
promontories, we may in no case acknowledge that praise be due vnto vs, nor
yet the other of minstrels, and taking of birds and fishes. For we holde it
to be part of an honest and ingenuous mind, as to refute false crimes, so
not to challenge vndeserued praise vnto himselfe, nor to accept it being
offered.
SECTIO VNDECIMA.
Sed cum scriptoribus iam dictis, viris alioqui spectata eruditionis et
preclari nominis, qui tamen hac ita inconsiderate scriptis suis
interseruerunt, actionis finis esto.
Etiam magna mei pars est exhaosta laboris:
Sed restat tamen fatus ille vipereus Germanicus, quem idcirco anonymum
secundo partu mater edi voluit, vt venenatis aculeis nomen Islandorum tanto
liberius pungeret.
Porro licet aduersus hanc bestiam in arenam descendere non dubitem, omnibus
tamen constate volo, quonam hoc animo faciam, videlicet, non vt cum illius
pestifera virulentia, conuicijs aut maledicentia certem (Nam vt est in
triuiali paroemia,
Hoc scio pro certo, quod si cum stercore certo,
Vinco, seu vincor, semper ego maculor:)
Sed vt bonis et cordatis omnibus, etiam extraneis, satisfaciam qui
maledicentiam istam Germanicam lecturi vel audituri sunt, aut olim
audierint, ne et hi nos merito calumniam tantam sustinere credant: Tum
etiam vt alios qui istis virulentis rhythmis Germanicis, in gentis nostra
opprobrium vtuntur, et inde dicteria et comumeliosas subsannationes ad
despiciendos Islandos petunt, ab ilia mordendi licentia in posterum, si
fieri possit, abducamus.
Ergo, ne longis ambagibus Lectori fastidium oratio nostra pariat, ad ea
narranda accedam, qua maledicus ille Gennanus in suum pasquillum congessit:
Quem etiam sua de Islandis carmina Encomiastica recitantem in his pagellis
introducerem, nisi prauiderem foetum ilium probrosum, tot et tam varijs
maledictis turgidum, omnibus bonis nauseam mouere posse, ac sua spurcitie
ab ijs legendis absterrere.
Referam igitur pracipua, (ijs scilicet omissis qua cum alijs communia
habet, atque hactenus ventilata sunt) sed, quam ille, longe mitius; ne, vt
dixi, lingua ipsius obscoena petulantia, aures bona et erudita offendantur:
Qui ipsum videre aut audire volet, quarat apud propolas. Nobis inquam, non
est in animo putida ipsius calumnia et conuiciorum sentina, has chartas
inquinare. [Sidenote: 1. Obiectio seu conuicium.] Primum igitur obijcit
Germanicus hic noster, si Dijs placet, Historicus: Multos ex pastoribus
Islandia toto biennio sacram concionem ad populum nullam habere: Vt in
priore editione, huius pasquilli legitur, quod tamen posterior editio
eiusdem refutat: Dicens, eosdem pastores in integro anno tantum quinquies
concionari solitos: qua duo quam rite sibi consentiant, videas bone Lector,
cum constet Authorem mox a prima editione vix vidisse Islandiam. Ita
scilicet plerumque mendacium mendacio proditur, iuxta illud: Verum vero
consentit; Falsum nec vero nec falso.
Sed com nostrum non sit veritatem vspiam dissimulare, nos haud negandum
ducimus conciones sacras circa id tempus, quo iste Sycophanta in Islandia
vixit, nempe anno 1554. aut circiter multo fuisse rariores, quam sunt
hodie, tum scilicet tenebris Papisticis vix dum discussis. Quod etiam de
Psalmis Dauidicis a vulgo Latine demurmuratis, vt idem nostratibus
exprobrat, intelligere est: Papista enim totam spem salutis in sua Missa
collocantes, de concione aut doctrina parum fuere solliciti. Postquam vero
caligine illa exempti sumus, aliter se rem habere, Deo imprimis gratias
agimus: Licet quorundam pastorum nostrorum tardam stupiditatem, segnitiem
et curam praposteram non possimus omni modo excusare. Quod vtrum in nullos
suorum popularium etiam competat, alia quoque nationes viderint.
The same in English.
THE ELEVENTH SECTION.
But now, let this be the end of our controuersie with the authours
aforesayd, being otherwise men of excellent learning, and of great renoume,
who notwithstanding so inconsiderately haue entermedled these things in
their writings.
