German Editor’s Preface
German Editor’s Preface
"Desshalb sol man den juengling zuo den brunnen wysen." —Zwingli.
The following short treatise was dedicated by Zwingli, in 1523 to Gerald Meyer, his step-son, who had just returned from the bath and who fell with Zwingli in the battle at Cappel, October 11, 1531. Zwingli did this in accordance with a custom then existing among persons whose friends were at the baths or had returned, as was the case with Gerald Meyer. The manuscript was in Latin and was published during the same year, at Basel, by Jacob Ceporin, who was one of Zwingli's friends. In 1524 it appeared in Augsburg in connection with Melanchthon's Elementa Puerilia; and in the same year it was also published at Zurich, by C. Froschauer, the publisher of Zwingli's works. The treatise is also found in a collection of 21 papers on pedagogical subjects, making 676 pages, published at Basel, in 1541; but Zwingli's name is withheld, the author being designated by the phrase, "Written by a Christian theologian." In the latest edition of Zwingli's works, this treatise is found in volume IV., page 148.
Already in the year 1524, a translation into German appeared, no mention being made of the place of publication. The title-page contains an illustration symbolizing the occasion for writing the little treatise; a youth receives from the hand of a learned man a book in return for a cock, the symbol of convalescence. Water-jugs placed beside a table symbolize the bath. Jacob Leporin is named as publisher. This edition, republished, in 1844, by K. Fulda, is erroneously represented by him as the first and only one hitherto published.
A new translation into German, published in 1526, by C. Froschauer, at Zurich, differs materially from that of 1524. In his preface to the second edition, published in 1846, editor Christoffel says, "the text appears in literary German, in the spirit and language of Zwingli (i. e., in Zwingli's dialect), whereas the translation of 1524 is written in the dialect of the Upper-Rhine, which is entirely different from the dialect of Zwingli." The translation made at Zurich, in 1526, is, by comparison, more easily understood, more impressive, more popular, and in many passages more exact than the translation of 1524.
The translation of 1526 is neither concise nor closely literal (since Zwingli is believed to have made it himself), but it renders the sense of the Latin clearly and unequivocally. It freely adds the necessary words or clauses, where the brevity of the Latin interferes with the spirit of the German. Where the Latin text makes learned or unusual allusions to the subject, his translation omits them or substitutes plain language. The translation of 1524 closely follows the Latin.
It is worthy of note that K. Fulda regarded Jacob Leporin as the printer and publisher of the translation of 1524. Masius, however, who comments fully on the contents of the treatise and on Zwingli's pedagogical views, in Schmidt's Encyclopedia X., 771-782, ascribes the editing of the treatise to Ceporin, Zwingli's friend, and proof-reader at the press of the celebrated Andrew Crandander, in Basel, whence, through Zwingli's influence, he was called to the gymnasium at Zurich, in 1525, where he died the same year. The name Leporin would thus seem to be a striking typographical error. Gueder, in Herzog's Realencyclopedia, XVIII., 720, says that the treatise is rich in excellent hints and is of value in regard to Zwingli's views of man's destiny. He finds the following to be characteristic of Zwingli: Christiani hominis est non de dogmatis magnifici loqui, sed cum Deo ardua semper et magna facere. Farther on: Non ut nobis vivamus nati sumus, sed ut omnibus omnia fiamus. Lastly the motto: Ad fontes igitur hic noster mittendus, etc. This passage referring to the study of the New Testament in the original, here admits a wider application.
The text is faithfully reproduced from a copy in the city library of Zurich, except that some abbreviations were expanded and several typographical errors, found in the original, were corrected.
The registrar of the board on the lexicology of the Swiss dialects, Mr. F. Staub of Zurich had the kindness to have a transcript made and to compare the proof-sheets printed therefrom, with the original. For this kindness and for making valuable additions to the notes, we here also express our sincere thanks.
A. Israel.
Zschopau, September 1, 1879.