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592 APPENDIX VI
there his first action was to obtain the promotion which he had
abandoned at Cambridge’.
In this connexion Erasmus’ proficiency in Greek may be con¬
sidered. He had learnt the rudiments of it at Deventer*; but his
facilities for studying it cannot have been many, and whilst at Steyn
he still probably found it somewhat of an achievement to write the
character, if we may judge from the fact that he headed one of his
odes with Cornelius’ name written in Greek®. In Paris he doubtless
took what opportunities he could, and his letters as early as 1496
show a tendency to quote from the Greek. The motive which led
him in 1499 to decline Colet’s invitation" to stay in Oxford and
lecture was probably that he could find none there to teach him
Greek, On returning to Paris he applied himself to the tongue with
all his energies ”, being convinced of its importance !* and ready to
make any sacrifice for it. At Orleans in the autumn of 1 500 he was
working hard at Homer, whom he still found some difficulty in
reading *; but on return to Paris in order to make better progress
he proposes to hire a teacher ®, presumably Hermonymus, in whom,
however, he was grievously disappointed ®, In Epp. 143 and 149 his
studies are displayed in order to make due impression on a patron.
In the summer of 1501 he is clamouring for new Greek books, and
there is the first hint of translation”.
His determination’ was rewarded. By the time he reached
Louvain in 1502 he had become fluent in the tongue", We hear
first of a Greek epigram”, which was not, however, printed ; then
of translations from Libanius”' and Euripides” ; and he assimilates
his name to a fancied Greek original”. In 1504 he is ashamed of
the first edition of the Adagia, feeling them to be jejune, since
nothing has been culled from Greek authors“; and is convinced that
Greek is necessary to all serious students ©, especially in Theology”.
During 1504-5 he was teaching Greek to pupils at Paris, amongst
whom were Cop” and Pyrrhus d’Angleberme *S and to this period
may be attributed his translation of the Odyssey *. In England he
could translate Euripides® and Lucian readily, though with some
difficulties in the latter case; but still he was not satisfied®. To
? See Epp. 200, 1. here
° ii. 39 n. and i. p. 7. 19. 2 Epp. 138. 41 n. and 139. 148, 9.
° Ep. 23. 112. The phrase in Ep. 10 î. p. 7. 22-4; ef, Epp. 149. 66-8
26. 12 was probably added at the time and 194. 22 seq. ; also LB. i. 966 F-7 A.
of publication ; cf. p. 598. 1 Ep. 158. 6n.
1° Ep. 49. 22; see also Ep. 64, where 18 Ep. 159. 30-2.
the same consideration arises, however, 1 Wp. 172. 9-12.
about publication. There is no Greek EPS: Le
in the passage about Epimenides in the ? Eps 197.
Pamil. Colloquiorum Formulae. For other 22 Ep. 188.
Greek in early letters see Epp. 105, 108, 2 See p. 73.
113, and 114. The liberal quotations ZERI OMO PANE] p 2 10)
from Homer in Ep. 93 were almost 2 Ep. 181. 91, 2.
certainly interspersed in preparing 2° Epp. 138. 45-7, 182 and 188. 1-3.
the Exhortatio for the press; for more “ND 260
than a year later Erasmus was still 2 Ep. 140 introd. and 34 n.
unfamiliar with Homer (see below). Bs gr. gms
1 Ep. 108. 74 seq. EON) Paseo, a
1? Epp. 128. 22 seq. and 124. 62-4. SD
1° Ep. 129. 66, 7. 52 Ep:.189. 18; 4.