Poems from the Gouda MS. 1323

Abstract

Like every other young humanist, Erasmus in his youth had devoted much of his time to the composition of Latin verse. His genius developed slowly, and it was never at any time a poetic genius ; but the patient versifying of these „apprentice years“ played an important part in perfecting the classic Latin style that was in time to make him the idol of the humanists, and to add such grace to the expression of his mature thought. A number of his early poems have been published in the Opera Omnia ¹). The three groups of poems which follow, written at different stages in his development, complete the list. Though written largely for practice and with more attention to classical form than to originality of content, these verses throw some interesting side lights on the making of a humanist.