"We must not look for the delicate apprehension and tact, which
can only be formed in a highly polished state of society, nor
for the indignation of insulted morality expressed by the
ancients: it is altogether a caricature, not of finished
individual portraits, but of a single type;--a clownish sensual
German priest, his intellect narrowed by stupid wonder and
fanatical hatred, who relates with silly _naïveté_ and gossiping
confidence the various absurd and scandalous situations into
which he falls. These letters are not the work of a high
poetical genius, but they have truth, coarse strong features of
resemblance, and vivid colouring."

Ranke mentions another satire, which appeared in March, 1520, directed
against John Eck, the opponent of Luther, the latter being regarded in
the light of a successor of Reuchlin, under the title of _Abgehobelte
Eck_, or _Eccius dedolatus_, "which, for fantastic invention, striking
and crushing truth, and Aristophanic wit, far exceeded the _Literæ Obsc.
V._, which it somewhat resembled." I have not yet been able to meet with
this; but such high praise, from so judicious a critic, makes me very
desirous to see and peruse it.

S.W. Singer.

Mickleham, July 3. 1850.

[Footnote 8: "Ubi primum exissent _Ep. Ob. V._ miro Monachorum applausu
exceptæ sunt apud Britannos a Franciscanis ac Dominicanis, qui sibi
persuadebant, eas in Reuchlini contumeliam, et Monachorum favorem, serio
proditus: quamque quidam egregie doctus, sed nasutissimus, fingeret se