ion of 1710 occurs
between the first and second parts of the _Epistolae_, bears especial
marks of Hutten's manner, and is doubtless by him. The interlocutors are
three of the illustrious obscure, Magisters Ortuinus, Lupoldus, and
Gingolphus, and the first act of the comedy consists in their
observations upon the promoters of learning, Reuchlin, Erasmus, and
Faber Stapulensis, who afterwards make their appearance, and the
discussion becomes general, but no impression can be made upon the
stupid and prejudiced monks. The theme is, of course, the inutility of
the new learning, Hebrew and Greek and correct Latinity. One short
passage seems to me admirable:{122}

"_M. Ging_. Et Sanctus Ambrosius, Sanctus Augustinus, et alii
omnes zelossimi doctores non sciebant ipsi bene tot, sicut iste
Ribaldi? _M. Ort_. Ipsi deberent interponere suis. _M. Lup_. Non
bene indigemus de suo Graeco. _M. Ging_. Videtur eis, qui sciunt
dicere _tou, tou, logos, monsotiros, legoim, taff, hagiotatos_,
quod ipse sciunt plus quam Deus. _M. Ort_. Magister noster
Lupolde, creditis, quod Deus curat multum de iste Graeco? _M.
Lup_. Certe non, Magister noster Ortuine, ego credo, quod Deus
non curat multum."

Ranke, in his _History of the Reformation_, has very justly estimated
the merits and character of these remarkable productions:

"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 _naivete_ 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 _Literae Obsc.
V._, which it somewhat resembled." I have not yet been