t; to go to Italy with 100 francs, no, less than 100
francs, seems to me a hazardous enterprise, unless I want to enslave
myself to someone once more; may I die before I do this. Then how little
difference it will make to her whether she gives me the money this year
or next, and how much it means to me! Next urge her to look out for a
benefice for me, so that on my return I may have some place where I can
pursue learning in peace. Do not stop at this, but devise on your own
the most convenient method of indicating to her that she should promise
me, before all the other candidates, at least a reasonable, if not a
splendid, benefice which I can change as soon as a better one appears. I
am well aware that there are many candidates for benefices; but you must
say that I am the one man, whom, compared with the rest, etc., etc. You
know your old way of lying profusely about Erasmus.... You will add at
the end that I have made the same complaint in my letter which Jerome
makes more than once in his letters, that study is tearing my eyes out,
that things look as if I shall have to follow his example and begin to
study with my ears and tongue only; and persuade her, in the most
amusing words at your command, to send me some sapphire or other gem
wherewith to fortify my eyesight. I would have told you myself which
gems have this virtue, but I have not Pliny at hand; get the information
out of your doctor.... Let me tell you what else I want you to attempt
still further--to extract a grant from the Abbot. You know him--invent
some modest and persuasive argument for making this request. Tell him
that I have a great design in hand--to constitute in its entirety the
text of Jerome, which has been corrupted, mutilated, and thrown into
disorder through the ignorance of the theologians (I have detected many
false and spurious pieces among his writings), and to restore the
Greek.[30] I shall reveal [in him] an ingenuity and a knowledge of
antiquities which no one, I venture to claim, has yet realized. Explain
that for this undertaking many books are needed, also Greek works, so
that I may receive a grant. Here you will not be lying, Batt; I am
wholly engaged on this work. Farewell, my best and dearest Batt, and put
all of Batt into this business. I mean Batt the friend, not Batt the
slowcoach.

V. TO ANTONY OF BERGEN[31]

[Paris?] [16 March? 1501]

To the most illustrious prelate Antony, Abbot of St. Bertin, greetings:

... I have