Simmler (Zurich, 1563)

Translated from the Greek by Enrico Prodi, University College London (2023)

To Peter Martyr Vermigli,the excellent theologian, a valediction.

Not in vain, but truthfully you bore the name of Peter
            Martyr, ever since the holy water in which you first were born [i.e. baptism].
Then, I think it was fated for you to be
            Both inspired by God and better than human.
For the witness of Christ was wrought for you,
            Forever the aim and end of your speech and life.
In it you lived steadfastly in the fashion of Peter 
            Until the threshold of old age and the gates of Hades.
This knows all of Europe of the broad roads:
            First Ausonia [Italy], which was your fatherland,
Then the Teutonic land [Germany] and that of the renowned Britons,
            And finally the nation of the Helvetians [Swiss], dear to Ares.
In their foremost city for five years
            You interpreted the holy pages,
From the Lord’s birth to the year after the thirtieth,
            Striving to construct a godly teaching.
Then you went to the Celts [French]: the King of Navarre summoned you,
            And the Queen of the Celts, who was a widow then.
Returning again to Helvetian Tigurum [Zürich],
            When you breathed your last you gave back to the Lord His spirit
Before the turn of a full year since your return.
            Your resting body mother earth holds;
Your mind lives an immortal life in the fatherland above the heavens
            With myriad others, those of the saints.

Conrad Gessner, who loved him when he was alive and admired him greatly, and was present to tend to him upon his most pious passing.

[Editor's note: “From the Lord’s birth to the year after the thirtieth”: does he mean “from Jesus Christus' birth to his crucifiction and resurrection”, calculating it happened when Jesus was 31 years of age?]

To the same,
an epitaph, by the same

In this tomb lies Peter Martyr,
           teacher of God’s words,
From whose tongue nectar gushed and flowed,
            In the year from Christ’s birth
Which you shall know as his double name, made of numbers,
            Subtracting mi and rho and adding twice three.

Translator’s note: Gessner is playing on the fact that the Greek letters also functioned as numerals. The numerical value of the letters Π ε τ ρ ο ς Μ α ρ τ υ ρ adds up to 1696; μ is 40, ρ is 100 – and Peter Martyr Vermigli died in 1562.

Conrad Gessner. Valediction and Epitaph. In: Josias Simmler. Oratio de vita et obitu clarissimi viri et praestantissimi theologi D. Petri Martyris Vermilii divinarum literarum professoris in schola Tigurina. Zurich: Froschauer, 1563, f. 42r-v.

The digitized pages are from the book: Zentralbibliothek Zürich, Shelf Mark: 5.224,2. Persistent Link: https://doi.org/10.3931/e-rara-3210

VD-16 Identifier: VD16 S 6508

Simmler, Josias. ORATIO || DE VITA ET OBI=||TV CLARISSMI VIRI ET PRAESTAN-||tissimi Theologi D. PETRI MARTYRIS VER||MILII diuinarum literarum professoris in scho=||la Tigurina, habita ibidem à IOSIA || SIMLERO Tigurino.|| ITEM Scripta quaedam D. Petri Martyris de || Eucharistia, nunquam antehac edita.|| HIS accesserunt Carmina doctorum aliquot virorum || in eiusdem obitum conscripta.||(D.Petri Martyris Vermi-||lii Florentini ... || EPITOME Defensionis aduersus Ste=||phanum Gardinerum.|| CONFESSIO de Coena Domini exhi=||bita Senatui Argentoratensi.|| SENTENTIA de praesentia Corporis || Christi in Eucharistia, proposita in col=||loquio Poissiaco.|| EPISTOLA de causa Eucharistiae ... ||). TIGVRI APVD CHRISTOPHORVM || Froschouerum Iuniorem, Anno M.D.LXIII,||. Zürich: Froschauer, Christoph d.J., 1563.

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