that, unless I mistake^ when you wrote that book you felt how easy it is to write about moderation and blame Luther's excesses, but how hard, or rather impossible, it is to practice what you preach except by a special gift of the Spirit. Believe it or not as you like, but Christ is witness that I heartily re- gret that such zeal and hatred should be roused against you. I cannot believe that you remain unmoved by it, for your fortitude is htiman and unequal to such trials. Perhaps a r^hteous zeal moved them and they thought that you had provoked them in various ways. Since they are admittedly too weak to bear your caustic but dissembled sarcasm (which you would have pass for prudent moderation), they surely have just cause for indignation, whereas if they were stronger they would have none. I, too, am irritable, and quite fre^ quently am moved to write caustically, though I have only done I so against hardened men proof against milder forms of ad- I monition. Otherwise I think my gentleness and clemency I toward sinners, no matter how far they are gone in iniquity, I is witnessed not only by my own conscience, but by the ex^J perience of many. Hitherto, accordingly, I have controlled^ my pen as often as you prick me, and have written in letters to friends, which you have seen, that I should control it until^ you publish something openly.* For although you will not side with us, and although you injure or make sceptical many pious persons by your impiety and hyprocrisy, yet I cannot and do not accuse you of willful obstinacy. What can I do? Each side is greatly exasperated. Could my good offices pre- vail, I should wish my friends to cease attacking you with so much animus and to allow your old age a peaceful death in the Lord. I think they would do so if they were reasonable and considered your weakness and the greatness of the cause which has long since outgrown your littleness, especially as the cause has now progressed so far that it has little to fear from the might — or rather the sting and bite — of Eras- mus. You on your side, Erasmus, ought to consider their in- firmity, and abstain from making them the butt of your witty rhetoric. Even if you cannot and dare not declare for us^H yet at least you might leave us alone and mind your own /
- C/. mpra, no. 591,
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