“Si te materne remoratur
976J Johannes Melber (fl. 15th century).
“Si te materne remoratur .. Vocabularius praedicantium, sive Variloquus. Ed: Jodocus Eichmann
[Speyer: Peter Drach der Ältere, c. 1476] Dated by BSB-Ink following F. Geldner, in Archiv für Geschichte des Buchwesens (1964), col. 177 Price $9,500
Quarto .Signatures: A–G8 H12 I–O8 P12 Q–X8 Y6 Z8 Aa–Dd8 Ee6 Ff8. Lacking A1 (236 of 237 leaves)
The text is German and Latin. Leaf A1 is missing (recto w., verso with octastichon). | Miss labled signatures Yiii and Yiiii instead of Ziii and Ziiii. – Folios A2, A3 and Ff8 with minor backed areas in the outer margin, however without loss of text. A2i has 1 eight-line initial decorated with lilies and interlacing in black There is narrow and only slightly visible water staining in the top and bottom margins, folios A7 and A8 with reinforcement in the fold. Formerly coloured edges partly worn, slight finger and dirt stains in places at the margins, otherwise well-preserved, wide-margined copy of this strong print on voluminous handmade paper. Contemporary (or early) parchment wrapper, formed from a recycled medieval liturgical manuscript on vellum, preserving fragments of square notation on a four-line staff. The use of choir book waste as binding material reflects common German practice and provides a striking material contrast between the manuscript culture of the later Middle Ages and the emerging print tools of vernacular preaching.
The first edition of Melber’s Vocabularius praedicantium (Goff; GW M22716), an early Latin–German preaching aid compiled from the sermons of Jodocus Eichmann and intended for clergy working across linguistic boundaries. Produced at Speyer by Peter Drach the Elder and dated to c. 1476 (BSB-Ink following Geldner), this edition represents the earliest fixed form of a widely disseminated pastoral tool, designed to assist preachers in negotiating between learned Latin and vernacular expression in sermon composition.
Unlike later and more standardized lexica, the Vocabularius preserves the practical, adaptive character of late medieval preaching, offering insight into the linguistic realities of pastoral care on the eve of the Reformation. As a utilitarian text, it was subject to heavy use, and early survivals are accordingly rare. Johannes Melber, a scholar whose life has remained obscure, compiled this work from the sermons of the popular Heidelberg preacher Jodocus Eichmann (died 1491). Melber’s aim was to create a rhetorical aid for preachers who ‘understood neither Latin nor German’ (Jöcher-Adelung-Rotermund IV, 1336), which distinguishes his vocabulary from similar works of his time. –
Notably, this first edition appears to be unrecorded in U.S. institutional collections.
The 30 known early editions of Melber’s ‘Vocabularius’ listed in the Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke (GW) are all very rare and mostly undated. This is the oldest of the editions of the work dated by GW, which I have been unable to trace at auctions at all. –
“According to the natural character and properties of the Latin language, I have desired to be a most fitting interpreter and expositor of words—especially those which, among the unlearned, may assist in grasping the truth of the Gospel. This little book is not to be embraced as a novelty, since it does not explain word for word, nor does it offer a continuous translation; rather, in interpretation it accumulates many expressions and various combinations, especially suited for preachers.
Therefore, this small book should be valued for two principal reasons: first, for its very clear exposition of words; second, for its admirable rendering into the common (vernacular) speech, which can greatly move and inflame the hearts of hearers.
Finally, the authority of the most learned masters supports it—above all that of Master Jodocus Eichmann of Heidelberg, who for many years has most diligently preached and from whose teaching this work has drawn its full origin and substance.”
GW M22716; H 11029; Pell 7758; Pr 2348; IBP 3695 [um 1481/82?]; BN-Inc M-288 [um 1481/82]; BSB-Ink M-304 [Datierung]; ISTC im00456100.
Geldner, Drach Geldner, Ferdinand: Das Rechnungsbuch des Speyrer Druckherrn, Verlegers und Großbuchhändlers Peter Drach mit Einleitung, Erläuterungen und Identifizierungslisten In: Archiv für Geschichte des Buchwesens 5, 1964, Sp. 17
This is the often-missing leaf. [advertising leaf]
STe materne remoratur inertia linguae,
Quo minus ad populum fundere verba queas,
Si cupis utiliter verbum transferre Latinum,
Si apte quod vis exposuisse velis.
Fac relegas istum vigilans auribusque libellum,
Inque tuas facito saepe venire manus;
Nec facile credas populares dicere posse
Sermones isto nobiliare libro.
The sluggishness of your native tongue holds you back,
so that you are less able to pour forth words to the people.
If you wish to translate a Latin word usefully,
if you want to explain properly what you intend—
then read this little book again attentively, with alert ears,
and make sure it often comes into your hands.
Do not readily believe that common people are able
to speak eloquently without being refined by such a book.
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