Ciceronian Inspirations in Martini Cromeri Monachus, sive Colloquiorum de religione […] liber I ( p. 34-40)

Abstract

Martinus Cromerus (1512-1589), the secretary of last Polish kings from Jagiellonian dynasty: Sigismundus I and Sigismundus II Augustus, bishop of Warmia, was distinguished humanist and appreciated historiographer. His work was part of a polemic dialog with Reformation. Between 1541-1544 four anonymous volumes of Rozmowy Dworzanina z Mnichem were published. Their main purpose was to discourage Polish people from converting to Evangelism. Cromerus wrote about it in latin prafaetio for two first editions of Colloquiorum de religione from 1559 year and completed edition titled Monachus, sive Colloquiorum de religione libri quattuor... from 1568 year. In preface he mentioned reasons of creating latin versions of the dialogs, and in edition for year 1568 about his work method with text. Both authors declarations, comparison of polish and latin texts and between latin editons show that Monachus, sive Colloquiorum de religione libri quattuor is not a translation of Polish dialog. Individual editions of colloquiorum libri... contain differences in content as well as in style. Stylistical devices used by Cromerus in the fragment of first dialog from first volume Monachus… is the subject of this article. The author described riots and religious conflicts (mostly war with Smalcaldica confoederatio) imitating style of Ciceros speeches. Analysis of chosen sentences from above mentioned fragment provides evidence that Kromer has purposely used rhetorical devices and their connections form Ciceronian speeches (eg. De imperio Cn. Pompei, Pro Caelio). Analysed passaged seems to be the most rhetorical passus in over 1000 pages of Cromerus’ work, is a great ilustration of Warmian Bishops rhetorical abilities and therefore it deserves sixteenth century polish-latin prose researchers’ attention.