Gruterus, Janus
(1560-1627): Bibliotheca exulum: Seu Enchiridion Divinae Humanaeque
prudentiae. e- Frankfurt <Main>: Laz. Zetzner Erben, 1625. -
[12] Bl., 891 [recte: 881] S. 12° (Die Seitenzählung springt von
766 auf 777) - Satzspiegel 11,7 x 6,8 cm - Sign.: Sch
073/124
Introduction:
In this late work the great philologist from Antwerp, who was in charge of the Heidelberg Bibliotheca Palatina (Bibliotheca Palatina) from 1602 to 1622, collected about 30,000 moral aphorisms, grouped under 767 subject headings. These aphorisms derived mostly from ancient Greek and Roman literature, but also from more modern authors. Such gnomologies were already popular in the early Hellenistic period. They served as moral instruction, for private edification, and were often used to embellish speeches and normal discourse. The Humanists of the early modern era showed an active interest in this genre, as attested in Gruter's foreword, where he mentions his teacher Justus Lipsius and Joseph Justus Scaliger. Gruter himself had just published a comprehensive collection in 1624: Florilegii Magni, Seu Polyantheae Tomus : Formatus Concinnatusque Ex Quinquaginta minimum Auctoribus vetustis, Graecis, Latinis, Sacris, Profanis. Straßburg: Zetzner, 1624. Previously he had even put together a three-volume work Florilegium Ethico-Politicum from the holdings of the Heidelberger Bibliotheca Palatina. In this work he also integrated proverbs from more modern national languages (Frankfurt a.M., 1610-1612).
Gruter, who had escaped as a refugee from Heidelberg - which had been seized by Tilly on September 19, 1622 - was honorably received in Tübingen. He dedicated the present collection to the Württemberg princes as a sign of his gratitude. He offers these aphorisms practically as companions and safeguards in all walks of life. The title Bibliotheca exulum alludes not only to the particular fortunes of the anthologist-editor; it also refers to the earthly 'peregrinatio' in general. Gruter remarks to the reader in his foreward (Pg. 10a) that he has taken the greater part of his aphorisms and maxims from his 'Polyanthea', which had appeared the preceeding year; however, he had newly arranged them and given them a regular metrical form. Apart from the distich (two-line verse form, for example Dionysii Catonis Disticha de moribus, the single-line form was also an established metrical form in gnomic poetry (meaningful sayings put into verse to aid the memory). In the Bibliotheca exulum the catalectic trochaic tetrameter (septenar) is the predominant form; additionally, there are iambic septenars and shorter verse forms.
In ordering the aphorisms according to key words (tituli) Gruter did not create any larger thematic groups but rather presented the partial facets individually - which offers the reader more variety and stimulates the curiosity to continue searching. Aside from the more serious aphorisms which attempt to give a sense of perspective to the "world" and which, according to Gruter, are appropriate to his age sub specie vitae aeternae, he also included word groups and phrases which are interesting solely for their linguistic brilliance – but which do not satisfy strictly moralistic criteria. Thus it would be better if immature boys were not exposed only to this book - an adult should rather select and cull the aphorisms which he feels are suitable for that age group. Gruter takes exception to the suspicions that he might have hidden critical opinions about or allusions to any contemporary persons in the particularly satirical aphorisms: All of the materials have been taken from his sources without secret additional information.
In his panegyric Gruter biography (Vita, mors et opera maximi virorum Jani Gruteri. Tübingen, 1628) the Tübingen professor, librarian and poet Friedrich Hermann Flayder (1596-1640) makes a cursory reference to the Bibliotheca exulum. First, on page 37, he praises Gruter’s scholarly merits in exploiting the treasures of the Heidelberg manuscripts for new editions of ancient texts and adds, with reference to the great Bibliotheca Palatina: Quam tamen non tam per orbem universum diffundebat quam in compendium contrahebat, ut et Pauperes illam atque Exules ubique locorum haberent, quod ejusdem Bibliotheca exulum demonstrat. Bibliothecam tamen nullam unquam meliorem habuit, quam semetipsum. (He not only made the Bibliotheca Palatina available to the entire world, but also abridged it to an extent that poorer and displaced persons could carry it along wherever they are, as his 'Bibliotheca exulum' shows. And yet he was never in possession of a larger library than himself). This treasure trove of moral-ethical aphorisms appears here as the essence of the largest library in Germany – as a library in a nutshell, which the reader should adopt as his own, all the while aware that the compiler himself even possessed an even more comprehensive library within his head.
Production of the printed work was apparently impaired due to events of the Thirty Years’ War. Browned paper, uneven coloring, inconsistencies in layout and design, and a small type make the original difficult to read. These shortcomings have been mitigated by the use of image digitization. The present alphabetical listing of key words is based entirely on the nominative form of the lemma which appears in the genitive (for example, Legis as Lex after Lenitatis). Also the variants of the standard written forms used by us (for example, hyems for hiems) should be taken into account.
A - Absentiae - Abstinentiae - Abundantiae - Abusus - Academiae - Accusatio - Acquisitionis - Actionis - Administri principum - Admirationis - Admissionis principalis - Admonitionis - Adolescentiae - Adorationis - Adversitatis - Adulationis - Adulterii - Advocati - Aegritudinis - Aemulationis - Aequalitatis - Aequanimitatis - Aequitatis - Aeris - Aerumnae - Aestatis - Aestimationis - Aetatum et aevi - Aeternitatis - Affectuum - Afflictionis - Agriculturae - Alacritatis - Aleae - Alieni - Alimenti - Altum sapere, vel loqui - Ambitionis - Amicitiae - Amici mali - Amicorum multitudo - Amissionis - Amoris - Amoris coniugum - Amor Veneris - Amoris sui - Anathematis - Animae - Animalium - Animi - Annonae - Anni - Antiquitatis - Approbationis - Aptitudinis - Aquae - Arae - Arbitri - Arcani - Armorum - Arrogantiae - Artium - Arcis - Artificium - Assentationis - Assuetudinis - Astrorum - Avaritiae - Auctoris - Auctoritatis - Audaciae - Auditus - Aulae - Augurii - Aurorae - Auri et Argenti - Autumni - Auxilii
B - Baptismi - Barbariae - Beati - Belli - Beneficii - Benignitatis - Biothanati - Blanditiarum - Boni viri - Bonorum - Summi boni
C - Caecitatis - Caedis - Caelorum - Calamitatis - Calumniae - Candidati - Candoris - Canitiei - Captivitatis - Carminum - Carnis - Carpendi - Castigationis - Castitatis - Castrorum - Casus - Causae - Cauti - Celebritatis - Censurae - Certaminis - Caritatis - Christi - Christiani - Cibi - Civilitatis - Cladis - Clementiae - Coactionis - Cogitationis - Cognationis - Cognitionis - Collega - Coloniae - Coloris - Comae - Comitis - Comitatis - Commodati - Commodi - Comparationis - Communitatis - Conatus - Concordiae - Confessionis - Confidentiae - Coniugii - Conscientiae - Consilii - Constantiae - Consuetudinis - Contagii - Contemptus - Contentionis - Continentiae - Contumeliae - Conversationis - Convicii - Convivii - Cordis - Coronae - Corporis - Correctionis - Crastini - Credendi - Criminis - Crudelitatis - Crucis - Culpae - Cultus Dei - Cultus animi - Cultus corporis - Cupidinis - Curae - Curiositatis - Custodiae
D - Daemonis - Damni - Damnandi - Debitoris - Deceptionis - Decori - Decoris - Defensionis - Deformitatis - Degenerationis - Deliberationis - Deliciarum - Delicti - Dementiae - Depositi - Deserti - Desiderii - Desperationis - Dei - Dexteritatis - Dicacitatis - Diei - Diffidentiae - Difficultatis - Dignitatis - Dilectionis - Diligentiae - Discendi - Discipuli - Disciplinae - Displicentiae - Discordiae - Disputationis - Divinationis - Divitiarum - Doctrinae - Doloris - Doli - Domini - Domus - Domestici - Donationis - Dotis - Dubii - Dulcis rei - Ducis
A-D E-N,O-Z,E - Ebrietatis - Ecclesiae - Educationis - Electionis - Eleemosynae - Emptionis - Egestatis - Eloquentiae - Emendationis - Episcopi - Epistolae - Equi - Erroris - Eruditionis - Eucharistiae - Examinis - Excellentiae - Excubiarum - Excusationis - Exsecrationis - Exempli - Exercitationis - Exercitus - Exilii - Exitus - Exordii - Exspectationis - Experientiae - Exprobrationis - Externi
F - Fabulae - Factionis - Facundiae - Fallaciae - Falsitatis - Famae - Famis - Fastidii - Fastus - Fati - Favoris - Felicitatis - Ferociae - Feriarum - Festinationis - Fidei - Fidelitatis - Fiduciae - Filiorum - Finis - Fisci - Florendi - Fecunditatis - Foederis - Foeneratoris - Fontis - Formae - Formidinis - Fortitudinis - Fortunae - Fortunae faber quisque - Fratrum - Fraudis - Frontis - Fructus - Frugalitatis - Fuci - Fugae - Fundamenti - Funeris - Furoris - Furti - Futuri
G - Garrulitatis - Gaudii - Gazae - Gemmae - Genii - Generis - Gloriae - Gradus - Gratiarum - Gratitudinis - Gravitatis - Gubernandi - Gulae
H - Hereditatis - Historiae - Homicidii - Hominis - Honestatis - Honoris - Horarum - Hospitalitatis - Hostis - Horti - Humanitatis - Humilitatis - Hiemis - Hymni - Hypocrisis - Iactantiae
I - Iacturae - Ignaviae - Ignis - Ignorantiae - Imaginis - Imbecillitatis - Immodestiae - Immortalitatis - Impatientiae - Imperitiae - Imperii - Impetrandi - Impetus - Impietatis - Impotentiae - Improbitatis - Imprudentiae - Impudentiae - Impunitatis - Inchoandi - Indolis - Indulgentiae - Industriae - Inertiae - Infamiae - Infantiae - Infortunii - Ingenii - Ingratitudinis - Inimicitiarum - Iniquitatis - Inferni - Initii - Iniuriae - Iniustitiae - Innocentiae - Inopinae Rei - Insaniae - Inscitiae - Insolentiae - Institutionis - Insultationis - Integritatis - Intemperantiae - Interpretis - Inventionis - Invidiae - Inviti - Inutilis - Iocorum - Irae - Iucunditatis - Iudicii - Iuramenti - Iussorum - Iuris - Iustitiae - Iuventutis
L - Laboris - Lacrimarum - Laesionis - Laetitiae - Largitionis - Lasciviae - Lassitudinis - Latrocinii - Laudis - Laureae - Lectionis - Legati - Legatorum ad pios usus - Lenitatis - Legis - Liberalitatis - Liberorum - Libertatis - Libidinis - Librorum - Licentiae - Linguae - Litterarum - Litis - Livoris - Loci - Longaevitatis - Lucri - Luctus - Luminis atque Lucis - Luxus
M - Magistri - Magistratus - Maiestatis - Magnae rei - Maiorum - Maledicentiae - Malitiae - Mandati - Manus - Maris - Maturitatis - Matrimonii - Medicinae - Mediocritatis - Mendacii - Mendicitatis - Mentis - Mei ac tui - Mercedis - Metus - Militis - Mimi aut Histrionis - Ministri - Minarum - Miraculi - Miseriae - Miserationis - Modestiae - Modi - Maeroris - Molestiae - Monarchae - Monetae - Monstri - Morae - Morbi - Morum - Morionis - Mortis - Motus - Multitudinis - Mundi - Muneris - Musarum - Musicae - Mutationis - Murorum - Mutui - Mysteriorum
N - Nativitatis - Naturae - Navigationis - Naufragii - Necessitatis - Negandi - Negligentiae - Negotii - Negotiationis - Neutralitatis - Necis - Nimii - Nobilitatis - Nocendi - Nominis - Novercae - Novae rei - Noxae - Noctis - Nugarum - Numinis - Nummorum - Nuntii - Nuptiarum
O - Oboedientiae - Obiurgationis - Obligationis - Oblivionis - Obscenitatis - Obscuritatis - Obsequii - Obsidum - Occasionis - Occupationis - Ochlochargiae - Oculi - Odii - Oestri - Offensae - Officii - Oneris - Opum - Opinionis - Opportunitatis - Optandi - Optimatum - Operis - Oraculi - Orationis - Orbis - Orbitatis - Ordinis - Originis - Oris - Ornatus - Osculi - Ostentationis - Ostii - Otii
P - Parasiti - Palmae - Parentis - Parricidii - Parvae rei - Partus - Pastoris - Patientiae - Patriae - Patris - Patrocinii - Pavoris - Paupertatis - Pacis - Peccati - Pecuniae - Peregrini - Perennitatis - Perfectionis - Periculi - Periurii - Permissionis - Perseverantiae - Personae - Persuasionis - Pertinaciae - Pestilentiae - Petitionis - Philautiae - Philosophi - Picturae - Pietatis - Pigritiae - Plebis - Poenae - Pie agendi - Poenitentiae - Poetae - Populi - Possessionis - Posteritatis - Potentiae - Potestatis - Praeceptoris - Praecocis rei - Praedae - Proelii - Praemii - Praesagii - Praesidis - Praesentiae - Praestigiarum - Praeteriti - Pravitatis - Precum - Privilegii - Privatae rei - Principatus - Probationis - Probitatis - Proditionis - Prodigii - Prodesse - Profani - Professionis - Prohibendi - Promovendi - Prosperitatis - Providentiae - Provinciae - Prudentiae - Publicae rei - Pudoris - Pudicitiae - Pueritiae - Pugnae - Pulchritudinis - Puritatis
Q - Quaerendi - Quaestio Carnificis - Quaestoris - Quaestus - Querelae - Quietis
R - Radicis - Rarae rei - Rationis - Rapinae - Rebellionis - Reconciliationis - Recreationis - Recti - Regulae - Religionis - Remedii - Repentini - Reprehensionis - Repulsae - Respiciendi - Rei publicae - Resurrectionis - Reatus - Revereri - Regis aut regni - Rhetoris - Risus - Rixae - Roboris - Rogationis - Ruinae - Rumoris - Rusticae Rei
S - Sacerdotii - Sacrae rei - Sacramenti - Sacrificii - Sacrilegii - Saeculi - Saevitiae - Sagittandi - Salutis - Sanguinis - Sancti - Sanitatis - Sapientiae - Satellitii - Satietatis - Sceleris - Scientiae - Scorti - Scriptorum - Scripturae Sacrae - Secreti - Securitatis - Sectae - Scurrilitatis - Seditionis - Senatus - Senectae - Sensuum - Sententiae - Sepulcri - Serenitatis - Severitatis - Sermonis - Servitutis - Silentii - Similitudinis - Simplicitatis - Simulationis ac dissimulationis - Simultatis - Sinceritatis - Sobrietatis - Sodalitatis - Solis - Solatii - Sollertiae - Solitudinis - Somni - Somniorum - Sophistae - Sortis - Spectaculorum - Speculi - Spei - Spiritus - Sponsionis - Studiorum - Stupri - Stultitiae - Suadendi - Subditorum - Submissionis - Subtilitatis - Sufficientiae - Superbiae - Superflui - Superstitionis - Supplicis - Supplicii - Suspicionis
T - Tacendi - Talionis - Tarditatis - Temeritatis - Temperantiae - Tempestatis - Templi - Temporis et tempestivitatis - Tenacitatis - Tenebrarum - Termini - Terrae - Terroris - Testis - Theatri - Thesauri - Timoris - Tolerantiae - Totius ac Partium - Tragoediae - Transfugae - Tranquillitatis - Tribulationis - Tributi - Tristitiae - Triumphi - Turbandi - Turpitudinis - Tutae rei et tutelae - Tyrannidis
U/V - Veritatis [1 - Teil] - Vanitatis - Vatis - Venationis - Veneni - Veniae - Ventorum - Ventris - Verbi - Venditionis - Veritatis [Forts.] - Verberum - Vesperae - Vestitus - Viae - Vicinitatis - Vicissitudinis - Victoriae - Victi - Victus - Viduae - Vigilantiae - Vilitatis - Vindictae - Vineae - Vini - Viri - Virginis - Virtutis - Vis - Visus - Vitae - Vitii - Ultionis - Unguenti - Unius - Voluntatis - Voluptatis - Voti - Vocis - Urbis - Usus - Utilitatis - Vulgi - Vulneris - Vultus - Uxoris