Hermann Schotten (1503-1546) was a vibrant humanist author, whose didactic works achieved great popularity in his own time, especially his Confabulationes tironum litterariorum, 1525. Though once an indispensable best seller, over the years they had fallen into disuse, but are once again reappearing and being used to teach correct classical Latin around the globe on a colloquial, day-to-day level. Schotten wrote a collection of 123 Colloquia and 33 Convivia, which were used in German secondary schools, modeled on the works of Erasmus and other humanist writers of Colloquia. They are witty and full of life. According to Peter Macardle, an expert scholar of these colloquia, Schotten had a certain lively style of writing that made his Colloquia so enjoyable and successful, by which we can also glimpse into education in Cologne and what daily adolescent life was like in the early 16^th century. 

Hermannus Schottenius (1503-1546) splendidus auctor humanista erat, cuius opera didascalica magnam famam suo tempore acceperunt, praecipue Confabulationes tironum litterariorum anno 1525 divulgatae. Quamquam olim a permultis adhibebantur, post plurimos annos in desuetudinem ceciderunt. His tamen temporibus iterum apparent atque magnae utilitatis esse possunt ad recte docendam Latinam linguam aetatis aureae ubique in mundo per colloquia cotidiana. Schottenius centum viginti tria Colloquia et triginta tria Convivia scripsit, quibus magistri Germani utebantur in scholis secundariis. In quibus imitatur opera Erasmi atque aliorum humanistarum qui colloquia scripserant. Plena sunt salis atque vitae. Secundum Petrum Macardle  horum colloquiorum investigatorem genus scribendi Schottenii tam vivax erat ut colloquia magno lepore impleverit; ex quibus et institutionem Coloniensem et vitam cotidianam adulescentium saeculo sexto decimo ineunte viventium cognoscere possumus.

Vocandī alium ad cēnam.

Iōhannēs fīlius cīvīs, Henrīcus aliō oriundus.

Iōhannēs – Condīxistīne alicui hodiē cēnam?

Henrīcus – Nēminī.

Iōhannēs – Neque aliquis tibī obtulit?

Henrīcus – Nēmō, Hercle, nēmō.

Iōhannēs – Cēnābis tum domī tuae?

Henrīcus – Domī meae nōn cēnābō, sed iēiūnābō.

Iōhannēs – Quī fit hoc?

Henrīcus – Quia nihil mihi est quod edam.

Iōhannēs – Parentēs meī rogant ut nōbīscum cēnam sūmās.

Henrīcus – Vellem tē vēra loquī.

Iōhannēs – Fidem mihi habeās.

Henrīcus – Estō, dō fidem.

Iōhannēs – Eās igitur cellerrīmē.

Henrīcus – Ut praecesserīs, ita et sequar.

Iōhannēs – Venī ōcius, mēnsa est īnstrūcta obsōniīs.

Henrīcus – Veniō ac vēlōx.

Iōhannēs – Rogō ad mēnsam nē quid malī dē mē loquāris parentibus.

Henrīcus – Sēcūrus estō, dēlātor nōn sum.

Iōhannēs – Sī quaerent parentēs an in litterīs prōgrediar, quid dīcēs?

Henrīcus – Asseram tē omnibus aliīs in litterīs ferventiōrem.

Iōhannēs – Sī secus dīxeris, postrēmum mē amīcum habuistī.

Henrīcus – Ad mēnsam soleō nōn garrīre, sed stomachum cūrāre.

Iōhannēs – Fac edās fortiter, nē vereāre ob parentium praesentiam.

Henrīcus – In mēnsā frontem perfricō.

Iōhannēs – Sat vīnī tibi in calicem largiar, tū vidē ut ēbibās.

Henrīcus – Vīnum nōn moror, sī cerevisia in prōmptū est.

Iōhannēs – Nescīs vīnum modicē sūmptum acuere ingenium?

Henrīcus – Ingenium meum plūs ēnecat vīnī pōtus, quam excitat.

Iōhannēs – Bibendō forte modum excēdis; sed ingredere, nē cēnandō morēmur parentēs.

Henrīcus – Praecēde ut dignum est.

Inviting Someone to Dinner

Johannes, son of a local. Henricus, born elsewhere.

Iohannes – Have you made any dinner plans with anybody today?

Henricus – With nobody.

Iohannes – Neither has anybody made an offer to you?

Henricus – Nobody, by Hercules, nobody.

Iohannes – Then you will dine at your home?

Henricus – At my home, I will not dine, but go without food.

Iohannes – Why is this?

Henricus – Because there is nothing for me to eat.

Iohannes – My parents ask that you eat dinner with us.

Henricus – If only you were speaking the truth!

Iohannes – Trust me.

Henricus – So be it, I trust you.

Iohannes – Go therefore quickly.

Henricus – As you lead, so shall I follow.

Iohannes – Come quickly, the table is all set with food.

Henricus – I am coming, and quickly.

Iohannes – I ask that you speak nothing bad of me at the table to my parents.

Henricus – Rest assured--I’m not a tattletale.

Iohannes – If my parents ask how I’m doing in school, what will you say?

Henricus – I will assert that you blow everybody away at school.

Iohannes – If you say otherwise, know that you had me as a friend for the last time.

Henricus – I don’t usually chatter at the table, but tend rather to my stomach.

Iohannes – See to it that you fill your stomach, and do not fear the presence of my parents.

Henricus – I am shameless at the table.

Iohannes – I’ll fill enough wine in your cup—see to it that you drink up!

Henricus – I don’t care for wine, if there’s beer around.

Iohannes – You didn’t know that wine, when consumed in moderation, sharpens the mind?

Henricus – Wine kills my mind more than it excites it.

Iohannes – Perhaps you drink too much; but enter now, lest we should keep my parents waiting for dinner.

Henricus – You lead the way, as it is fitting. 

Reflections On the Text

Vocandi Alium ad Cenam

1. Does Henricus seem more concerned with school or with dinner? What indications do you have?

2. And what about Iohannes? What does he seem to be most concerned about?

3. Do you think attitudes of students have changed much over the years? Explain your views and give examples.

4. Do you see you or your fellow students relating in some way to these students? In what way?

5. Do you think Iohannes is doing well at school? Why or why not?

6. Why did Iohannes invite Henricus to dinner? Is it out of pure benevolence, or does he have a personal gain in mind?

7. What do you think will happen at the dinner? Will Henricus betray his friend or remain faithful? Does Iohannes trust Henricus? What makes you think so?

8. Write a short dialogue between Henricus, Iohannes and Iohannes’ parents, which takes place at the dinner table.  

1. Curatne Henricus plus de studiis an plus de cena?  Qualia sunt indicia?

2. Et quid de Iohanne? Qua de re ante omnia sollicitatur?

3. Putasne mores discipulorum multum mutatos per saecula?  Quae sunt similitudines aut differentiae? Explica sententias tuas, deinde da exempla.

4. Ecquid tibi tuisque condiscipulis est commune cum his discipulis? Rationes explica.

5. Putasne Iohannem bene progredi suis in studiis?  Cur censes hoc?

6. Qua de causa Iohannes Henricum invitavit ad cenam? Fecitne hoc ob veram benevolentiam erga Henricum, an propter aliam causam?

7. Quid putas inter cenam eventurum esse? Prodetne tua sententia amicum Henricus an fidelis manebit? Fidemne Iohannes amico tribuit? Cur censes hoc?

8. Scribe brevem dialogum qui inter Henricum et Iohannem et parentes Iohannis inter cenam illam fiat.