Note 82 — LETTER XXIV.[81] JOHN HUSS’S REPLY.[82]
Campbell Mackenzie translation
Huss commenced this letter by the following verses, which he wrote with his own hand, to console himself, and wile away the time; they are, however, so filled with jeux de mots and abbreviations, that it is impossible to translate them satisfactorily. We therefore give them in the original.—
Litera gavisus, respondeo capiti istud, Cœtus, lacus, ignis, ac testis restituere Jonam, Danielem, tres Pu...Susannam, quia fuere Justus, castus, puri, hæc conti...Spem retinentes In Domino justo, qui liberat in se sperantes. Poterit qui aucam, Dominus pie, carcere tetro Eripere clausam, quæ se fœdaverit retro, Quam purgat carcer, donat et instruit flere, In lachrymas risus vertens, ut nunc sciat vere Opprobria Christi, blasphemias, lumine recto Cernere injurias et capite Sathanæ secto Vincere morte, vel ut sibi dederit optima vita.