Note 4 — Front matter
Gottlob Frederick Krotel translation
Erasmus also wrote to Oecolampadius, "Of Melanchthon I have already the highest opinion, and cherish the most magnificent hopes: so much so, that I am persuaded Christ designs this youth to excel us all: he will totally eclipse Erasmus!" In a letter to Julius Pflug, he says: "He not only excels in learning and eloquence, but by a certain fatality is a general favorite. Honest and candid men are fond of him, and even his adversaries cannot hate him!"