Luther Toast
In 1544, Martin Luther spoke a spontaneous Latin toast to his friend and host, Georg Spalatin (1484-1545), the words of which have been ingeniously arranged in this illustration from a Spalatin biography printed in 1693.
The Latin has been translated (somewhat poetically) as:
“Himself a fragile glass, thy host, my Spalatin, the parting draught presents here in a glass of wine”*
The words became more poignant when Spalatin died the following year.
*Quaint Sayings and Doings Concerning Luther, collected and arranged by John G. Morris (1887).
Sagittarius, Kaspar, 1643-1694. Historia vitae Georgii Spalatini : theologi, politici, primique historici Saxonici, viri de ecclesia et republ. infinitis modis meriti / praeside Caspare Sagittario, SS Theol. D. Historico ducali Saxon. & Historiarum Prof. P. ; Publicae disquisitioni exposita ab Christiano Schlegelio, Salfedensi Thuringo, auctore. Jenae : Typis Krebsianis : Sumptibus Crökerianis, 1693.
