Erasmus of Rotterdam-Adages On His Times

In his work Adages (1515) the famous Dutch humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam explains the meaning of numerous Greek and Latin proverbs using the examples taken from his own times. These comments provide the Christian moralist with an excellent opportunity to criticize the sins and exactions of secular and clerical authorities of the 16^th century Europe. In his interpretation an ancient saying “A mortuo tributum exigere” (i.e. to require payment from the dead) becomes an occasion to blame limitless greed of feudal rulers and shameless cupidity of Catholic clergy. ……(Download to read further)