Laus Asini - Heinsius, Daniel 1580-1655 (Leiden Elsevier, 1629)
The first edition of 1623, which contained only 'Laus Asini', has been expanded in this second edition by six other pieces1: a Menippean satire 'Cras credo, hodie nihil'2: 'Epistola, qua agitur an, & qualis viro literato sit duce'3: 'Laus pediculi, ad Conscriptos Mendicorum Patres'4: 'Epistola de poetarum ineptiis & saeculi vitio'5: 'Argumentum Batrachomyomachiae'6: 'Viro Nobilissimo Ioanni Milandro, Domino de Poederoeye, Principi a Secretis: de Graeculis, quos illi commendaverat'.At the end, Heinsius added a short letter to H. Grotius, and a poem of consolation for his friend Baudius, on the occasion of his wife's death.
Originally published in 1623
This ironic eulogy is a satire on ignorance and voluntary servitude of the donkey. It mocks people in an Erasmian spirit. The aim, says Heinsius in "ad lectorem" is to vindicate men of letters and people who enjoy learning, through the scorn of ignorant people, who ridicule them not only heartily (liberty ...), but also culture ( eruditioni) and the sciences.The author fiercely attacks the stupidity and ignorance of the ruling classes and government officials.
example of Menippean satire
Daniël Heinsius (Ghent, 1580-The Hague, 1655) was one of the most famous scholars of the Dutch Renaissance. He taught poetics, classics and political science at Universiteit Leiden, which he also served as librarian
Ex libris Ducis Brunsvicensis et Luneburgensis (Plate)
Tertia parte auctior: cum alijs festivis opusculis, quorum seriem pagella sequens indicat
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); Novel; Satire; Netherlands