Mourning an Oenophile

Abstract

In Petrus Nannius’ posthumously published commentary on Vergil’s Eclogues (Basel: Johannes Oporinus, 1559), one section contains a forgotten mock epitaph ascribed to Erasmus. The short poem, omitted in modern editions of Erasmus’ poetry, is written for a man simply referred to as “Theodoricus”. In the present article, I offer a diplomatic transcription, translation, and contextualization of the epitaph and the commentary section in which it is imbedded. In my discussion of the epitaph, I identify “Theodoricus” as Dirk Martens of Aalst (Theodoricus Martinus Alustensis/Alostensis), Erasmus’ close friend and the publisher of many of his works.