Calvin's first work--Commentary on Seneca's Treatise, "De
Clementia."
PARIS, _23d May 1532_.
Well, at length the die is cast. My Commentaries on the Books
of Seneca, "De Clementia,"[24] have been printed, but at my own
expense, and have drawn from me more money than you can well
suppose. At present, I am using every endeavour to collect some of
it back. I have stirred up some of the professors of this city to
make use of them in lecturing. In the University of Bourges I have
induced a friend to do this from the pulpit by a public lecture.
You can also help me not a little, if you will not take it amiss;
you will do so on the score of our old friendship; especially as,
without any damage to your reputation, you may do me this service,
which will also tend perhaps to the public good. Should you
determine to oblige me by this benefit, I will send you a hundred
copies, or as many as you please. Meanwhile, accept this copy for
yourself, while you are not to suppose that by your acceptance of
it, I hold you engaged to do what I ask. It is my wish that all may
be free and unconstrained between us. Adieu, and let me soon hear
from you. I wrote lately to Pigney, but he has not answered. To
Brosse I wrote long ago, but to this time have no reply. He who will
give Le Roy his copy will dutifully salute him.
[_Lat. copy_--_Library of Berne._ Vol. 450.]
[24] This is the book entitled, L. Annæi Senecæ Libri ii., de
Clementia, ad Neronem Cæsarem, Commentariis Illustrati. Paris, 1532,
in 4to. Calvin had dedicated this work to his old fellow-student,
Claude de Hangest, of the illustrious family of Mommor, now become
Abbot of St. Eloy at Noyon. The Epistle Dedicatory is dated from
Paris the 4th April 1532.