Gutenberg, and the Art of PrintingPearson, Emily C. (Emily Clemens)
History
Gutenberg, and the Art of Printing
Pearson, Emily C. (Emily Clemens)
Gutenberg, Johann, 1397?-1468
serve him as much and as often as he hath need, and in the faith of
which I have signed this instrument, and have set thereto my seal.”
The law took its course. The inexorable judges made no allowance for
the peculiar circumstances of the case, but gave judgment against
Gutenberg, awarding that he should pay to Faust whatever he had
borrowed, with interest. This decision was made November 1455. As
Gutenberg had no means of paying the sums demanded, Faust took
possession of his presses, type, printing materials, and the copies of
the Bible, finished and unfinished.
Gutenberg had been sustained, during the sitting of the court in the
parlor of the Barefoot Friars, by the suspense and excitement of the
scene. He had hoped for justice, or at least for a more favorable
decision; but instead of that, everything was taken from him. Reaching
home, he knew not how, after long wandering in unfrequented places, he
threw himself upon his couch, and made no reply to the affectionate
inquiries of Anna. She knew that the cause had gone against him, and
that he was in the extremity of trouble. As he gave way to his trial,
although herself in deep grief, her heart somehow grew stronger. There
had been a marked change in her since residing at the Zum Jungen. As
she realized that good would result from her husband’s inventions, she
strove to encourage him in his devotion to his art. In his despair,
she was buoyed up by hope. For long hours he seemed scarcely to notice
her gentle presence. She did not disturb him with words; but as the
hours stole by, and his grief was heavy on him, she drew the curtains
till the room was in the hush of twilight, hoping that balmy sleep
would overtake him; then, sitting by his side, she prayed earnestly,
silently, for him. When he awoke after a refreshing sleep, he was more
like himself.
“Dost thou know, my Anna,” he calmly said, “that Faust has laid claim
to everything, including my presses, _stucke_, and the printed pages of
the Holy Bible now ready to be bound?”
“Can it be possible?” ejaculated Anna in dismay.
“And I am worse than penniless,” he added. “My noble art is at an
end. That which I most feared has come upon me. Others have stolen my
invention and I have nothing left.”
“But we are taught by our holy religion,” she quickly responded,
brushing away her tears, “that it is good to trust in the Lord in times
of trouble, and if we have faith in him, he will deliver us.”
Yet sorely was the inventor tried; and month after month, the weary
time crept on, Gutenberg and Anna in poverty and affliction.
Meanwhile Faust, having taken possession of everything that could be
called Gutenberg’s, organized a new company by associating Schoeffer
and others with himself, and finished binding the remaining copies of
the Bible as rapidly as possible. As Faust and Schoeffer examined it
anew, they were filled with admiration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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