Katharine von Bora: Dr. Martin Luther's WifeStein, Armin
History
Katharine von Bora: Dr. Martin Luther's Wife
Stein, Armin
Luther, Katharina von Bora, 1499-1552
Spalatin nodded: "Yes, Brother Martin, I too rejoice in the
advancement of the good cause. The Elector returned with renewed
hopefulness from Nuremberg, which has doubtless contributed to the
improvement in his health."
"I have taken a hearty draught in honor of the Turk," said the
chaplain Rorer, "but far greater honor is due to the man, whose
wisdom brought about the peace between the Emperor and the Union of
Smalcald;--the man who so clearly distinguishes between what is God's
and what is Cæsar's; better than Zwingli, whose mingling of spiritual
with temporal things has caused his destruction."
Luther, towards whom, at these words, all eyes were turned, lifted
his hand, and said earnestly: "Dear Rorer, you know that such praise
pleases me little. What I am, I am by the grace of God,--to Him
alone the honor is due."
Spalatin, in the meantime, was whispering into Katharine's ear: "His
grace, the Elector, sends your husband through me a gift of a hundred
gold florins. Small as it is, in comparison with the consolation he
received from Dr. Luther during his recent illness, yet his heart
urged him to show his gratitude, as far as he is able. I will not
offer it to the Doctor, knowing that he will refuse the gift, which I
pray you, dear Mistress Luther, to accept; for I know that you have
need of it, and the Elector will be much pleased."
Katharine whispered her thanks and said: "It is impossible to change
the Doctor's mind in these matters. Only the day before yesterday, a
young man who had finished his studies, and lacked the money for his
homeward journey, came to us for help. My husband reached into his
pocket, and finding it empty, he took a silver cup from the shelf and
offered it to his student, who refused to accept it. I made signs to
the Doctor with my eyes; but as though he neither saw nor heard, he
crushed the cup in his strong hand, and forced it upon the young man,
saying: "I have no need of silver cups. Take it to the silversmith,
and whatever he gives you, is yours."
Spalatin's eyes glistened, as he glanced toward Dr. Martin, and with
admiring veneration, he said softly: "That is Luther!"
Presently, Katharine rose, and brought in the fish. When in passing
it around, she came to her husband, he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Kate, I think you have more pleasure from your small fish-pond, than
many a nobleman from his large ones, whence he can draw hundreds of
fish. Ah, many an one lives in plenty, and yet cannot enjoy God's
gifts with profit and pleasure."
Melanchthon, as was his habit, had sat in silent meditation.
Suddenly he looked up, and turning to Luther, said: "I marvel, what
our enemies would say if they saw us sitting thus pleasantly
together?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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