[Footnote 27: Compare with this the beautiful passage from the 'Table Talk:'--"If, when I first began to write, I had known what I do now, I should never have been so bold as to attack and anger the Pope, and almost all men. I thought they sinned only from ignorance and human frailty; but God led me on like a horse with its eyes blinded. Good works are seldom undertaken from wisdom or foresight; they are all brought about unconsciously." To this Philip Melancthon answered, that having carefully studied history, he had observed that no great or remarkable deeds had been done by old people, but at the age when Alexander the Great and St. Augustine did them; later, men became too wise and circumspect. Dr. Martinus said: "Young companions, if you had wisdom the devil could not deal with you; but because you have not, you need ours also, who are now old. Ah, if the old were but strong, and the young wise! Behold these factious spirits--vain young people, Icaruses, Phaetons, who flutter in the air; chamois hunters, everywhere and nowhere, who wish to knock down twelve ninepins when there are only nine standing."] [Footnote 28: Ecclesiam Romanam _pure_ colant. The double meaning appears intentional, and seems a cunning device of Miltitz.] [Footnote 29: That this happened designedly is betrayed in Luther's letter to Melancthon, 13th July, 1521: "I conjure you to be beforehand with the court, and not to follow its counsels. I have done this hitherto; I should not have effected half that I have done had I made myself dependent on its wishes."] [Footnote 30: 'Table Talk.'] [Footnote 31: Geek is the German for coxcomb.] [Footnote 32: German for tom-cat.] [Footnote 33: Cat's head and claws.] [Footnote 34: The buck.] [Footnote 35: A little brat.]