Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/202

 190 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE named and acknowledged as great artists. None such could Nimrod find to build the Tower of Babylon. Therefore I sing the praise of Nuremberg, for it excels other cities in clever and skilful men : Viel meister vindt ich in Nurnbergk, Der sein ein teil auf rotschmid werk, Der gleichen in aller werth nit lebt. Was fleucht und lauft, schwinibt oder schwebt, Mensch, Engel, Vogel, Visch, Wurni und Tyr Und alle creatur in loblicber zyr, Und alles das aus der erden mag entspriessen, Desgleichen konnen sie aus messing giessen, Und keinerley stuck ist in zu schwer, In Kunst imd Erbeit wird offenbar, In mangen landen, vern und weit. Sind das in gott soldi weisheit geit, So sein sie wol wert, dass man sie nennt, Und fir gross kunstig meister erkennt, Wer Nimrot nit solch meister gewann, Der den turn liess pauen zu Babilan, Darumb icb Nurnbergk precis und lob, Wan sie leit alien steten ob, Mit klugen, kunstreichen mannen. The most renowned of the Nuremberg metal- workers was Peter Yischer, a simple coppersmith, who brought the art of casting to the highest perfection. Neudorfer writes of him : ' This Peter Vischer was affable towards all and well skilled in true art, and was so well known in the speciality of casting that any prince or potentate visiting the city rarely omitted going to his workshop.' Unassuming, modest, and greedy after learning, even in his old age, he was to be seen every day working in his foundry. Through a long life he maintained the closest intimacy with the stone- cutter Adam Krafft and the coppersmith Sebastian Lindenast. The three, according to Neudorfer, ' grew up together and were like brothers. On feast days they went on excursions together as though they were