Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/366

 326 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 1536 especially as he will not cease persecuting those who at length shall attain to the grace of God. I can tell you nothing about the wedding at Torgau except that it went off splendidly. I gave the bride and bridegroom to each other in the evening, and in the morning Dr. Pommer pronounced the blessing upon them (as I was seized with giddiness and could not). Everything was done as is prescribed in the Catechism, for the Prince wished it so. This royal bride- groom is a fine accomplished young man, most temperate and modest, so that I am charmed with his appearance, manners, and behaviour. May Christ maintain and bestow every blessing upon him, to the furtherance of all that is good in him. Amen. My Kathie greets you respect- fully. Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me. Martin Luther. CCCXL To Wenzel Link Luther asks for German songs. Jocular letter. March 20, 1536. Grace and peace in Christ, dear Wenzel ! As it is some hundreds of years since I either spoke or wrote Latin, I almost fear I have forgotten what I knew, and probably you are in the same condition ; so I hope such fears will justify any mistakes I make, without any good or evil works, for you are a gracious lord towards such offenders, even as you desire similar sins to be leniently treated by your friends. I had nothing to write about, but did not wish Frau Detzelin with her daughter to leave without letters. I should have liked to send some mountains of gold, but in late years our Elbe has overflowed and taken all the gold sand with it, leaving only gravel and sand behind, some of which has got a lodgment in Justus Jonas's body. I must always joke whether sick or well, weak or strong, a sinner and yet justified, well-nigh dead and yet alive in Christ. As you are seated amid gold and silver streams,