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Polski (PL) 
Copernicus to Bishop John Dantiscus, Frombork, 27 June 1541
Original: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Sammlung Darmstaedter, sign. J 1530.
Nicholas Copernicus (Nicolaus Copernicus) thanks John Dantiscus, the Bishop of Varmia, for sending him a letter with an elegant and appropriate epigram designed for readers of his books [i.e. De revolutionibus] which supercedes Copernicus' merits and equals the favour which the Bishop usually reserves for scholars. Thus, he will place it at the beginning of his work if it deserves the merit of being adorned by the Bishop.
Further reading:
- Biskup Marian, Regesta Copernicana, Warszawa 1973.
- Kopernik Mikołaj, Pisma pomniejsze, Warszawa 2007.
Frombork, 27 June 1541
To my lord, Most Reverend Father in Christ Johannes [Dantiscus], by the grace of God bishop of Varmia, my most gracious lord
My lord, Most Reverend Father in Christ, most gracious lord:
I have received your Most Reverend Lordship's very gracious and quite friendly letter. Together with it you did not disdain to transmit also a truly elegant and relevant epigram for the reader of my [Six] Books [on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres], not because I deserve it, but because your Most Reverend Lordship is accustomed to honor scholars with your extraordinary friendliness. I shall therefore place your Most Reverend Lordship's epigram in the forefront of my work, provided that the work is worthy to deserve being so highly embellished by your Most Reverend Lordship. Yet people who know more than I do, and to whom I should listen, say over and over again that my work is not negligible. I really wish to merit, as far as I can, the extraordinary kindness and fatherly affection with which your Most Reverend Lordship does not cease to favor me, and to serve and obey you, as I should, in all matters within my power.
Frombork, 27 June 1541
Your Most Reverend Lordship's
most obedient
Nicholas Copernicus
Translation by Edward Rosen
Frombork, 27 June 1541
Reuerendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, Domino Joanni Dei gratia Episcopo Varmiensi, Domino meo Clememissimo
Reuerendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, Domine Clementissime. Accepi litteras Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae humanissimas et admodum familiares, quibuscum etiam non dedignata est mittere ad lectorem librorum meorum epigramma elegans sane et ad rem, non meis meritis, sed Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae beneuolentia singulari, qua studiosos prosequi solet. Ipsum igitur Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae titulum operi meo in fastigio praeponam, si modo dignum sit opus, quod a Reuerendissima Dominatione Vestra exornari tantopere mereatur; quod tamen dictitant me doctiores esse liquid: quibus obsequi decet. Ego vero singularem beneuolentiam et affectum erga me paternum, quo me prosequi non cessat Reuerendissima Dominatio Vestra, quantum in me est, promereri eique in omnibus, quibus possum, vti debeo, seruire et obsequi cupio. Ex Frauemburg XXVII Junij 1541.
Eidem Reuerendissimae Dominationi Vestrae obsequentissimus
Nicolaus Copernicus
