Oration of Veit Dietrich, of Nuremberg, on the study of languages, held at the graduation of Masters, 1533

To begin with, I thank you, most learned men, for coming together here both in our honour and in order to adorn the study of the most important arts. As I assume that your duty is concerned with the honour of education, I hope that you have put yourself in such a frame of mind as to confer on us the kindness of not listening to us unwillingly. For we do not come on to the podium to announce anything that is worthy of your wisdom and authority – a task which should not be demanded from the witlessness of our youth. This whole talk is held for the benefit of these young men; you have joined us as spectators, so that the young will understand that these first studies are approved of by you. Although your kindness in all aspects is known and evident to us, it is nevertheless also our duty to ask you respectfully to listen to us with good will. Therefore I beseech you to consider my youthful oration favourably, and to lend me your authority in the cause which I have taken up to plead, a cause which I hope will be most agreeable to you.

I have determined to speak about the study of languages, as they call them.