Quite a different picture is that of
his personality in contest with earthly foes. Here he retains almost
everywhere the superiority of conviction, particularly in his literary
feuds.
The literary activity which he developed at this time was gigantic. Up
to 1517 he had printed little. From that time on he was not only the
most productive but the greatest popular writer of Germany. The energy
of his style, the vigor of his argumentation, the ardor and passion of
his conviction, carried away his readers. No one had ever spoken thus
to the people. His language lent itself to every mood, to all keys;
now brief, forcible, sharp as steel, now in majestic breadth, the
words poured in among the people like a mighty stream. A figurative
expression, a striking simile, made the most difficult thoughts
intelligible. His was a wonderfully creative power. He used language
with sovereign ease. As soon as he touched a pen his mind worked with
the greatest freedom; his sentences show the cheerful warmth which
filled him, the perfect charm of sympathetic creation is poured out
upon them. And such power is by no means least apparent in the attacks
which he makes upon individual opponents, and it is closely connected
with a fault which caused misgivings even to his admiring
contemporaries. He liked to play with his opponents. His imagination
clothed the form of an enemy with a grotesque mask, and he teased,
scorned, and stabbed this picture of his imagination with turns of
speech which had not always the grace of moderation, or even of
decency; but in the midst of vituperation, his good humor generally
had a conciliatory effect--although, to be sure, not upon his victims.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165