Dorpius, Martin

, a very learned divine, and the friend of Erasmus, was born at Naaldrwyck, in Holland, and became professor of philosophy in the university of Louvaine. He was also esteemed an able divine and linguist, but died in the prime of life, May 31, 1525. Besides some academical orations, he published “Dialogus Veneris et Cupidinis, Herculem animi ancipitem in suam militiam, invita virtute, propellentium;” “Complementum Aularioe Plautinae, et Prologus in Militem ejusdem” “Epistola de Hollandorum moribns” and “Oratio de laudibus Aristotelis,” against Laurentius Valla.

In 1515, when Erasmus was at Basil, Dorpius wrote against his “Praise of Folly.” In this, Jortin says he was the first adversary of Erasmus, or at least the first who wrote against him, condemning the “Praise of Folly,” as a satire upon all orders and professions. Erasmus replied with much mildness; and Dorpius, who was then a very young man, not only admitted his apology, but became his friend. At his death he was honoured by Erasmus with an epitaph, and deeply lamented by him as an irreparable loss to the republic of letters. ³