Schreger: Studiosus jovialis

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Studiosus jovialis by Odilo Schreger (1751)

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Here is the full title: Studiosus jovialis, seu Auxilia ad jocose et honeste discurrendum in gratiam et usum studiosorum iuvenum, aliorumque litteratorum virorum, honestae recreationis amantium. The variety of materials in this book is delightful indeed! The book begins with listings of Latin proverbs and sayings, with German translations. I am delighted because there are all kinds of rhyming materials here! There is also a list of famous people, with brief biographies for each, along with their mottos (Latin symbola). Next, there is a section of Latin anagrams - like corpus and porcus, ha ha. Or, on a more serious note, Ignatius de Loiola = O ignis illatus a Deo. There are some palindroms, too.

Next, there is a long listing of "problemata varia" reflecting both early modern scientific knowledge as well as classical and medieval sources (for example, in response to the question as to why women get more headaches than men (?), the answer is that it is caused by menstrual periods! ha!).

There then follows a great list of "firsts" - prima vestis, primus pastor et agricola, primus latro, etc., along with a timeline of world history. There's even a section on the first heretics, starting with the "Simoniaci" who "proveniunt a Simone Mago."

Next, there is a section of "aenigmata" (riddles) and I love the section of apophthegmata! For example, here is one about Saint Augustine: "S. Augustinus, cum male de ipso sentiret Secundinus haereticus, respondit: Senti de Augustino guod libet, dummodo conscientia me non accuset." There is also a set of international stereotypes - for example, "In Moribus: Germanus serius, Anglus suavius, Galus ostentator, Italus facetus, Hispanus gravis."

What a fun book!



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