Olympia Morata - Part 4

On the way a pleasant little incident occurred. One evening they came to an inn, where the schoolmaster and his pupils had come to give a concert. His pupils did not do very well - in fact, broke down. Olympia at once rose with her charming grace, and went to them, encouraging them and helping them. The schoolmaster was greatly surprised that she should know the pieces of the children. He talked with the visitors long afterward. And when he found out that it was Professor Grunthler and his famous wife Olympia, he ran to his house to bring some pieces set to music by Grunthler, which he often sang in his family. He was greatly pleased to meet their author.

Two days later they arrived at Heidelberg, August, 1554, and found there a very agreeable home, as Heidelberg was not only beautiful for situation, but it had become a great seat of learning. There, too, they found old friends in Sinapius, he former teacher of Greek, and Curione, who gave them a cordial welcome. She and her husband were, however, very poor indeed, and had to borrow twenty florins of gold to meet the expenses of the first month. While her husband lectured on medicine, she was compelled to attend to household duties. Leodius had spread a report that Olympia was called to Heidelberg as professor and became a female lecturer there. There is no question but she would have graced such a position with her genius. But she makes no reference to lecturing in any of her letters, neither do the acts of the university speak of any conection of her with the university. Her name is only once mentioned in its acts, and then her poems are referred to.

She kept up a large correspondence. The destruction of the little Reformed church of Ferarra by the Pope caused her great sorrow. Some of its members were put into chains, some sent into exile, and others found safety in flight. The temporary apostasy of her dear friend, Duchess Renee, caused her pain. Her companion, Anna of Este, had become the head of the house of Guise in France, who so terribly persecuted the Reformed there. She wrote thus to Anna, pleading for them:

Since the Lord has honored you with so great a blessing as knowledge of the truth, you cannot be ignorant of the innocence of these men who are every day dragged to the scaffold, and are exposed to cruel torments for the cause of Christ. It is your duty to intercede for them. If you remain silent, and allow them to suffer and die without defense, you are becoming the accomplice of their persecutors. I know that in pleading their cause you may provoke the anger of the king and the fury of your enemies. I answer, it is better to be exposed to the hatred of men than that of God. "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

The result of her plea was, that for years after, the only one in the French court who dared lift up her voice against the persecutions was Anna of Este.

Olympia was also busy with the education of her brother Emilio. She taught him the classics. But it was especially the Bible that she delighted to open to him. That was her consolation in those days of poverty and weakness. She had, however, little time for the study of literature, as her time was taken up with household duties. She was, however, not permited to live long in this delightful home. Her sufferings durring the seige at Schweinfurth and her flight had so weakened her that she did not seem able to rally. The danger increased when the plague broke out in June, 1555, at Heidelberg. By July she had become so weak that her life was despaired of. She felt that she would not get well. Writing to Curione, she says: "As for me, I grow weaker day by day. The fever never leaves me for an hour."

Her death was radient with hope. It was a mount of transfiguration. She felt not the pains of death, but its joy and bliss. To her the Lord had taken away the sting from death and left only the honey. She saw heaven before she got there. A few hours before her death she awoke from a sleep and smiled most beautifully. When asked the cause of so sweet a smile, she said, "I, in a dream, saw a place illuminated by the purest, most beautiful, brilliant light." Her husband answered, "Courage, my well beloved; you will soon dwell in the midst of that pure light." She smiled and nodded assent. Soon after her sight failed. "I can see no longer," she said to her husband, "but all that surrounds me seems decked with beautiful flowers." These were her last words. She immediately fell into a sleep and passed away. She died October 25, 1555, at the early age of 29 years. But though she died so young, she had gained the frame, and passed through the sorrows, of a lifetime. Great was the sorrow of Protestants everywhere - in France, Switzerland, and Germany - at her death. The plague continued its terrible ravages. Her husband, dazed with grief at the loss of his wife, now went everywhere, recklessly exposing himself as a physician to the awful plague. He did not care to live, as she did not. He seemed to be courting death. And death came to him within a month after her death. Emilio also fell a victim. All three of this interesting family are buried in the historic St. Peter's church at Heidelberg, where today the traveler can read this inscription:

In the name of the eternal God and to the memory of Olympia Fulvia Morata, the beloved wife of Andreas Grunthler. Her remarkable attainments in several languages, the marvelous purity of her life and her piety elevate her above her sex. The witness of her life was even surpassed by that of her death. Peaceful, happy, and holy she died in the year of our Lord MDLV., aged xxix years, in a strange land. Here she lies with her husbad and her brother Emilio.

THE END