Origin of the work:
1639 Leszno
Editions:
1639 Leszno, in: Cupressus emortualis
1903 Berlin, in: Monatshefte der Comenius–Gesellschaft12
1909 Yuryev (now Tartu), in: J. Kvačala, Analecta Comeniana
1974 Prague, Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII, Czech translation by V. T. Miškovská-Kozáková
1983 Prague, J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 4
Contents:
An elegy marking the untimely death (on May 18th, 1639) if Alexandr Schlichting of Bukovec, a talented pupil of the Leszno Lyceum. Alexandr Schlichting was the son of Všov magistrate Jan Jiří Schlichting, who as the moderate, tolerant and just administrator of the town of Leszno on the one hand ensured strict order within the borough, while on the other was an adherent of the migrants, and in particular of the Brethren. In memory of Alexandr Schlichting his teachers, friends and fellow students composed a dirge verse in Latin and German, thus creating a volume that was published in print under the title Cupressus emortualis (Funeral Cypress). Comenius, then rector of the Leszno Lyceum, also contributed a Latin elegy, written in hexameters, in which he recalled the abilities and good qualities of his departed pupil. He supplied an addendum to his contribution, which read: “These words and their inclusion accompany his very favoured onetime student on his journey to the blessed school of Heaven, from J. A. Comenius, now administrator of the Leszno Lyceum”.
For further study, see also:
J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 4. Prague 1983, p417
Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII. Prague 1974, p636