Luther replied, he would give an answer "with neither horns nor teeth."^364 From the inmost
depths of his conscience educated by the study of the word of God, he made in both languages that
memorable declaration which marks an epoch in the history of religious liberty: —
"Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments
(since I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils alone; it being evident that they have often erred
and contradicted themselves), I am conquered by the Holy Scriptures quoted by me, and my
conscience is bound in the word of God: I can not and will not recant any thing, since it is unsafe
and dangerous to do any thing against the conscience."^365
So far the reports are clear and harmonious. What followed immediately after this testimony
is somewhat uncertain and of less importance.
Dr. Eck exchanged a few more words with Luther, protesting against his assertion that
Councils may err and have erred. "You can not prove it," he said. Luther repeated his assertion,
and pledged himself to prove it. Thus pressed and threatened, amidst the excitement and confusion
of the audience, he uttered in German, at least in substance, that concluding sentence which has
impressed itself most on the memory of men: —
"Here I stand. [I can not do otherwise.] God help me! Amen."^366
The sentence, if not strictly historical, is true to the situation, and expresses Luther’s mental
condition at the time,—the strength of his conviction, and prayer for God’s help, which was
abundantly answered. It furnishes a parallel to Galileo’s equally famous, but less authenticated, "It
does move, for all that" (E pur si muove).
The Emperor would hear no more, and abruptly broke up the session of the Diet at eight
o’clock, amid general commotion.
On reaching his lodgings, Luther threw up his arms, and joyfully exclaimed, "I am through,
I am through? "To Spalatin, in the presence of others, he said, "If I had a thousand beads, I would
rather have them all cut off one by one than make one recantation."
The impression he made on the audience was different according to conviction and
nationality. What some admired as the enthusiasm of faith and the strength of conviction, appeared
to others as fanaticism and heretical obstinacy.
(^364) In the German text, "ein unstüssige und unbeissige Antwort" (vol. LXIV. 382); i.e., an answer neither offensive nor biting—with
reference, no doubt, to his concluding warning.
(^365) We give also the German and Latin texts."Weil denn Eure Kaiserliche Majestät und Eure Gnaden eine schlichte Antwort begehren,
so will ich eine Antwort ohne Hörner und Zähne geben diesermassen: ’Es sei denn, dass ich durch Zeugnisse der Schrift oder durch helle
Gründe überwunden werde—denn ich glaube weder dem Papst, noch den Konzilien allein, dieweil am Tag liegt, dass sie öfters geirrt
und sich selbst widersprochen haben,—so bin ich überwunden durch die von mir angeführten heiligen Schriften, und mein Gewissen ist
gefangen in Gottes Wort; widerrufen kann ich nichts und will ich nichts, dieweil wider das Gewissen zu handeln unsicher und gefährlich
ist.’ " See Köstlin, I. 452. The oldest reports vary a little in the language. Some have scheinbarliche und merkliche Ursachen for helle
Gründe, and at the close:"dieweil wider das Gewissen zu handeln beschwerlich und unheilsam, auch gefährlich ist." Werke (Erl. Frkf.
ed.), vol. LXIV. 382.
The Latin text as given in the Acta Lutheri Wormatiae habita is as follows: "Hic Lutherus: Quando ergo serenissima Majestas vestra
Dominationesque vestrae simplex responsum petunt, dabo illud, neque cornutum, neque dentatum, in hunc modum: ’Nisi convictus fuero
testimoniis Scripturarum, aut ratione evidente (nam neque Papae, neque Conciliis solis credo, cum constet eos errasse saepius, et sibi
ipsis contradixisse), victus sum Scripturis a me adductis captaque est conscientia in verbis Dei; revocare neque possum neque volo
quidquam, cum contra conscientiam agere neque tutum sit, neque integrum.’ " Opera Lat. (Frankf. ed.), vol. VI. 13 sq.
(^366) "Hier steh’ ich. [Ich kann nicht anders.] Gott helfe mir! Amen." The bracketed words cannot be traced to a primitive source. See the
critical note at the close of this section.