ORIGINAL

H. de Groot

7/17 Augusti 1632

Opdracht van Hippolytus aen Den getrouwen Hollander.

„Een kyf-aas, en niet meer, dat baet u 't lieve leven”; Sprak flaeuwelyk de tong der ongerechte schael; Daer vrydom tegens bloet gewogen werd; daer 't stael Gestroopt, en ree was om den tweeden slagh te geven. Die neerlaegh ghy ontsnapt: u Vader was 'er bleven. Ghy bleef gevangen, en verreest weer andermael; Na dat g', een levend-lyck, ontdoockt de Sonne-strael, En tuygde, wat het kost, door deugt, na lof te streven.

Of die de wereld zyt verschenen als een son, Behaagelyck aan stam en rancken van Bourbon; Die met u mond, na magt, gantsch cristelik bevredigt; Ick bid, neemt in u schut en scherm myn Hippolyt; Syn ku: scheyt heb ick u getrouwigheyt gewydt; Die 't Vaderlandt, en alle onnoselen, verdedicht. U. E. considereert wel dat daer occasie sal syn om te spreken van de Heidensche en van de Christense coustumen. Van de eerste heeft U. E. genoegh voorschriften by de Grieksche en Latynsche Poeten ende de oude uitleggers daer op: Ook hebben weinigh voor onsen tydt daervan niet onbequaemelyk geschreven Giraldus ende Rosinus. De christelyke coustumen van die tijdt kan men sien in de Apologie van Justinus, de werken van Tertullianus, Cyprianus, de Consilién van Neocaesarié, Gangres, Laodicea, Ancyra ende het generael van Niceen, ’t welk gelyk ook dat van Eliberi in Spanje ende ’t eerste van Arles in Walschlant syn gehouden ten tyde van Constantyn. 'T beginsel staet my wel aen ende soo voortgaende twyffele niet aen het duiren van het werk. Godt wil daertoe syn segen verleenen ende U. E. met syne familie nemen in sonderlinge hoede.

U. E. gantsch dienstwillige H. de Groot.

Ik bidde doe myne dienstelyke gebiedenisse aen de goede vrunden, insonderheit aen myn Heer de Drossaerdt Hooft, dien ik ten hoogsten ben geobligeert ende aen d’Heere Doctor Coster.

TRANSLATION

H. de Groot

August 7/17, 1632

Dedication of Hippolytus to The Loyal Dutchman.

"A mere squabble, and nothing more, that benefits your dear life"; Spoke weakly the tongue of the unjust crowd; Where freedom was weighed against blood; where the steel Was stripped, and ready to deliver the second blow. You escaped that defeat: your Father remained there. You were captured, and rose again; After you, a living corpse, escaped the Sun's ray, And proved, at great cost, that virtue strives for praise.

Whether you appear to the world like a sun, Pleasing to the lineage and branches of Bourbon; Who with your mouth, as much as possible, completely pacifies; I pray, take my Hippolytus under your protection; His loyalty I have dedicated to you; Who defends the Fatherland, and all the innocent. Your Excellency will consider well that there will be an occasion to speak of the Pagan and Christian customs. Of the former, Your Excellency has enough prescriptions from the Greek and Latin poets and the old commentators on them: Also, not long ago, Giraldus and Rosinus wrote not inappropriately about this. The Christian customs of that time can be seen in the Apology of Justin, the works of Tertullian, Cyprian, the Councils of Neocaesarea, Gangra, Laodicea, Ancyra, and the general one of Nicaea, which, like that of Elvira in Spain and the first of Arles in Gaul, were held during the time of Constantine. The beginning pleases me well and continuing thus, I do not doubt the duration of the work. May God grant His blessing to it and take Your Excellency and your family into special care.

Your Excellency's very willing servant, H. de Groot.

I pray, convey my dutiful greetings to the good friends, especially to my Lord the Drossaerd Hooft, to whom I am most obliged, and to the Lord Doctor Coster.

Metadata

  • Sender: H. de Groot
  • Recipient: Den getrouwen Hollander
  • Subject: Dedication of Hippolytus and discussion on customs
  • Send Date: 1632
  • Location: Unknown
  • Geolocation: Unknown
  • Language: nl
  • Summary: H. de Groot dedicates his work 'Hippolytus' to a faithful Dutchman, discussing the value of striving for virtue and the customs of both pagans and Christians. He references various classical and early Christian sources and expresses hope for the success of his work, seeking divine blessing and protection for the recipient and his family.