ORIGINAL

WILLEM DE GROOT AAN HUGO DE GROOT

1645, 20 Februari.

Amstelodami lis est Vondelio cum aliis poetastris, et jam ad HOOFT AAN BARLAEUS.

1645, 20 v. Grasmaand.

... Vondel heeft een veirs gemaakt op ’t wonder, waar af de Heilige Steé haaren naam draagt: en laat het openbaarlijk voor de boekwinkels ten toon hangen, gelijk de voorvechters de messen in de luifen steeken, om de oogen van de verbygangers te tergen, als met zeggen: wie ’t hart heeft, pluike. My deert des mans, die geenes dings eerder moede schijnt te worden dan der ruste. ’t Schijnt dat hy noch 300 guldens in kasse moet hebben, die hem dreigen de keel af te bijten. Nog weet ik niet, oft het hem niet wel dierder moghte koomen te staan; ende d’een oft d’ander heetharsen, by ontijde, de handen aan hem schenden, denkende dat’er niet een haan naa kraayen zoude. Dit spel, immers, maakt zulk een brabbeling in de wacht, dat’er alle daags nieuwe krabbeling uit rijst. Ik zend hierbij een paar staaltjens, niet de fijnste, die ik gezien heb, maar die ik althans bekoomen kan; want dit tuig gaat ter greep weg...

Mijn Heere, van

T’Amsterdam, den 20 van Grasmaandt 1645.

UwerE. Onderdaanen Dienaar, P. C. Hooft.

BARTHOLDUS NIHUSIUS AAN FABIO CHIGI TE KEULEN

1645, Mei 24.

... Typographus in continuanda poematum editione sedulus, ante octavam Pentecostes imponet eis finem. De frontispicio interim solliciti quoque erimus confestim atque receperimus ejus delineationem... Absolvetur, inquam, opus istic eo, quod dixi tempore; nisi quod forsan suspendenda impressio folii postremi, donec folia antecedentia simul omnia monstravero iis qui praefigent Epigrammata; cujus rei antea praestare potero. Vondelius, poeta Belgicus excellens, honorem sibi ducat, putem, si rogetur a me, addere carmen vernaculum. Sed nescio, an Illmae Dtioni Vrae, id placiturum. Multo magis nescio, an sit conveniens, ut sollicitemus Constantinum Hugenium, principis Auraici consiliarium, argutiarum, in versibus etiam Latinis, plenissimum ... (Amsterdam) 24 Mei 1645.

TRANSLATION

WILLEM DE GROOT TO HUGO DE GROOT

February 20, 1645

In Amsterdam, there is a dispute between Vondel and other poets, and now it involves Hooft and Barlaeus.

March 20, 1645

... Vondel has written a verse about the miracle that gave the Holy City its name and has displayed it publicly in bookstores, much like how fighters display their knives to provoke passersby, as if to say: "If you have the courage, take it." I feel for the man, who seems to tire of nothing more than rest. It appears he still needs 300 guilders, which are threatening to choke him. I don't know if it might cost him even more; someone might harm him at an inconvenient time, thinking no one would care. This situation is causing such a commotion that new disputes arise daily. I am sending a couple of samples, not the finest I've seen, but the best I could get; this stuff goes quickly...

My Lord, from

Amsterdam, March 20, 1645.

Your humble servant, P. C. Hooft.

BARTHOLDUS NIHUSIUS TO FABIO CHIGI IN COLOGNE

May 24, 1645

... The printer is diligently continuing the publication of the poems and will finish before the eighth day of Pentecost. We are also concerned about the frontispiece and will address it as soon as we receive its design... The work will be completed by the time I mentioned, unless the printing of the last page needs to be delayed until I can show all the preceding pages to those who will add the epigrams; I can do this beforehand. Vondel, an excellent Dutch poet, would consider it an honor, I think, if I asked him to add a vernacular poem. But I don't know if this would please Your Eminence. I am even less sure if it is appropriate to ask Constantijn Huygens, the advisor to the Prince of Orange, who is also very skilled in Latin verse... (Amsterdam) May 24, 1645.

Metadata

  • Sender: P. C. Hooft
  • Recipient: Hugo de Groot
  • Subject: Discussion about Vondel and his financial troubles
  • Send Date: 1645
  • Location: Amsterdam
  • Geolocation: 52.3676, 4.9041
  • Language: nl
  • Summary: P. C. Hooft writes to Hugo de Groot about the poet Vondel, who has created a verse about a miracle and is displaying it publicly. Hooft expresses concern about Vondel's financial situation and the potential consequences of his actions.