Letters from Vondel

DE WILHEM AAN HUYGENS

1645, 28 October.

Je vous envoye le testament de M. Grotius, une piéce trés-pernicieuse, qu’on fait courre ici, comme vous jugerez mieux que moy. Par les vers joints vous pourrez considerer de quelle passion on honore la mémoire de M. Grotius en la ville d’Amsterdam. Et par son livre appert a quoi a tendu leur piece et dessein de tolerance.

BARLAEUS AAN HUYGENS

1645, 22 November.

Ut ad schedas tuas veniam, crescunt victoriae Principi, et tibi carminis vis... Quam non pulvurentem illud de pulvere, hoc est laudum divinarum materia, quod acumen non Romanis, sed Belgis debes, ut et illud de Hulsta arbore. Quam non vano est illa ad Antverpiam paraenesis, quam ego sororem, quam servam malim. Legi haec cum Hoofdio, Vossio, Mostartio, Vondelio, licet hic argumenti impatiens sit... Amstelod. XXII Novemb. 1645.

WILHEM TO HUYGENS

October 28, 1645

I am sending you the will of Mr. Grotius, a very dangerous document that is being circulated here, as you will judge better than I. From the attached verses, you can see the passion with which Mr. Grotius's memory is honored in the city of Amsterdam. And from his book, it is clear what their piece and plan for tolerance aimed at.

BARLAEUS TO HUYGENS

November 22, 1645

To address your notes, the victories of the Prince are growing, and so is your poetic power... How remarkable is that dust from the dust, which is the material of divine praises, that sharpness you owe not to the Romans, but to the Belgians, as well as that from the Hulst tree. How meaningful is that advice to Antwerp, which I would rather call a sister than a servant. I read these with Hoofd, Vossius, Mostart, and Vondel, although the latter is impatient with the subject... Amsterdam, November 22, 1645.

ORIGINAL