ORIGINAL

J. VAN DER BURGH AAN CONST. HUYGENS.

1657, 23 Nov.

... Je ne manqueray de faire voz compliments aux amis qui ont voulu avoir l’honneur d’accompagner de leurs vers l’excellent thrésor de vos poésies flamendes. Pour le Sr Decker, je ne le cog- nays que par quelques vers moreaulx de sa façon et par l’addresse de Monsr Vondel; à ce que je puis juger de sa modestie, vous ne scauriez pecher contre la distributive en plaçant son epigramme quelque part que ce soit. La dame, qui s’est evertuée de couron- ner voz oeuvres de ses productions, c’est la grosse dondon d’Am- sterdam; elle est fille d’un marchand de plomb, demeurant au Warmoesstraat, et se mesle de la peinture, sculpture, et de plu- sieurs autres gentillesses. Pour votre gros Coppenolle, je prendray au plustost occasion de luy faire souvenir de son devoir et de sa promesse . . .

BRANDT AAN VOLLENHOVE(?).

1660, 16 Juni.

(Over de verlossing van de Groot uit Loevesteyn. Vervolgens:)

UE schrijft de inventie van deze wonderlijke verlossinge Grotio zelve toe. ik heb nochtans altijdts zyne huisvrouw daar d’eer van hooren geven, en verscheydene getuighenissen zijnder, die my aen die zijde doen hellen. Vondel zeit in zeeker vers aan Joffrouw de Groot:

Een vrouw is duizend mannen t’ergh. O eeuwige eer van Reigersbergh! De volgende eeuwen zullen spreeken, Hoe gij den haat hebt uitgestreeken.

en Grotius zelf in een gerijmden brief aan zyn huisvrouw den 26 April 1621 geschreven, spreekende van haar jongkheit, en dat ze weinig dacht om de rampen, die haar over ’t hoofd hingen, enz. (Verder niet over Vondel.)

TRANSLATION

J. VAN DER BURGH TO CONST. HUYGENS.

November 23, 1657

... I will make sure to pass on your compliments to the friends who wanted the honor of accompanying your excellent collection of Flemish poetry with their verses. As for Mr. Decker, I only know him through some of his moral verses and through the recommendation of Mr. Vondel. From what I can judge of his modesty, you couldn't go wrong placing his epigram anywhere. The lady who has tried to crown your works with her productions is the plump woman from Amsterdam; she is the daughter of a lead merchant living on Warmoesstraat and dabbles in painting, sculpture, and several other arts. As for your big Coppenolle, I will take the earliest opportunity to remind him of his duty and promise...

BRANDT TO VOLLENHOVE(?).

June 16, 1660

(Regarding the liberation of De Groot from Loevestein. Following:)

You attribute the invention of this miraculous escape to Grotius himself. However, I have always heard his wife being given the credit, and there are various testimonies that make me lean towards that side. Vondel says in a certain verse to Mrs. de Groot:

A woman is worth a thousand men. Oh eternal honor of Reigersbergh! Future centuries will speak Of how you erased the hatred.

And Grotius himself, in a rhymed letter to his wife written on April 26, 1621, speaking of her youth and how she hardly thought of the misfortunes that awaited her, etc. (Nothing further about Vondel.)

Metadata

  • Sender: J. van der Burgh
  • Recipient: Constantijn Huygens
  • Subject: Compliments and literary contributions
  • Send Date: 1657
  • Location: Unknown
  • Geolocation: Unknown
  • Language: fr
  • Summary: J. van der Burgh conveys compliments to friends who contributed verses to Huygens' Flemish poetry collection. He mentions a modest poet, Sr Decker, and a woman from Amsterdam involved in arts. He also promises to remind Coppenolle of his duties and promises.