ORIGINAL

HOOFT AAN HUYGENS

1625, den 30 van Grasmaandt.

[Verschillende vrienden zullen lofdichten voor de „Ledige Uren” plaatsen.] Want, om te zeggen zoo ick ’t verstae, my twij- felt zelve oft dese verstaen zullen worden, oft, verstaen zynde, niet smaekeloozer gevonden als anders. Welke bijsterheit van mijn oordeel U Ed. wel kan doen oordeelen, dat, al waer daer iets goedts in, om in eenig deel te beschaemen de lofrijmen van iemandt anders, men zulks meer ’t geval dan my te wijten heeft. Ik hebbe den Heer Generael ende Van den Vondel in U Ed. Leedige Wren te werke geholpen, en meene U Ed. van daer iets te verwachten heeft, dat beter geaerdt zal zijn dan ’t geen hier by gaet; ’t welk ik dacht te doen staen nae d’eere van dat geselschap, en hadt my U Ed. neef van Baerle niet geport uit haeren name.

LAURENS REAEL AAN LAURENS JOOSTEN BAECK(?)

1625 (1626?), 15 Mei.

Myn Heere, Mons. van den Vondele ende ick vinden ons vry wat in avance op den wisselbrieff, die ghy tot uwer quitantie aen ons geremitteert hebt, ende blyven daer over uwe dibiteurs, ende sullen ons daer voor argeren: verhopende het selve ter eerste ghelegentheyt te salderen.

Voorts myn Heere, Ick hadde uwer E. volcomene last ghegheven myn ontydich schepsel wat te hervormen, soo datter gheen nieuwe volmacht van noode was. Ick en twijffele niet ofte van uwer E. handt soude iets comen, dat van beter smaeck was, hoewel het wat bittert. V. Erp neemt fraeykens wech de lafficheyt, die dickmael in de jockerye valt. Ende t’ bitter-heylich es t’ ghene dat my de satyren schynen te verrichten: Ten waer saecke dat heylsaem’-bitterheyt de cracht van de ghebreecken der menschen te helen, Uwe E. scheen wat beter uyt te drucken. Doch het eerste my staet beter aen ende schynt my duytserlycker te zyn. Derhalven sult wel doen, ende laeten het soo syn ghangh hebben.

Ende ick sal blyven Uyt Amsterdam, Uwer E. dienstbereyden Vriendt den 15 May 1625. Laurens Reael

TRANSLATION

HOOFT TO HUYGENS

April 30, 1625

[Various friends will contribute poems for the "Leisure Hours."] Because, to be honest, I doubt whether these will be understood, or if they are understood, whether they will be found as tasteful as others. This uncertainty in my judgment might make you think that, even if there is something good in them, it is more due to chance than to my skill. I have helped General and Van den Vondel with your "Leisure Hours" and believe you can expect something better from them than what I have contributed here. I aimed to honor that company, and if your cousin Van Baerle had not urged me on their behalf, I would not have done it.

LAURENS REAEL TO LAURENS JOOSTEN BAECK(?)

May 15, 1625 (or 1626?)

Sir, Mr. Van den Vondel and I find ourselves somewhat ahead on the bill of exchange you sent us for your payment, and we remain your debtors for it, which will annoy us. We hope to settle it at the first opportunity.

Furthermore, Sir, I had given you full authority to reform my untimely creation, so no new authorization was needed. I do not doubt that something better would come from your hand, even if it is a bit bitter. Mr. Erp gracefully removes the dullness that often falls into jest. And the bitterness is what the satires seem to accomplish: unless the beneficial bitterness has the power to heal human flaws, you seemed to express it better. However, the first option suits me better and seems more appropriate. Therefore, you would do well to let it take its course.

And I will remain From Amsterdam, Your obedient friend May 15, 1625. Laurens Reael

Metadata

  • Sender: Laurens Reael
  • Recipient: Laurens Joosten Baeck
  • Subject: Discussion on financial matters and literary critique
  • Send Date: 1625
  • Location: Amsterdam
  • Geolocation: 52.3676, 4.9041
  • Language: nl
  • Summary: Laurens Reael writes to Laurens Joosten Baeck discussing a financial matter related to a bill of exchange and expressing his hope for its prompt settlement. He also comments on a literary work, suggesting that while it may be somewhat bitter, it is ultimately beneficial and should be allowed to proceed as it is.