Alle de brieven. Deel 12: 1696-1699
(1989)–Anthoni van Leeuwenhoek–
Auteursrechtelijk beschermdGepubliceerd in:
| |||
Korte inhoud:Bericht over de betaling en aankomst van een door Magliabechi aan L. als geschenk gezonden boek. Bijgesloten is een catalogus van een kunstverzameling van de doopsgezinde voorganger A. van Beusecom. | |||
Opmerkingen:De tekst van deze brief bevindt zich op fol. 21r-22r. De brief is niet van L.'s hand en ook niet door hem ondertekend. Op het omslag heeft L. eigenhandig de volgende adressering geschreven: Illustrissimo Celeberrimo Doctissimo. Do Antonio Magliabechi. Franco augsburg. P. Florencen. | |||
Letter No. 194
| |||
Published in:
| |||
Summary:Information on the payment and arrival of a book sent to L. by Magliabechi as a present. Annexed is a catalogue of an art collection of the Mennonite minister A. van Beusecom. | |||
Remarks:The text of this letter is to be found on fol. 21r-22r. The letter is not by L.'s hand, nor has it been signed by him. On the envelope L. has written by his own hand the address: Illustrissimo Celeberrimo Doctissimo. Do Antonio Magliabechi. Franco augsburg. P. Florencen. | |||
Illustrissimo, Clarissimo, Doctissimo Viro
Litteras Tuas humanissimas, Vir Illustrissime, ipsusGa naar voetnoota) mihi tradidit Reverendus PapenbrochiusGa naar voetnoot2), eo tempore, quo mihi nuper, Antverpiae degenti, ejus consortio, doctissimisque colloquiis, frui dabatur. Ex his video Te mihi minime suadere, ut Viro illi Bruxellis agenti ullo modo rependam quas, Libro (quo me beare nuper dignatus fuisti) acquirendo, impensas fecisse prae se fertGa naar voetnoot3). Caeterum, Vir Illustrissime, obnixe rogatum Te velim, ne quem in posterum adhibeas laborem, ut in Libri ejus fata casusve ulterius inquiras. Satis equidem, omnibus rite consideratis, video eos, quibus haec res demandata fuit, non bona satis fide egisse, nec omnia sese uti illi ferunt habuisse: nec id me fugit antequam solutio nummi aurei, quem PistoletGa naar voetnoot4) vocant, per Nautam (qui Bruxellis simul apocham, ne solutio differretur, afferebat) a me exigeretur. Nihilominus tamen eam pecuniam, ubi hoc modo exigebatur, summa animi cum lubentia expendi, more eorum, qui pretiosum aliquod sibi comparaturi ϰειμήλιον, nullis parcunt impensis, quantumvis magnis, ut rem tantopere desideratam possidere queant. Quid enim quaeso, hocce meo in casu, exigua haec argenti, (forte tantum fortuna a me expensi) summa est, prae Libro tam pretioso, utpote cujus perpauci dantur similes, eoque (quod summum est) dono mihi dato a Te, Vir Illustrissime, quo, omnium Bonorum consensu, Doctiorem non habet terrarum Orbis. Quum igitur hicce casus plane dependerit ab illo MedicoGa naar voetnoot5), qui Librum illum mihi sese traditurum sponte sua receperat, denuo Te etiam atque etiam rogatum velim, ne posthac cogites de impensis eam in rem adhibitis: summopere enim con- | |||
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek very cordially greets the Most Illustrious, Famous, and Learned Mr Antonio MagliabechiGa naar voetnoot1).
The Reverend PapenbroekGa naar voetnoot2) personally handed me Your very kind letter, Most Illustrious Sir, at the time when recently, during my stay at Antwerp, I was given an opportunity to enjoy his company and his most learned conversations. From this letter I see that You do not by any means advise me to reimburse the Man in question, who lives at BrusselsGa naar voetnoot3), in any way for the expenses he says he has incurred in getting the Book (with which you recently saw fit to make me happy). Further, Most Illustrious Sir, I would urgently request You to take no further pains to inquire any more about the vicissitudes or events relating to the Book. Indeed, I quite realize, after due consideration of everything, that those to whom this matter had been entrusted have not acted very honestly and that not everything has happened in the way they allege; nor had this escaped my notice before the payment of a gold coin, which they call PistoletGa naar voetnoot4), had been exacted from me through a Skipper (who at once brought a receipt from Brussels, in order that the payment should not be deferred). Nevertheless I yet paid that money, when claimed in this way, with the greatest pleasure, as do those who, in order to procure some treasure, spare no expenses, however great, to possess the thing they covet so much. For what do I want? In this special case this is only a very small sum of money (perhaps paid by me owing to a misfortune) for so costly a Book, because in fact very few similar books are offered, and particularly (which is the most important thing) because it was given to me as a present by You, Most Illustrious Sir, than whom, in the common opinion of all Those who are able to judge of it, there is no more Learned man on Earth. Since therefore this occurrence was wholly due to the behaviour of the said PhysicianGa naar voetnoot5), who had of his own accord undertaken to deliver the Book to me, I would again urgently request You not to think any further of the expenses incurred | |||
tentus sum munus illud, quod jam, ut perditum, deplorabam, tam facili negotio in meam venisse potestatem; mihique hoc pacto ansam datam coram omnibus gloriandi, tanti pretii Librum ab Tanto Viro mihi, licet plane immerito, Florentia missum. Scias interim Librum hunc, tantopere, ac tamdiu jactatum, non nisi ex aliqua sui parte parumper laesum, ad me pervenisseGa naar voetnoot6). Tandem maximopere me Illustri Tuo Nomini devinctum agnosco, cum ob omnia Tua beneficia et humanitates, tum ob communicatas tam benigne Doctorum Italorum recentes in re Litteraria foetusGa naar voetnoot7). Vale Vir Illustrissime et Doctissime, Vale Aeternum, et mihi fave.
Dabam Delfis Batavorum.
Finitis jam hisce letteris accedit ad me A: Beusecom inter Anabaptistas DoctorGa naar voetnoot8), agens GoeraeGa naar voetnoot9) in Zeelandia, qui, cum sciret mutuum aliquando inter nos intercedere litterarum commercium (quod, ut opinor, didicerat ex BibliothecaGa naar voetnoot10), omnes libros recens editos recensente, quae unoquoque bimensi Rotterodami editur) me rogavit, ut res aliquot magna arte confectas, quas secum latas mihi exhibebat, Tibi, Vir Illustrissime, hisce notas facerem; ratus eas, utpote quas permagni faciebat (licet ego lubens fatear me ineptum esse ad judicium iis de rebus ferendum) Tua cognitione hand esse indignas. Earum Catalogum manu ejus exaratum hisce idcirco inclusam vides. | |||
for it, for I am very happy that this present, which I already deplored as lost, has come into my possession through such a simple transaction, and that in this way I have been given an opportunity to boast before everybody that such an expensive Book has been sent to me from Florence by such a Great Man, though I plainly have not deserved this. Meanwhile you are to know that this Book, which has been tossed about so violently and so long, has reached me in a somewhat damaged conditionGa naar voetnoot6). Finally I acknowledge my obligation to Your Illustrious Reputation, for all Your favours and kindnesses as well as your generous information about the recent publications of Scholars in ItalyGa naar voetnoot7). May you for Ever be in good health, Most Illustrious and Learned Sir, and may you be favourably disposed towards me.
Delft in Holland, 14 August 1698.
When I had already finished this letter, A. Beusecom, an Anabaptist DoctorGa naar voetnoot8), living at GoesGa naar voetnoot9) in Zeeland, came to me; he requested me, since he knew that there is some written contact between us from time to time (which he had presumably read in the BoekzaalGa naar voetnoot10), which reviews all newly published books and which is published once every two months at Rotterdam), to inform You, Most Illustrious Sir, by means of this letter of [the existence of] a number of fine works of art, which he had brought and which he showed to me. He was of opinion, since he considered them to be very wonderful, that they are not unworthy of being known to You (I must willingly confess I am unable to judge of these things). You will therefore find the Catalogue of these works, written by his own hand, enclosed herewith. |
|