Briefwisseling. Deel 5: 1649-1663

5899. Aan lady Swann⁴⁾. (K.A.)aant.

I was so overjoyed to see in a country I never saw before the rarest man I ever hope to see upon the lute⁵⁾, to be a frend to the rarest lady I know and the worthiest frend I have left⁶⁾ in England, that I could not forbeare to intreate him to be the bearer of these lynes, to putt your ladyship in mind that, in what corner soever of the world my destinee will send me, I will be the same I was in Holland, which is your most humble and obedient servant. This could be the conclusion of a complimental letter, but I have no mind to finish, Madam, without asking how you doe, what you are doing and how long [you are] to stay in England, because I was informed, to my great satisfaction, Sir William Swann was to be employed at Hamborough or thereabouts⁷⁾. Your ladyship must pardon me, if I am to inquisitive about another business.

4) Eenige zinnen uit den brief zijn uitgegeven door J.A. Worp in Tijdschrift der Vereen. voor Noord-Nederlands muziekgeschiedenis, IV, 1897, blz. 134.

5) Nl. du Faut; zie blz. 470.

6) Er staat: left me

7) Swann werd in 1664 resident van Groot-Brittannië te Hamburg.

[p. 470]

As sometimes I have endeavoured to doe what lay in my power towards that noble gentlemans fortune, I will allwayes be glad to see so good a work perfitted by the hands even of your illustrious Souveraine, who having ever made of your vertues, Madam, what it was reason he should make of them, I make no question but his good wishes of time past will be turned into good deeds for the present, and can assure you that whatsoever his Ma.^tie will resolve to doe for you both, shall be as much under my desires as lower then your deserts. - Here I am chained to this court till your noble lord Hollis appeare to deliver me. You may¹⁾ take it for a riddle, if you please, but such is the ground of the truth. In October next it will be a yeare I left my deare frends and country, God knoweth when and if ever to see one another againe. Your ladyship may consider if so long an absence, à quel poco di viver che m'avanza, be a joyfull pastime. And yet I have no consolation but patience, which I never had more need of. In the meane time you will find it like and reasonable enough, if I doe divert my fancie upon the handsome things that are here in abundance. Do not interprete it upon gelegentheitjes²⁾, Madam, and such wares. All the time I can spare is given to musike, both in hearing and in doing. So I doe find to have composed about thirty new peeces, since I am from home. M. du Faut³⁾ hath heard some of them, and made a shew to be something pleased with my trifles, even with the gigue your ladyship would doe me the favour to esteeme at Teijlingen. If he will make you a relation something like his discourses in presence, I will beginn to enter into a wonderfull presumption of myselfe. Surely he is the rarest compositor that I ever heard, and the sweetest humor of a man. My paper draweth to an end. If your ladyship hath the goodness to let me heare from her, the letters must be directed to such a one deputé du Prince d'Orange aupres du Roy tres-chrestien à la Rue de S.^t Honoré, chez Madame Hollande, au bon fruict. There liveth, who is to dye ..... Paris, 17/27 of Aug. 1662.

1) Er staat: make

2) Zie No. 5310.

3) Du Faut was een bekend luitenist en componist, die te Londen woonde.