Source:
The letter:
Kjøbenhavn, den 7. Marts 1823
Deres Brev, min kjære Andersen, har jeg rigtig modtaget; det var uden Datum; men dette gjør nu Intet til Sagen; jeg siger Dem det kuns, for at De en anden Gang kan give lidt mere Attention: jeg udrettede Deres Commission til min Datter; men Frue Roepstorff er endnu ikke kommen fra Lolland, min Datter kan altsaa Intet udrette for Dem i denne Henseeende, derimod har hun hos Kronprindsessen udvirket Dem en Sum af 10 Rd., som følger indesluttet.
Disse Penge, formoder jeg, ville være Dem en god Hjælp til Deres fyenske Reise; men spar Dem nu ogsa til dette brug, hvortil Prindsessen har havt den Naade at give dem, og forbrug dem ikke til Unødvendigheder.
Det vil stedse glæde mig at erfare, at De gjør god Fremgang, og jeg haaber, at De for Deres eget Vels Skyld vil anvende muligste Flid og betænke, hvor meget lykkeligere De er end de Fleste i Deres Stilling, da saa mange, gode Mennesker have Dem under Armene.
Den lille Vise, De sendte mig, finde vi Alle ret net. Jeg bad min Datter at lade Kronprindsessen læse den.
Een Ting vil jeg bede Dem om, kjære Andersen, lad ikke Tanken om eengang at blive, hvad De kalder noget Stort — ja, meget Stort, alt for dybt rodfæste sig hos Dem, det kunde ellers maaskee skade Dem meget. Søg heller at lære noget grundigt, at De maaskee i Tiden kunde faae et lille Embede, som De med Duelighed kunde bestride. Dette er mit velmeente Raad. De veed, jeg siger min Mening reent ud. Lad mig nu ved Leilighed vide, om De har modtaget dette.
Lev nu stedse vel. Mine Børn hilse Dem.
E. H. Colbiørnsen.
English translation (my own):
Copenhagen, the 7th March 1823.
I have indeed received your letter, my dear Andersen; it was undated; but this now does not matter; I tell you this only so that you may pay a little more attention another time. I made your commission to my daughter; but Mrs. Roepstorff has not yet come from Lolland, so my daughter can do nothing for you in this respect; on the contrary, she has obtained from the Crown Princess a sum of 10 rigsdaler, which follows enclosed.
This money, I suppose, would be a good help to you on your journey in Funen; but save them also for this use, for which the princess has had the grace to give you them, and do not consume them for things that are necessities.
I will always be glad to learn that you are making good progress, and I hope that for your own good you will use as much diligence as possible and consider how much more fortunate you are than most in your position, as so many good people have you under your arms.
The little verse you sent me, we all find very pretty. I asked my daughter to let the Crown Princess read it.
One thing I would like to ask you, dear Andersen: do not let the thought of becoming what you call something great — yes, very great, — become too deeply rooted in you; it might otherwise harm you greatly. Instead, divert your thinking to good things in life, such that in time you might be able to have a small position that you might be able to hold on to. This is my well-meant advice. You know I am expressing my opinion outright. Now let me know on occasion if you have received this.
Live well now. My children greet you.
E. H. Colbjørnsen.
No comments:
Post a Comment