Sophie Amalie Rosenkrantz's letter to Marie Horn, dated April 25, 1773 (FICTION)

A letter from my work-in-progress original historical fiction story, Evening Star, written as half-autobiography, half-epistolary novel format from the point of view of Marie Horn.

The letter:

Min kjære Marie,

Jeg modtog Deres Brev om Aftenen, og jeg er strax begyndt at svare. Det satisfacerer mig at see, at jeg er tilgivet. Som De kan see, skriver jeg disse Ord paa Dansk, som De har anmodet om.

De har jo studeret flittigt for at kjende de Latinske Navne paa disse Blomster, Madame. Maaskee kunne jeg sende Dem een af dem med et Brev i Fremtiiden. Ja, vi har bestemt de bedste Philosopher i dette Siècle, og jeg tør sige, at Diderot er den Bedste af dem. Jeg har bestemt ikke seet heele Sverige endnu, men maaskee kunde vi finde en deylig Skov eller Eng et eller andet Sted, saa De kan male der.

Tanken er liige nu kommet til mig: Naar jeg kommer til at besøge Eder, maaskee kunde jeg tage nogle af mine Mandsklæder med, saa Deres Broder seer det for sig selv, jeg veed, at han vil være saa glad.

Jeg haaber, at De forbliver at være ved goedt Helbred. Dette er jo mit andet Brev til Dem, og jeg har kjendt Dem ikkun i to Dage, men jeg har allerede megen Glæde af vores Correspondence, jeg kan allerede see, hvor meget Plaisir den giver Dem.

Deres Ven,

Sophie Amalie.

Stockholm den 25. April 1773.

English translation:

My dear Marie,

I received your letter in the evening, and I have immediately begun my reply. It satisfies me to see that I am forgiven. As you can see, I write these words in Danish, as you have requested.

You have studied diligently to know the Latin names of these flowers, Madame. Perhaps I could send you one of them with a letter in future. Yes, we certainly have the best philosophers in this century, and I dare say that Diderot is the best of them. I certainly haven't seen all of Sweden yet, but perhaps we could find a nice forest or meadow somewhere so that you can paint there.

The thought has just come to me: when I come to visit you, perhaps I might bring some of my men's clothing with me so that your brother will see it for himself, I know he'll be so pleased.

I hope you continue to have good health. This is my second letter to you, and I've known you for only two days, but I already greatly enjoy our correspondence, I can already see how much pleasure it gives you.

Your friend,

Sophie Amalie.

Stockholm, April 25, 1773.