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 kjæreste Ven Sophie,
Det forsikrer mig virkelig at see og have Deres Approbation, og at De sagde, at vi skynder os ind i Venskabet og ikke kun jeg.
Hvilket interessant Forslag, maaskee skulle jeg en Dag skrive noget i Philosophien. O, hvor deyligt at De ogsaa har lært disse Sprog! Johan og jeg har factisk været ganske utilfredse med kun at skrive til hinanden paa disse Sprog, saa det glæder os meget nu, at vi kand skrive til Dem paa disse Sprog. Jeg har ingen Præference, men uanset paa hvilket Sprog De skriver Deres næste Brev, skal det være tilfredsstillende.
Ja, jeg skal bevare denne Hemmelighed for ham, og jeg vil være forsigtig med ikke at afsløre den, før De er ankommen og er klædt. Jeg formoder, at De fylder din Kuffert, naar De modtager dette Brev, og at De vil være klar til at komme til os næste Morgen, liigesom De skriver Deres Svar paa den Nat, De modtager dem, og saa kommer Deres eget Svar ind i mine Hænder næste Morgen. Og jeg vil bestemt ikke sove i Aften! Vi sees i Morgen! Vi haabe at finde nogle Confecter at hilse Dem med, Madame, jeg haaber De ikke bliver fornærmet, hvis vi ikke har nok. Mit Hjerte banker, derfor maae jeg afslutte dette Brev og hviile. Farvel, deylige Sophie, og vi seer Dem i Morgen.
Deres utaalmoedige Ven,
Marie.
Stockholm den 28. April 1773.
English translation:
My dearest friend Sophie,
It truly assures me to see and have your approval and that you said that we are rushing into the friendship and not only I.
What an interesting suggestion, perhaps I might someday write something in philosophy, then. Oh, how lovely that you've learned those languages as well! Johan and I have actually been quite unsatisfied with writing only to each other in those languages, so it greatly delights us now that we can write to you in those languages. I have no preference, but whatever language you write your next letter in, that will be satisfactory.
Yes, I will keep this secret from him, and I will be cautious to not reveal it until you have arrived and gotten dressed. I suppose you will be filling up your coffer by the time you receive this letter, and that you will be ready to come to us the next morning, just as you write your responses on the night you receive them and then your own response arrives into my hands the next morning. And I will decidedly not sleep at all tonight! I will see you tomorrow! We hope to find some sweetmeats to greet you with, Madame, I hope you won't be offended if we do not have enough. My heart is pounding, so I should end this letter and rest. Goodbye, lovely Sophie, and we will see you tomorrow.
Your impatient friend,
Marie.
Stockholm, April 28, 1773.
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