________________
JUNE, 1899.]
BOOK-NOTICES.
Plate 22 (translation, p. 58), for "Ceertruijdt " read "Geertruydt;" for "Al Monde" read "Almonde."
In Plate 25, line 4, there must be a mistake of the copyist. I suspect that the proper name "Gules" should read "Gilles," not an uncommon Dutch Christian name. In the next line, for "Capieyn" read Capteyn" or " Capiteyn." In the translation, p. 58, the word "skeleton," in brackets, is superfluous, the Dutch "lichaem" (now "lichaam ") having only the meaning "body."
The verses on Plate 31 make no sense. Line 3 should perhaps begin "die" instead of "des." The 6th verse is wrong in the translation; it means literally: "where celestials inherit joy."
On Plate 32, and in the translation on p. 60, we find a biblical text from Daniel 19. v. 13. I am not sufficiently versed in theological matters to decide whether the Book of Daniel ever contained 19 chapters, but the text is from Chap. 12. In the same inscription we are told that Dirk Both was in his lifetime "merchant and chief," which dual capacity perhaps accounts for the translation of the first verse, in which we are informed that "The cold bones of both lie under this slab." This is intelligible only on the supposition that Dirk kept one set of bones for his functions as a merchant, and another when he acted as chief. Although the drawing has the word "both," the translation might have supplied the capital letter to the word.
The translation of the verses on Plate 33 is misleading. The first verse should read: "Here lies De Munt's pleasure, enjoyment, delight, and all."
The third verse:
"He mourned in bitter sorrow."
The facsimile plates are well reproduced, and are almost entirely legible. As, however, none of them has been transcribed or interpreted, I give a copy and translation of what is perhaps the most curious one, viz., of Plate 45.
Neemt Ghij Acht? Wiens Rust-Stee ditte moge sijn, Weet dan! 't is Pieter Hemsinckx Fijn, Eenen Bloem! van Yonge Geesten Seer ge-acht bij de minst' en meesten, Door Deugden! die de Faem droeg vert! Hier lijt sijn Romp! maer blijft in 't hert Gegrift, wiens ongn dees Bloem besat Oock in sijn Wandel Vreughden hadt.
Soodat Lof, Vreed' en Goedigheijt, Noijt vergeet Heijd' of CHRISTEN HEIJT. Hy! wien 't Vernuft scheen hoog gestelt, Leght lag'! O Doodt! te Vroegh gevelt. Sodat het Lichaem hier beneen, Met Moeder, Suster, rust bij een. Wiens Zielen drie sijn opgegaen, Om's HEMELS Croon van GODT t' ontfaen.
167
WAT IS DEN-MENSCH?
Hier legt begraven Pieter Hemsinck Jongman geboren ten desen Contoire Zadrangapatnam den 13e Augusti: 1665. Overleden den 24. Februarij: 1682. Out zijnde: 16: Jaren, 6: Maenden, 21: Dagen:.
Translation.
Takest Thou Heed ?
Whose Resting-Place this may be,
Know then, it is that of Pieter Hemsinck, A flower of youthful spirits1
Much esteemed by the lowest and the highest For virtues which Fame carried abroad! Here lies his body! but (his name) remains in
the heart
Engraved of him whose eyes possessed this flower
And who had joy in his career.
So that (his) praise, peace, and kindliness Are never forgotten by Heathen or Christendom. He whose reason seemed placed high
Lies low! O Death! too early felled.
So that his body here below
With (those of) mother, sister, rests together, Whose souls three have gone on high To receive Heaven's crown from God.
What is Man P
Here lies buried Peter Hemsinck a youth born at this Factory of Sadras the 13th of August 1665, died the 24th of February 1682, aged 16 years, 6 months, 21 days.
Göttingen, August 1898.
As the chief object of the publication of the volume seems to have been to present to the reader the Monumental Remains of the Dutch in Madras, it would have been more satisfactory if, together with the copies on pp. 47-53, the originals had also been given. If this had been done, the numerous errors both in the copies and in the translations might be better controlled. Nor does it appear why only some of the plates have been translated.
G. J. TAMSON.
1 This verse makes no sense in Dutch either, "geesten" being apparently used for the sake of rhyme with "meesten."
