Add MS 61435

BLENHEIM PAPERS. Vol. CCCXXXV (ff. 99).

(1) Translations into English from French originals, with other material in verse and prose in the hand of Sidney, 1st Earl of Godolphin; late 17th cent.: — (a) Fables of Jean de la Fontaine, as follows: — (i) Book 7, Fable 4, 'The 4th fable, of a Hern'; — (ii) Book 12, Fable 14, 'A fable of Love & Folly'; 16, 'A fable of the Woodward, & the Forrest' printed by W. Coxe, as A Third Fable in Verse, Salisbury, 1818. Two further fables, Fable 2 of Book 2, 'A council of rats', and Fable I of Book 4, 'The lion in love', were published by Coxe as Two Fables in Verse, Salisbury, 1817, from the present collection, but are now missing. ff. 1-6b; — (b) Paraphrases of verse by Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, as follows: — (i) 'The 2d satyre translated, to Mr. Dryden', a paraphrase of 'Satire II à M. de Molière'; — (ii) 'The 5th satyre . . . to the E[arl] of S[underland]', a paraphrase of 'Satire V à Monsieur de Dangeau'; — (iii) 'Some rules to bee observed by writers for the Stage', a paraphrase of 'L'art poetique', chant Ill. ff. 7-16b; — (c) Verse by Antoinette de la Fon de Boisguerin des Houlières, as follows: — (i) 'Reflexions on severall subjects', a translation of 'Reflexions divers'; — (ii) 'A letter of censure upon the present Age . . .', a paraphrase of 'Epistle chagrine à Mademoiselle de la Chance'. ff. 17-24b; — (d) 'To a young Lady that kept a flea chayn'd in a box', beg. 'Permitt mee Madam in these rimes', in rhyming couplets of which the last appears to identify the author as Edmund Waller. f. 25; — (e) Three pieces, probably translations, as follows: — (i) 'Leander to Hero', beg. 'To thee, I should not write, but goe, my love', followed by 'Hero to Leander', beg. 'That love in words which my Leander sends', both in rhyming couplets; — (ii) Ode, 'On the Prince of Condé's retirement to Chantilly', beg. 'Such glorious marks of Victory'; — (iii) 'A letter in verse to M: Mazarin', beg. 'We never could support your glorious eyes'. ff. 26-39b; — (f) Prose by Charles Marguetel de Saint-Denis, Sieur de Saint Évremond, as follows: — (i) 'Maxims that may bee of use in the course of our life', a translation of part of 'Avis et pensées sur plusieurs sujets'; — (ii) 'A Maxime that one ought never to fayle one's friends', a translation of 'Maxime qu'on ne doit jamais manquer à ses amis'; — (iii) Translation of part of 'Epitaphe de M. le Comte de Grammont, avec le portrait de l'auteur'; — (iv) Translations of letters printed in Saint Evremond's Oeuvres meslées, including those to Antoine, Duc de Gramont, 1665; Hortense Mancini, wife of Armand Charles de la Porte, Duc de Mazarin, 1676; Henry Jermyn, Earl of St Albans, 1677; and Ninon de Lenclos, 1680. Partly imperfect. ff. 40-65; — (g) 'Chapter ye 5th of troubles and displeasures', and other prose items, probably translated from the French. Partly imperfect. ff. 66-75b.

(2) Translations into English of fables of la Fontaine, in the hand of the Duchess, preceded (f. 76) by a note by Coxe, attributing the translations to Godolphin; — (a) Book 1, Fable 1, 'Of the Ant & of the Grashopper'; Fable 4, 'Of the two mules'. ff. 77-78; — (b) Book 2, Fable 5, 'Of a Batt, & two wesels'. f. 79; — (c) Book 3, Fable 1, 'Of a miller his son & an Asse'; Fable 13, 'The fable of the wolves & the sheepe'. ff. 80-82b; — (d) Book 4, Fable 20, 'Of a miser that left his treasure'. f. 83; — (e) Book 5, Fable 1, 'The fable of a woodward & the god mercury'. f. 84; — (f) Book 6, Fable 8, 'Of an old man & his Asse'. f. 85; — (g) Book 8, Fable 2, 'Of the cobler, & the Treasurer'; Fable 3, 'Of the lion . . .',

imperfect, wanting part of the title; Fable 12, 'Of a pig, a sheep & a goat'; Fable 22,'Of the Catt, the Rat, the wesel & the Owle'. ff. 86-93b; — (h) Book 11, Fable 2, 'A fable to the Duke of Mayenne'. ff. 94-95b.

(3) Verses in the hand of the Duchess, beg. 'ln a calme evening as the sun was sett', in rhyming couplets, endorsed by her, 'This is a translation'. ff. 96-99b.

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin: Verse and prose by and attrib. to: late 17th cent.: Mostly transl. Partly autogr.

includes:

• ff. 1-6b, 77-95b Jean de La Fontaine: Translations of his 'Fables', by and attrib. to Lord Godolphin: late 17th cent.
• ff.1-39b,77-99b Poetry ENGLISH: Verses by and attrib. to Lord Godolphin: late 17th cent.: Mostly transl. Partly autogr.
• ff. 7-16b Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, French poet: Translations and paraphrases of his verse by Lord Godolphin: late 17th cent.
• ff.7-8b John Dryden, poet and dramatist: Paraphrase of 'Satire ll' of N. Boileau-Despréaux addressed to: late 17th cent.
• ff. 9-11b Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland: Paraphrase of 'Satire V' of N. Boileau-Despreaux addressed to: late 17th cent.
• ff. 17-24b Antoinette de La Fon de Boisguérin des Houlières: Translation of her verse by Lord Godolphin: late 17th cent.
• ff. 25-25b Edmund Waller, poet: Verses by,: bef. [1687?].: Copy, late 17th cent.
• f. 38 Louis II. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé: Verses on his retirement to Chantilly: 17th cent.: Transl.
• f. 39 Hortense Mancini, wife of Armand Charles de la Porte, Duc Mazarin: Satirical verses rel. to: 17th cent.
• ff. 40-65 Charles Marguetel de Saint-Denis, Seigneur de Saint-Evremond: Translations of his letters, etc., by Lord Godolphin: late 17th cent.
• f. 51 Antoine de Gramont, 1st Duc de Gramont; Marshal of France: Letter to: 1665.: Transl.
• ff. 55-61b Hortense Mancini, wife of Armand Charles de la Porte, Duc Mazarin: Letters to: 1676.: Transl.
• f. 62 Henry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans; Master of the Household to Qu. Henrietta Maria: Letter to: 1677.: Transl.
• f. 64 Ninon de Lenclos: Letter to: 1680.: Transl.