Newly transcribed and labelled; double collated
Benjamin Beresford to August Wilhelm von Schlegel
[1] Berlin, 22nd May. 1799.
Sir.
You will find by the collection of ballads and songs, that I have been tempted from the flattering hint you gave in your able critique of my former publications, to translate the Fisher and Harper of Göthe. Leonora, I beg to observe, is newly set to music my friend. Mr Reichardt having done me the favor to compose the melodies from my M. S. translation. I had an unpleasant task in Wenn ich ein schönes Mädchen seh, and, I hope I have made it less unmeaning than it was in the original. Hebe sieh in sanfter Feier wanted amendment too. and Nicht blos für diese Unterwelt, I shortened because I could not well understand the latter part. I inserted it indeed, because the queen gave it me to translate, as a song, the words of which, she was highly delighted with.
I now beg you, Sir, to do me the favour to announce and review the publication in the All: Germ: Lit. Zeitung as soon as convenient. Should the contents be found [2] to merit your approbation, and were it possible soon to find a place in the journal; those circumstances would greatly contribute to further a plan I now have of cultivating German literature and giving my country men frequent translated specimens of the best German poets.
I am going in a few days to Eutin and shall return to Berlin through Jena, I shall then show you a translation of your admired Campaspe, and, I hope, some other pieces of your composition.
The silence of the Journal relative to the 2nd. edition of the German Erato, which I sent you with a letter some months ago I readily impute to the multiplicity of business. I hope however mention will soon be made of it. My above mentioned plan wou[ld] be never assisted by were it made known thru that channel, that the book has succeeded so far as to have gone thru a second Edition.
I remain, Sir, with great esteem
Your obliged and obedient hble servt
B Beresford
Sir.
You will find by the collection of ballads and songs, that I have been tempted from the flattering hint you gave in your able critique of my former publications, to translate the Fisher and Harper of Göthe. Leonora, I beg to observe, is newly set to music my friend. Mr Reichardt having done me the favor to compose the melodies from my M. S. translation. I had an unpleasant task in Wenn ich ein schönes Mädchen seh, and, I hope I have made it less unmeaning than it was in the original. Hebe sieh in sanfter Feier wanted amendment too. and Nicht blos für diese Unterwelt, I shortened because I could not well understand the latter part. I inserted it indeed, because the queen gave it me to translate, as a song, the words of which, she was highly delighted with.
I now beg you, Sir, to do me the favour to announce and review the publication in the All: Germ: Lit. Zeitung as soon as convenient. Should the contents be found [2] to merit your approbation, and were it possible soon to find a place in the journal; those circumstances would greatly contribute to further a plan I now have of cultivating German literature and giving my country men frequent translated specimens of the best German poets.
I am going in a few days to Eutin and shall return to Berlin through Jena, I shall then show you a translation of your admired Campaspe, and, I hope, some other pieces of your composition.
The silence of the Journal relative to the 2nd. edition of the German Erato, which I sent you with a letter some months ago I readily impute to the multiplicity of business. I hope however mention will soon be made of it. My above mentioned plan wou[ld] be never assisted by were it made known thru that channel, that the book has succeeded so far as to have gone thru a second Edition.
I remain, Sir, with great esteem
Your obliged and obedient hble servt
B Beresford