The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-26
Mr.. VAN NOPPEN'S TRANSACTIONS.
lStaff CORRESPONDENCE


(Staff correspondence
Mr. Leonard G. Van Noppcn, who has
recently distinguished himself by his re-
markable translation of the great Dutch
drama ''Vondel's Luctsnr,' VIII soon have
published another one OF the great Dutcn
bards master productions. This time
"VondePs Samson" viii be given to the
English world. 1t is q remarkable fact
that both the "Lucifer" and the Samson
preceded Milton's two great productions
the Paradise Lost" and the Samson
Agnistes" by Several years, and the evil
dences of similarity between these kin
dred productions of these contempor
aneous poets is so striking that no one
can question Millions great Indebtedness
to Vondel.
Vondels "Lucifer" is however drama;
Millions Paradise Lost IS an epic. The
similarity between these two is not so
much in plot and plan as it is in phrase
and imagery wherein the two are often
identical In the Samson s" however,
the similarity is more striking in that
Vonders Samson and Millions Samson
Agonistes" are constructed IN the same
plan and plot with a much greater SINH
larity of language and figures than APP
pear in the former.
The fact that Vondel's productions pre-
ceded those of Milton, the translator
thinks, leaves no question as to Millions
indebtedness to his Dutch contemporary.
Mr.. Van Noppen mas delivered three
courses of lectures at Columbia Univ"r-
sty, New York. as we'll as other notable
places in the country, and his forth COM
ing translation will no doubt add much
~
It should be matter of interest to
North Carolinians to learn that Mr.. Van
Noppen is really one of us, in that his
whole life since infancy has been spent
in this State He is graduate of Gull
ford College and the University of North
Carolina and afterwards went North and
abroad, to pursue extended courses of stu
dy. For the past few years he has made
New York City his home, it being bet
ter atmosphere for literary pursuits His
life is devoted to literary efforts and, al
though being at present more prominent
as a translator and lecturer, yet he ex-
poets his greatest achievements to be
in the line of original creations in both
prose and poetry.
In his notes and lectures, Mr. Van
Noppen demonstrates that the great mis-
sionary, Roger Williams, founder of the
Rhode Island colony, taught Milton the
Dutch language and acquainted him with
the literature of Holland. His efforts,
however, to establish the authenticity of
these Dutch productions and their priority
to Millions works, thereby inspiring the
grand conceptions of the English bard,
will not detract from the sublime picture
of the old blind poet sitting in darkness,
but seeing that greater light which
lead him into the beyond, out and up to
where the force of nature could no
further go" falling short of only divine
inspiration. But if the editor can sue
ceed in convincing the literary world that
Milton took his cue from Vondel this fact
will be related not only "as long as the
bikes of Holland divide the land from
the sea- but so long as truth loving
historians are willing to give honor to
whom honor is due"
The translation of his last book, SAM
son, has been made and will shortly APP
pear in print. 1t ought to be, and doubt
less will be- on the shelves of every libra
ry in the English speaking world. We
await with pleasure it's coming since 1t
will unfold to us more of the richness of
the literature of his native land, Hol-
land, and acquaint us with the produc-
tiors of that truly heroic people, concern
ing whose literature most of us must COM
pass ignorance--the more so since it
seems to have inspired some of our own
greatest productions.
Whatever of glory may come to the
translator and editor North Carolinians
will share with pride.
H. A. CHAPPELL.
Henderson, N. c., May %.