Hollands Arcadia, of de vermaarde rivier den Amstel; : vertónende alle deszelfs lustplaatz...

Petersburg

We mourned this blow, but Amsterdam most of all,
Which seemed dead and soulless without its Burgerheer citizen-master/patriarch.
Now we see TROMPENBURG breathing joyfully again,
Illuminated by the light of Phoebus’ morning rays,
When Lord PETERSEN enjoys the country pleasures,
And sees his own fruit and flowers on his grounds,
To delight both the eye and the taste at once.
One sees the Mansion carry four steep spires,
Which gives a lovely view along the squares,
Where the eye drifts so wide and far along earth and water,
To behold all the country delights in the free air.
The magnificent Pleasure-house, which Minerva herself had built,
To be a pride and ornament to this estate,
Rises from the water in a perfect state:
The proud ring-wall seems to wear a double roof,
Bordered on both sides with green shorn Hedges,
Along which the water plays, while on the other side
It turns its white waves toward the clover-rich land.
Now along the shade of two rows of high trees,
My planned path is taken further again,
Farewell O TROMPENBURG! farewell O jewel of the land,
May Lord PETERSEN retain his rest and summer-bower.
The winding Amstel stream can now caress my senses,
Where I see so many yachts playing around the Omval,
The sails are at the top, the pennant waves in front,
Mirroring itself in the stream, while the merry song-sound
Of the sailors whistles back and forth on the green borders,
And bounces an Echo through the rippling of the trees.
Now toward the RINGSLOOT Ring-ditch/canal, which surrounds the dainty Diemer-
meer,
And unites itself with the Amstel again,
I see the Omval on the corner now appearing from nearby,
And along the RINGSLOOT the trees vanish from sight,
The Timber-yard where one builds the small vessel,
The Timber-sheds, erected from mere wood,
Are here ornaments, which give life and necessary
Food to the labor-loving for their fiery day-work.
Now the eye turned once more to our Amstel-city,
That Empress, so proudly adorned with the Emperor’s crown,
Seems, as I go further, to be more endearing.

t' Is Waslust! It is Waslust [a garden name meaning "Desire for Water"]!

O Glory of Holland! so perfectly risen to the top,
I bid you farewell for the last time! with this greeting,
Until I again happily encounter your spacious wharf.
What beautiful sight comes to appear on the other side?
It is WASLUST! worthy to be crowned by my Poetry-nymph
With Phoebus’ laurels, for its pleasant state:
The green ribbon closes the low water’s edge,
Where the Amstel has freedom to flow through the garden,
And with its silver water to sprinkle the roots
Of plant, tree, and herb, through which the fertility
Here shines upon its throne in full majesty.
The Mansion, so spacious, so broadly built in front,
With its cornice and roofing, can captivate the most fastidious eye,
Which is blinded by the shimmering light,
That plays upon the glass. O WASLUST! beautiful sight,

Coman

Lord COMAN can rest his breath here in peace,
You may boast of him, and he of your beauty,
Bloom long then together in quiet peace and rest,
As long as the Amstel stream greets you at its coast,
What series of Gardens and elevated country-buildings
Are to be seen at the RINGSLOOT for the attentive eye?
It is as if a whole neighborhood appears together,
Where Concord and Peace dwell together,

Who enjoy themselves in the country by the quiet rest.
Who would not long for the enjoyment of such happiness,
To mirror oneself in the water by the shady green,
Which splashes with its waves along these smooth banks,
Where the Fish darts, and plays with its swift fins?
My Song-heroine where will you end or begin
In all the beauty, which spreads itself here before you?
You are silent, and in silence you have said the most.
The Mantuan referring to Virgil, so famous for pastoral poems,
Would hang his Poet’s-lyre on the green trees here,
And remain silent in amazement, how much more then you,
Who have no Mecenas patron of the arts, but float on the Y the IJ river
On your own wings, which can hardly carry you:
Yet let biting envy gnaw at your songs,
We stand comforted by it, and go further on,
Following our path and planned destination.
I see SOLITUDE where our Amstel comes streaming along;

Solitude

I see its hedges, and its green and fresh trees,
The magnificent pleasure-house that in state and elegance
Does not fear any royal court, but spreads its luster
With full brilliance, and mirrors itself in the waves,
Where so many little boats go sailing for pleasure.
O SOLITUDE! glory of Amstel’s silver stream,
What eye is not satisfied that sees your beauty?
Your proud facade-splendor can please everyone,
Your Gallery, laid down around your foreground,
Adds even more ornament to your beauty,
The square Pleasure-house, that so magnificently to the side
Appears, can often give Lord RYNDERS happiness,
When he may live in solitude at SOLITUDE.
Farewell, O jewel of the land! my Singer goes further.
Now with a little boat again from one to the other shore
Cutting through the Amstel stream, to sail along its silver waves
By the DUIVENDRECHTSE BRIDGE and RINGSLOOT.
Here by this INN take a little rest,
A little refreshes his soul with new desire for walking,
To behold everything again with more joy and attention.

Herberg Inn

I shall keep myself in the shadow of this green arbor,
And refresh with a drink the dry and thirsty heart,
The blood of the grape wine drives away sadness, care, and pain,
And acts as a medicine, when drunk at the right time,
It can ignite the dull spirit with new desire.
But who screams so amazed there: Bridge up! keep the bridge up!
It is as if he would shatter the bridge with his voice,
Or as if one had to break it off immediately behind him,
So that no enemy, whom he has hardly escaped,
Would follow him, as he flies forward in flight;
But I see the reason already, it is the Muider-barge a traditional passenger boat from Muiden
For which one is accustomed to raise this bridge,
To not limit the journey through any obstacle,
How am I here so close to the airy WEL-MEER? yes!
My attention rushes so that I go thither immediately,
To behold KLUMPER’S country-pleasure and garden-ornament.

Wel-meer

Well airy Wel-meer you defy many Mansions
With your perfect structure, as spacious in state, as large,
Though the inner ornament is not unveiled to the eye,
I dare to hang my seal on the exterior in peace,
That you would receive no small crown of beauty,
If the advantage were placed on neutrality,
While the rustling trees report your glory everywhere,
And

And makes an echo on the lapping waves.
It becomes time my Song-heroine to sail back again,
Strike the oars then through the lapping crystal,
Until we are safely on the other side again.
It goes well! I see a beautiful sight approaching us from afar,

t' Is Wel-na It is Wel-na [a garden name meaning "Well-nigh"]

It is WEL-NA, which could make itself famous for long,
When Prince William, through the arisen State-dispute,
In which he wanted to bend the military authority to his will,
Thought to surprise Amsterdam by force of Cavalry,
And to cast down the free Council-decree to the ground,
But heaven’s providence broke that fierce arrogance,
So that freedom would remain gleaming uncrushed with Spear and Hat,
And flourish in peace and prosperity,
No Princely authority had to grow above her,
Wherefore the dark night caused the Cavalry to wander
From the path on their journey, this prevented that attack,
Provided the Amstel-city was informed in time of those snares:
Hence William’s War-power dared not risk the advance.
Whereupon in the end by an amicable decision
The discord was settled, and all strife stopped,
So that Peace would continue to live by the lion of the States,
Of which our WEL-NA shall always give testimony.
Endearing country-pleasure! what lovely desire
Do you give to him, who rests in your green shade,
Or in your Mansion, on hot summer days,
Beholds the fragrant flower-carpet with satisfaction.
The magnificent Mansion, so broad, so spaciously built,
Transports a delight to the playing eye,
To amuse oneself on all sides in the easiest way,
One only needs to approach the entrance of this garden,
Built up from two columns of bluestone,
To be immediately enraptured by the perfect sight.
I am silent about the green ribbon, so flat, so neatly shorn,

Vlieger

I am silent about the trees, which let their joy be heard,
When Aura breeze plays through the green of their branches,
Which caresses Lord DE VLIEGER in the country-life,
When he comes to WEL-NA to behold the country-pleasure.
Bloom lovely estate! long must you maintain this state,
To the joy of your Lord, to the glory of the Amstel-stream!

Het Molentje The Little Mill

There is the LITTLE MILL on the east side of the border,
An Inn as famous, as beautifully situated,
A series of yachts often meet each other here,
When the season of the year ignites the sailors’ desire,
Here it is that everyone speaks at the height of the fast sailing:
Here the wager is placed to be first in the city,
Then a whole fleet seems to hover on the streams,
The keel barely touches the water, so everyone strives for the contest.
What a bustle there is here when the winter time
Covers the flowing water with a sheet of ice,
And makes the lapping crystal stretch over all the land,
Along which the skater flies, spurred on the most zealously,
The sharp hoof-beat is hardly heard behind you,
Or he has already ridden out of sight in front of you.
There stands a peddler who refreshes the riders, weary of limb,
With cookies and brandy, but for their money,
Because for his profit he has set up the tent,
Then the skate gets strength again, the people seem like birds.
Why do you boast, Gods, about Mercury’s wings,

The wings that this crowd binds to their feet,
Go faster than his flight, yes faster than the wind,
Which keeps thousands enraptured in wonder,
Who observe that fast flight from the flat land.
But VOORBREEKT beckons me, I return to the bullseye of my song,
While I long for nothing but the country-pleasure:
Here Vulcan has shown his art in the forging of the iron
Of the magnificent front-gate, which needs me to step in,
Where the round flowerbed with the choice of flowers boasts.
Has Melithe ever achieved the glory of it there,
It must now yield to this ornament with all its beauty;
Another Hyble, with its choice sights,
Appears in this circle, whose middle a pedestal
And beautiful Vase decorates, the ground is everywhere
Closed off from the front with green Hedges:
A proud Flight of Birds helps to increase the ornament here,
Where the poultry flies to VERMANDES’ joy,

Voor-breekt

When he lives by the green of the lovely VOORBREEKT.
But how do I forget here the pick of the country-buildings?
What is this my song-heroine! will you busy yourself
With low plants, and pass by the finest ornament?
This does not suit your zeal, nor my Poetry.
How this beautiful structure boasts with its elevated stairs,
To step from the shady green into the garden-hall
To rest there, or climbed to up high,
Along so many windows with the attentive eye
To widen where one wants, along land and garden-ornaments,
No person can be satiated in the beauty of this place,
For everything is perfect in elegance and state,
What was ever brought along for the pleasure of the land,
I remained here already so fast enraptured and elevated,
As if Medusa’s head hovered before my eyes,
Were it not that another place forced me to go on,
Farewell then VOORBREEKT! your fame has never done,

Vermandes

But with VERMANDES’ name you must live immortally.
What wide view is given here to my song?
What broad front-yard, do I see through the magnificent garden-gate?
Two rows of trees, placed together by art,
Shade this place from Phoebus’ sun-rays.
But how! what doubting makes me wander in my progress?
A secret fear forces me to go back.
O Muses! alas! where does that care come from?
Nymph Klio lets herself be heard on this question thus:
The great Astraea goddess of justice has chosen her estate here,
Through the care of vander GHIESSEN, who watches over her tribunal,
And makes the Y and Amstel-stream gratefully together,
When he sits as Alderman Schepen: a municipal judge or magistrate on the three-ringed cushion,
And knows how to blunt the fire of arrogance through the sword of vengeance.

Kliphoef

Have thanks my Klio! I shall this place, where the dignity
Of Lady Astraea lives, her Majesty
Respectfully approach, and attempt nothing foul,
But see only that where the eye can find passage.
How the Mansion stretches itself along the front-yard,
It gives a beautiful sight and pleasure at once,
To entertain vander GHIESSEN in a free air,
When it pleases him to limit his care and labor,