Ruize-rijmen

13. The old masters of Holland.

De schrijver van ‘Van dag tot dag’ in het Hbl. citeert niet zonder ontroering, het vers van den dichter Henry van Dyke, den vroegeren Amerikaanschen gezant: ‘The heavenly Hills of Holland’, waarin deze regelen onze aandacht trokken:

‘The great Dutch painters loved them,

Their pictures show them clear -

Old Hobbema and Ruysdael,

Van Goyen and Vermeer...’

niet alleen om den inhoud, maar ook om het rijm. Het is jammer dat de dichter nog niet wat naar dit uitspraaksysteem doorzingt over Holland en zijn schilders. Charivarius zal nu maar zoo vrij zijn.

Though there we hear no thunder

Of cataracts and falls,

We catch the mighty voices

Of artists like Frans Hals.

There too, full many a lassie,

In quaint attire arrayed,

Reminds us of the pictures

By Bisschop and Ostade.

Yea, in their moor and meadows,

Where silvery snowdrops droop,

We recognise thy paintings,

Immortal Albert Cuyp!

Whene'er we stand, admiring

Piazza, park and porch,

Or golden gated gardens -

We think of thee, Ter Borch!

[p. 125]

 

How picturesquely filthy

 

In backslums may be seen

 

A sight, a living image:

 

A picture by Jan Steen!

 

 

 

Those colours, ever changing,

 

- Themes of a classic fugue! -

 

They have inspired the greatest,

 

From Arentz to De Hoogh.

 

 

 

And, pray, which is the greater -

 

I could not tell - could you?

 

The world-renowned Velasquez,

 

Or humble Gerard Dou?

 

 

 

Theirs is a blissful nation,

 

I reckon and I guess!

 

Which has produced such masters

 

As Bol and Nich'las Maes!

 

 

 

And lo! When lea and hillock

 

The sunbeam skins aslant......

 

Behold in speechless rapture

 

The country of Rembrandt!