Kristina's letter to Ottavio Ferrario, dated November 21/December 1 (New Style), 1653

Sources:

Octavii Ferrarii patricii mediolanensis, equitis, & in lyceo patavino quondam professoris celeberrimi Opera varia, page 95, published by Gottfried Freitag's Press, 1711

https://books.google.com/books?id=tqFXAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=opera+ferrarii+non+ingratam&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Mémoires concernant Christine, volume 1, pages 300 to 301, Johan Arckenholtz, 1751

https://books.google.com/books?id=KgtcAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA298&lpg=PA298&dq=reine+christine+de+suède+ferrario+savant+d%27italie+1653+lettre&source=bl&ots=1pyBUNvTBx&sig=ACfU3U21KuAocNdTtjLUQa8oLXtQkonRyQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwie0ouc2rrqAhUSO30KHahvCCYQ6AEwAHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=reine%20christine%20de%20suède%20ferrario%20savant%20d'italie%201653%20lettre&f=false

The letter:

Panegyricam tuam orationem, qua bonæ principis exemplum atque imaginem publico dedisti sub umbra mei nominis, munusculo iam pridem testata sum, non ingratam mihi fuisse. Nihil profecto causæ erat, cur eo nomine gratias iterata scriptione ageres, Ferrari politissime: quanquam compellationes istiusmodi, & tuas, & a tuis similibus profectas, habeo atque habebo semper acceptissimas. Quæ enim res maiori voluptate possit me perfundere, quam si curas, quas promovendis ac ornandis literis quotidianas dare soleo, agnoscam non improbari ab illis, a quibus auctoritatem & existimationem omnem mutuantur literæ? Quapropter nunc votis te flagrantissimis convenio, ut hunc affectum tam profusum mihi perpetuum conserves, & si quid librorum, aut tu, qua es ingenii fœcunditate, aut alii illic terrarum viri eruditione præstantes, de novo in lucem dederint, eius conspectu ac lectione ne fraudari me sinas. Ego mutuis vicissim officiis certabo, ubi occasio dabitur: nec unquam committam, ut videri possis frustra mihi bene voluisse. Vale. Vpsaliæ Kal. Decemb. Gregor. MDCLIII.

CHRISTINA.

With modernised spelling:

Panegyricam tuam orationem, qua bonæ principis exemplum atque imaginem publico dedisti sub umbra mei nominis, munusculo jam pridem testata sum, non ingratam mihi fuisse. Nihil profecto causæ erat, cur eo nomine gratias iterata scriptione ageres, Ferrari politissime; quanquam compellationes istiusmodi, et tuas, et a tuis similibus profectas, habeo atque habebo semper acceptissimas. Quæ enim res majori voluptate possit me perfundere, quam si curas, quas promovendis ac ornandis litteris quotidianas dare soleo, agnoscam non improbari ab illis, a quibus auctoritatem et existimationem omnem mutuantur litteræ? Quapropter nunc votis te flagrantissimis convenio, ut hunc affectum tam profusum mihi perpetuum conserves; et si quid librorum, aut tu, qua es ingenii fœcunditate, aut alii illic terrarum viri eruditione præstantes, de novo in lucem dederint, ejus conspectu ac lectione ne fraudari me sinas. Ego mutuis vicissim officiis certabo, ubi occasio dabitur; nec unquam committam, ut videri possis frustra mihi bene voluisse. Vale. Upsaliæ, kalendæ decembris Gregoriani 1653.

Christina.

Arckenholtz's transcript of the letter (he corrected Kristina's grammar):

Octavio Ferrario S.

Panegiricam tuam orationem, qua bonæ Principis exemplum atque imaginem publico dedisti sub umbra mei nominis, munusculo jam pridem testata sum, non ingratam mihi fuisse. Nihil profecto causæ erat, cur eo nomine gratias iterata scriptione ageres, Ferrari politissime: quamquam compellationes ejusmodi, & tuas & à Tuis similibus profectas habeo atque habebo acceptissimas. Quæ enim res majori voluptate possit me perfundere, quas si curas, quas promovendis & ornandis literis quotidianas dare soleo, agnoscam non improbari ab illis à quibus auctoritatem & existimationem omnem mutuantur literæ? Qua propter nunc votis te flagrantissimis convenio, ut hunc affectum tam profusum mihi perpetuo conserves, & si quid librorum, aut tu, qua es ingenii fœcunditate, aut alii illic terrarum viri eruditione præstantes, de novo in lucem dederint, ejus conspectu ac lectione ne fraudari me sinas. Ego mutuis vicissim officiis certabo, ut occasio dabitur, nec unquam committam, ut videri possis frustra mihi bene voluisse. Vale. Upsaliæ Kal: Decemb. Gregor. MDCLIII.
CHRISTINA.

French translation (by Arckenholtz):

à Mr. Ferrario.

J'ai témoigné, il y a déja long-tems, par le petit présent que je vous ai fait, que le panégirique dans lequel vous avez donné au Public, à l'ombre de mon nom, l'image & l'éxemple d'une bonne Princesse, ne m'a nullement déplu. Il n'y avoit, Monsieur, aucune raison qui vous obligeât à réitérer par écrit vos remerciemens comme vous l'avez fait par votre derniére lettre. J'avoue pourtant, que de tels complimens d'un auteur aussi poli que vous & de vos semblables, me sont & serons toûjours fort agréables. Car qu'est-ce qui pourroit me donner plus de plaisir que de reconnoître, que les soins que je donne tous les jours à l'avancement & à l'honneur des belles lettres, ne sont pas désaprouvés de ceux de qui elles empruntent le crédit & le considération, dont elles jouissent? C'est pourquoi je vous prie très-instamment de me conserver pour toûjours cette vive affection: & si vous, dont le génie est si sécond, ou d'autres savans dans vos contrées mettez au jour de nouveaux ouvrages, ne me privez pas de la satisfaction de les voir & de les lire. Je ne demeurerai pas en arriére avec vous en fait de bons offices, quand l'occasion s'en présentera: & il ne tiendra pas à moi que votre bienveillance ne vous soit utile. Dieu vous conserve. Donné à Upsal le 1. Déc. 1653.
CHRISTINE.

English translation (my own):

To Signor Ferrario.

I testified, a long time ago, by the little present that I made to you, that the panegyric in which you gave to the public, in the shadow of my name, the image and the example of a good princess, did not displease me at all. There was no reason, Sir, forcing you to reiterate your thanks in writing as you did in your last letter. I admit, however, that such compliments from an author as polite as you and your fellows are and will always be very pleasant to me. Because what could give me more pleasure than to recognise that the care I give every day to the advancement and honour of les belles lettres are not disapproved of those from whom they borrow credit and consideration, which they enjoy? That is why I urge you very urgently to keep this affection for me forever; and if you, whose genius is so second to none, or if other scholars in your countries bring to light new works, do not deprive me of the satisfaction of seeing and reading them. I will not stay behind with you in fact of good offices, when the opportunity arises; and it will not be up to me that your kindness is of no use to you. God keep you. Given at Uppsala on December 1, 1653.
Kristina.

Above: Kristina.