Leining to Fredersdorf: Letter 7, take 2

Date: 2024-10-06 04:58 pm (UTC)
mildred_of_midgard: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mildred_of_midgard
Monsieur et très cher Compère!

Ick dancke Ihnen für die gütige Communication des Bendaschen
Schriebens an den Glaso, und ersehe daraus die erstaunende
Vertraulichkeit, so zwischen dieser beyden Leuten gewesen ist.
Wenn Zeit und Gelegenheit es anjetzo verstatten wollten, würde
ich im Stande seyn, Ihnen von dieser Correspondentz eine ganze
Sammlung, die gantzartig und erbaülich ist, zukommen zu
lassen, die Zartlichkeit so darinn herrschet ist so beschaffen, dass
der zärtlichste Liebhaber, so an seiner Maitresse schreibet, dar-
nach sein Model nehmen könnte. Ich werde aber damit bey er-
stere Gelegenheit aufwarten. Inzwischen empfele mich dero
geneigten Andencken, und verharre mit der aufrichtigsten
Hochachtung
Monsieur et très cher Compère
vôtre très humble
et obeisant Serviteur
Leining

Ottendorf
den 21te April 1757


Finding: it does *not* say "Benda Jun."! It says "Bendaschen." I see how I got there, but that was the reading of a very inexperienced decipherer. (I'm telling you, ordering 2000 pages of Pfeiffer material and reading over half of them was an inspired move.)

So we technically don't know which Benda it was. Though I still think Josef is the most likely, based on the evidence that Nikolai knew him and lived a couple doors down from him, and that Josef was still alive and active in the 1790s when Nikolai's anecdotes were published (hence the need to protect his identity). However, Franz Benda lived until 1786 and died near Potsdam, so it's not impossible. The fact that he was 15 years older than Josef doesn't mean he wasn't hitting on ~21-yo Glasow when he was almost 50. And if he was, maybe Josef didn't want Franz's name dragged into the Glasow mud even posthumously.

Selena, would a hyphen make sense in "Bendaschen-Schreibens", or do you think it's "Bendaschen Schreibens?" Or something else? The little stroke at the end of "Bendaschen" could be a letter, hyphen, or just a flourish. I'm leaning towards hyphen, but that's where the Teuton-picking comes in. :)
Edited Date: 2024-10-06 05:48 pm (UTC)

Re: Leining to Fredersdorf: Letter 7, take 2

Date: 2024-10-08 01:53 pm (UTC)
selenak: (Music)
From: [personal profile] selenak
Monsieur et tres chere compere!

thank you for kindly sharing the letter by Benda to Glasow; the amazing intimacy between these two men is palpable. If I had the time and opportunity right now, I'd be capable sending you a whole collection collection of this correspondence, since it is is so unique and edifying; the tenderness dominating it could serve as a sterling example for the most tender lover writing to his mistress. But I will present it to you at the first opportune moment. In the meantime, I reccomend myself to your recollection and remain with the most sincere respect, Monsieur et tres cher compere, etc.


Modern German would spell it "Bendaschen Schreibens", we don't do hyphens in this context, BUT this was a century before Mr. Duden put up his rules for the German language, so who knows. I'm voting for "florish" anyway and still think, like you, Josef B. is the most likely candidate for the Benda who has the hots for Glasow. Here's Franz in the icon anyway.

Re: Leining to Fredersdorf: Letter 7, take 2

Date: 2024-10-10 12:12 am (UTC)
mildred_of_midgard: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mildred_of_midgard
Having reread several more letters since posting that question, he consistently doesn't hyphenate there, so I'm going with "flourish" as well. Thank you for clarifying!

Here's Franz in the icon anyway.

Hi, Franz! Great Menzel painting.

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