2017-08-17

【On the Portrait of His Imperial Majesty. Ferdinand the Third.】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

When Joachim Sandrart van Stokou, out of Vienna, in Austria, honored me with his Majesty's portrait, adorned with festoons and other ornaments.

【Deus nobis haec otia fecit.】

       The Sun of Austria uplifts his glorious rays

       From shadow-glooms of art to bless each wondering eye.

       Behold him on his throne, high tower

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer • ACT III】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

        Now the angels are divided: the rebellious demand “justice”; the loyalists speak up for continued obedience to God’s will, as whatever He ordains is right.

        Michael, aroused by the “tumult and dispute” of the contending angels, comes to find out what is going on.  He listens to what the rebels have to say but orders

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer•ACT IV】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

        Gabriel and Michael discuss the outbreak of the war. God has weighed mercy against righteousness and has decided in favor of self-defense.  So they arm themselves for battle.  Meanwhile, Lucifer and his supporters have taken the offensive and are confident of victory.  He promises to exchange the “hated tyranny of heaven” for a “state of freedom” (impl

2017-08-17

【The Argument】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

        Lucifer, the Archangel, chief and most illustrious of all the Angels, proud and ambitious, out of blind self-love envied God and His boundless greatness; he also became jealous of man, made in God's image, to whom, in his delightful Paradise, was entrusted the sovereignty of the earth.

        He envied God and man the more when Gabriel, God's H

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

• Doth fate decree that I must fall. Of rank and honors shorn, Then let me fall; but fall with this my crown, Upon my brow, this scepter in my grasp.

• With my own retinue of faithful troops, And with these many thousands on my side, thus to fall brings honor and shall shed.

• Nor hardship dire, Nor yet disaster nor anathemas.

• Shall I intimidate, or tame.

• Here is my Fatherland.

• Let all yield, Who will, not one foot shall I ever retreat.

——

2017-08-17

【Aiden in English】

        I'm an American-Chinese, so instinctively have grown a tolerance for disgusting cheeses. I love its greasy, unhealthy texture as you swallow, feeling life ebb away with every bite. I swear, Americans are actually the dumbest creatures on earth. They ask themselves: why are we getting fat? Maybe they shouldn't ask that question around a Mcdonald's table munching on three Big Macs. But certainly, cheese is a

2017-08-16

【Totally White Room】

Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923—2014)

        Let’s make the room white one more time

        one more time the totally white room, you, me

        It won’t save time, but one more time

        make the room white, now, never again later

2017-08-16

【A Happy Childhood】

Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923—2014)

     Vergeet je wel eens je vaders klok op te winden?

     Ja, ik vergeet wel eens mijn vaders tijd te vergeten

    Draag je wel eens een ooglap een strohoed een vadermoorder?

     Nee, ik draag een gedicht op, een zomer van bladgoud

     Schrijf je wel eens de laatste lippen om te verwoorden?

     Ja, ik ontcijfer een kus van bemodderde rozen

2017-08-16

【Song of the Western Countries】

Jan Arends (1925—1974)

                I 

                write poems

                like thin trees.

2017-08-16

【Aiden in English】

        Today marks our last day of the Viking pre-cruise. So far, the entire adventure has been focused on the Netherlands, more specifically, the area around Amsterdam. While there is a lot to explore, Amsterdam sets up something much greater, and I think it is time to move on. But not before seeing the most popular Dutch Golden Age art piece at Rijksmuseum: The Night Watch.

        I&#

2017-08-15

【I】

Jan Arends (1925—1974)

                    I'm fifty

                    years old

                    and I’m not

           &nbs

2017-08-15

【Aiden in English】

        No, we're not in New York City. Haarlem, with two a's, is still in the Netherlands. However, like Brooklyn and the Coney Islands, they are actual places in the Netherlands. History shows the Dutch explorers traveling to North America and discovering the Hudson River, including many areas around it. Luckily, a colonial rebel known as the American Revolution (1765-1783) came through, and we don't have a New A

2017-08-14

【Aiden in English】

        Once again, Day One of another crazy adventure through one river. One moment ago, I was still standing in line waiting to board one tiny AA plane to fly across one not-so-tiny ocean from one place to another. Granted, one would not really care as much as we do about one continent if the continent wasn't Europe. The Rhine River is one of the biggest rivers in the world. Its importance lies not within the waters but