Sidney and Languet

Abstract

nOSTERITY HAS tended minimize Sir Philip Sidney's political r aspirations. Perhaps under influence of what is sometimes called Sidney Myth, it has preferred virtuous Astrophel the great counsellor of state' A new edition of his correspondence will undoubtedly indicate where his biography should be supplemented and stress relevance of surviving Languet letters. Meanwhile, some preliminary conclusions can be drawn from a seventeenth-century collection of Languet papers in Bibliotheque Nationale. It includes eight unpublished letters, five of which relate Philip Sidney's Grand Tour (1572-1575), three that of his brother Robert (I578-I587).1 It is surely remarkable that after his escape from Paris in 1572 Sidney should associate with few people whom he had not been introduced by Hubert Languet. His best friend and traveling-companion in Italy, Philip Louis, count of Hanau and Miinzenberg, was no exception. Two of Languet's letters German count, written from Vienna on January 15 and February 9, 7574, and very similar in tone his Sidney letters, emphasize this.2 Not surprisingly, Languet is extremely pleased have foreseen young men's friendship. He points out how alike his two Philips are in age, intellect, and inclination, and for three whole pages he encourages them work and travel together and build up a lasting relationship. The January letter also includes his wish that together they may travel from Vienna to Sarmata [i.e., Poland] there salute Vistulan nymphs and see whether lily of France3 takes root in Polish soil-for it is a thing of which men will speak for some time come. For nearly two years Languet's English protege was constant companion of this Protestant nobleman who, like himself, had been in Paris at time of Massacre. An orphan since IS6i but too young succeed his father, he resided with Sidney in Padua while an