'.-../ ■/ rANDABD W0BK8 PUBLI8EED BY New Edition [1880], with a Supplement of upwards of 4600 ' and HeanlngB. '^ WEBSTER'S DIGTIdNAI '.'';V> (S)mu\\ ^mmxii JibtMg loethe Collection THE GIFT OF Jl^mes Morgan Hart A - "] ij's's^ i2-J {'°K ": Tlep«raftenrfliBT»bonrs of Dr. Weuatw ■fBte moatTalnable, In correcting the tsfLl^ and redondant dellnitl«n5 of Dr. Johnson, wUch had piOTionalybeen abnoat nniTA- Bally adopted. In tiie present ediiisn all the definiti(ms have been carefally and methodically analysed by W. G(. Webster, iSsq., the Rev, Channcey Goodrich, Prof. Lyman, Prof. Whitney, and Prof. QUman, with the assistance and under the snper- Intendence of Prot Ooodrioh. 3. Scientific and Teclinioal Temui. — In order t* seenre the ntaneet completesess and ^ocnracy of definitlim, this department has been snbdivided among ewineat Scholars and lEb^its, hiolodlng ProtDana, Frof. Lyman, &c. i. Xtjrmelsgy. — The eminent philo- logist. Dr. e, F. Wiss, has devoted five years to perfecting this department. pronnncia&ion dl eucu -froru is zi ITpograplxical signs, which ari 1^ r&erence to a KETin-Med « tf auk page. 7. The ninstratiTe Citati labeur has been spared to en qvetatieas Aom st^^iidard anl^ Ibrow light oil the defluitlai sees any special Interest of , language. 8. The Synonyms. — ^Thei leined to the words to which 1 and are very complete. 9. The ninstiatiou, which e: are hiserted, not fvc the sake ( bat to elniada^ ilea meaidi which cannot b» satisSaatoril without pictorial aid, j The ydume contsdns 1628 pages, more thaa 3000 IllnstiatioBs, for One Otiinea. It wUl be found, on eomparisOB, to be coe ef t Volnraes ever issued. Cloth, 21s. ; half-bound in caK, 30s. ; cai^r 31«. 6cf. i russia, £2. To ie obtainea through all BoOhselkra. Cornell University Library PT 2027.L4B43 Early and m See also the recently published catalogue of Goethe's Letters, ed. by F. Strehlke (Hempel, Berlin), in which it is stated that more than 9000 of ills letters are known to exist. VI PREFACE. the course of his long life he wrote, hesides the ordinary business memoranda which were not likely to be pre- served, something like 10,000 letters. Some of the most interesting of these letters were pub- lished by himself, and now form part of his collected works ; e.g. the " Letters, from Switzerland " were addressed to the Fran von Stein, and the " Italian Tour" is composed mainly of letters addressed to her and to Herder. His correspon- dence with Schiller was edited by himself and published in ({.1828-9 ; but most of the other series of letters have been, issued at intervals between his death and the present time. f^ When the present volume was^pjgjected, many of the earlier letters were practicallyuncoUected, if not unprinteil. Otto Jahn had carefully edited the interesting series ad- dressed to Leipsio friends, and the correspondence relating to his residence in Wetzlar had also been collected by Hen- Kestner, the son of the lady immortalized in 'Werther.' ScESQ. too had issued in his ' Briefe und Aufsatze ' some of the earliest of Goethe's juvenile effusions, but with the exception of the Leipsic letters translated by Mr. Slater hone of these have hitherto been put before English readers. It was therefore proposed to reissue Mr. Slater's translation in combination with an English version of the other two series, and so give in as complete a form as possible a chronological illustration of Goethe's youth from his own early letters. This project however had scarcely been undertaken, when it appeared that the same idea had already occurred to a German editor; for in 1875 Herr Solomon Hirzel, the well-known publisher and collector of Goethe-literature, issued in three volumes, under the title of 'Der junge Goethe,' a most carefully edited text, not only of his youth- ful letters arranged in chronological order, but also of the MS. versions of his earliest writings. The scope of the English edition was therefore enlarged, so as to include all the letters given by Hirzel : which extend to the year 1776 ; and the later publication of the correspondence with Johanna Fahlmer, and of the letters to Mdme. de ^la Roch e included luFritz Schlosser's ' Nachlass ' edited by Trese, which were previously only partly known, has made the present collection even more complete than Herr Hirzel's. PREFACE. VU It includes in fact, with a few trifling exceptions, every known letter of Goethe's written during the first twenty-six years of his life. The exceptions are two incomplete drafts published by SchoU, of which the destination is unknown ; various notes of a few lines, each containing matter of no importance or interest, several being in part mere memo- randa concerning the printing of Lavater's* Physiognomy,' and lastly sundry passages in the letters addressed to Auguste Stolberg, which in opposition to the received opinion amongst fanatical admirers of Goethe, the editor ventures to regard as being to a great extent worthless for any real biographic purpose. No doubt a similar objection might be made on the score of triviality to other letters which are not excluded, but the editor must confess that he has indulged a pre- judice in favour of completeness, and that in any case he would be unwilling to exclude the smallest note that illustrates the writer's character or circumstances'. More- over, when an arbitrary right of tacit excision is claimed, complete confidence cannot be placed in what is left, and a specific apology in each case for omission is apt to be worse than the crime of commission. It is no disparage- ment to a great man that he writes to his intimate friends on trivial matters ; and if Goethe as a young man makes a request to Fraulein Fahlmer for articles of the toilet, it is no more derogatory than to inform Schiller, many years later, that he is sending him a cod-fish, turnips, or other eatables. The publications of such details may be shocking to the critical scholar, but to the more artistic student they are welcome as giving reality to the picture which, with or without reason, every one likes to make of a great man's life and surroundings ; and this is a fact which Goethe himself in his writings is the last to ignore. But to the letters addressed to Auguste Stolberg such considerations do not apply. The supposition that Goethe was violently in love with a girl that he had never seen is quite out of accord with his practical sense, and the healthy realism of his character and emotions ; and when an ardent, impulsive young lady, of twenty-one, writes effusively to him, we must not assign any serious meaning- to answers which in the heyday of Wertherism, and in the VIU ' PKEFACE. first flush of renown, and of a sudden and unbounded popularity, he thought it proper to indite. Many passages seem as artificial in feeling as they are absurd in ex- pression. They were manifestly meant to be seen by no one besides his sentimental correspondent, and it is due as much to common sense as to loyal feeling to curtail these illustrations of a phase of mind which is amply exhibited in what is left. It may seem unnecessary to say even thus much on a matter which is of little importance one way or the other, for after all the letters have no harm in them, but when we find German editors enthusiastic over what English editors call rubbish, it is due to the reader to attempt some explanation of a middle course which, whilst it will please neither extreme will probably satisfy the intelligence of English readers who wish to 'know what Goethe was really like. Herr Hirzel's work deserves commendation for the scrupulous fidelity with which he has endeavoured to reproduce the various documents printed by him; To furnish explanatory notes was altogether beyond the scope of his design, but their absence is not compensated for by the lengthy introduction written for him by Dr. Bemays. An attempt "has been made to supply the deficiency to some extent in this translation, but obviously there are many allusions which cannot be explained, and on the other hand considerations of space have precluded a good deal of annotation which might have been interesting. Had it been known that Dr. Diintzer was about to publish a new chronological record of Goethe's life, based on precisely such evidence as the documents afford, with all the elucidation which previous labours and a long and indefatigable study of the subject enable him to supply ; and that the wQrk was so soon to appear, as it already has done, in an English form,* there would have been less occasion either for annotation or even for the letters themselves. But as the greater part of the collection was already in type, the original design has been carried out with some additional advantage in the form of notes derived from Dr. Duntzer's work. * Trans, by Thomas W. Lyster, absist. Librarian Nat. Library of Ireland. 2 vols.. 1883 (MacmiUan). PEEPACE. IX Two of the short series of letters at the end of the volume are given because they hoth illustrate isolated and widely different phases of his character, which, interesting as they are, are somewhat lost in the abundance of material with which his biographers have to deal. The letters to his mother are with one excep- tion found in KeU's volume ' Frau Eath,' in which she forms the central figure, but thoughlhey are so few they do not fail to indicate the equal terms of intellectual regard as well as affection on which he stood towards the parent from whom his more brilliant qualities were derived. Those to his unknown correspondent, " Kraft," are given in S^pU's 'Briefe u. Aufsatze,' and readers who appreciate the nigh significance which Mr. Lewes has assigned to this episode in Goethe's life will be glad to see the evidence of qualities to which other biographers have remained singularly indifferent. The two letters to Eiese are given, because one at least forms an interesting supplement to the three early letters which have so much value for the biographer, and because they are at present only to be found in a privately printed pamphlet which is not very accessible to general readers even in Germany. The short biography prefixed to the volume is little more than an abstract of the autobiographic ' Dichtung u. Wahrheit' designed to supply a thread on which the following letters may be strung ; though it will be evident that the writer has also been greatly indebted to Mr-. Lewes's 'Life,' which, in spite of the work of later in- vestigators, still remains the best critical biography of Goethe either in Germany or England. The editor has to thank Mr. Slater for his translation of the Leipsic letters, which, however, has been revised throughout with a view to more literal exactness, and Mrs. E. Fielding and Mr. A. H. Gunlogsen for assistance in other portions of the translation. The following are the principal works from which the material of the volume has been derived.* -^9- * Since this was commenced a very similar volume has been pub- lished in Germany : ' Jugendbriefe Goethes ; ausgewahlt und eilSutert von Dr. Wilhelm Fielitz.' Beilin, 1880. J. Frese . L. Urliohs B. EeiL , S. HlRZEL . DUNTZEB . , ' . G. H. Lewes Goethe's Autobiography Goethe Briefe aus Fritz SchloBser's Nachlaas, 1877. Biiefe von Goethe an Johanna Fahl- mer, 1875. Frau Rath: Briefw. von Katb. Eliz, Goethe, 1871. Der juuge Goethe. Seine Briefe und Dichtungen vou 1764-1776. Mit einer Einleitung von Michael Bet- nays, 1875. Goethes Leben. Life of Goethe, 2ud ed., 1864. A us meinem Leben. Dichtung und Wahrheit. These books are for the most part cited in the notes by the editors' names. TABLE OF CONTENTS. BlOGBAPHY OF J. W. GOETHB . •i • • • PAUE . six Early Lbttebs. 1. To L. Ysenburg von Buri . . . 23 May 1764. 1 2. „ 2 June „ 3 3. „ J. J. Biese . . 20 Oct. 1765. 4 4 . 30 ,5 „ 6 5. „ „ . . . 28 April 1766. 9 6. „ AugTistin Trapp . 2 June „ 11 '• J) J) J) . 1 Oct. „ 13 8. „ W. C. L. Moors . . 1 ., 14 1 9. „ A. P. Oeser. . 13 Sept. 1768. 15 10. ,; Rathchin SchoQkopf • »> SJ 16 = 11. „ C, G. Schodkopf . . 1 Oct. „ 17 12. „ Kathchen Schonkopf 1 Nov. „ 19 13. „ Friederike Oeser . 6 „ 21 14. „ A. P. Oeser . q 26 15. „ „ . . . 24 ., . 28 16. „ K. Soboakopf 30 Dee. „ 30 17- „ 31 Jan. 1769. 32 18. „ Priederike Oeser . 18 Feb. „ 34 19. „ A. P. Oeser. 1* .. 43 20. „ Friederike Oeser . . 8 April „ 45 21. „ K. Schonkopf . 1 June „ 47 22. „ 26 Aug. „ 51 23. „ Gottlob Breitkopf. )I »t 62 24. „ K. Schonkopf . 12 Deo. „ 63 25. „ ' 23 Jan. 1770. 56 26. „ Christian G, Hermann . 6 Feb. „ 58 27. „ Philipp E. Eeioh . « 20 „ 59 28. „ Johann Ch. Limprecbt 12 April „ 61 29. „ 19 „ ,, 62 30 „ Hetzler, the younger . 14 July „ ♦62 31. „ Aiigiistin Trapp . / . 28 „ 64 32. „ H-^ , the younger' . 24 Aug. „ 65 ^ 33. „ Fiaulein von Klettenber!? 26 „ n 67 34. „ Engelbaoh . : . 10 Sept.. „ 69 Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS. Baelt Jj^TimSr— Continued. FAGB 35. To the elder Eerrn H. . . . 28 Sept. 1770. 70 36. , Mam'aell, F 14 Oct. H 70 37. , Friederike Brion . . . . 15 „ )» 72 38. , Frau SehultheisB Textor (his grand- mother) Feb. 1771. 73 39. „ Dr. Salziuanu . • > ■ May )l 75 40. n » • • • • »* »> 76 41. M n > • • ■ June )* 77 42. n n • • • i »» » 77 43. }9 9> . ■ • ■ 9i 1» 78 44. 45. 27 79 , . • • • „ Johann Gottf, Hei'der . (?) 80 46. „ Salzmann . . . . . Aug. n 82 47. »j )» . - • (?) Sept. *« 82 48. „ J. G. Herder (?) 1. » 83 49. »f >» ■ • . (?),, n 84 50. »> )» • • • (?) „ »■ 85 51. „ Salzmatm 28 Nov. it 86 52. „ J. G. Herder 1?) Dec ' J) 88 53. „ Salzmanu . '. . 3 Feb. 1772 90 54. „ Johann Heinrioh Jung (Stilling) >» 11 90 55. „ J. 6. Herder . . . . July 11 91 56. „ Johann Ch. Kestner 8 Aug. 1} 94 57. »» »» M • • 6 Sj'Pt. 11 94 58. It )» « • • 10 „ 11 95 59. „ Charlotte Buff . » it 11 95 60. >» j> j» • • • 11 1, II 96 61. „ J. 0. Kestner •- )» 11 96 62. jj j» ... » II 97 63. „ Johann Gottfr. Eoderer 21 ,, 11 97 64. „ J. C. Kestner . 25 ,', 11 98 65. »s » . ■ • 3 Oct. 11 99 66. l» »f . • • . 6 „ 11 100 67. „ Charlotte Buff . 8 ,1 II 100 68. „ J. C. Kestner . 10 „ 1) 101 69. 99 » • • . 21 „ II 102 70. II II • • . . 27 „ II 102 71. II II • • • II 103 72. II II • • • '. 10 Nov. 11 104 73. II 11 . • • . 1^ „ 11 105 74. II 1) . • • • 14 „ n 105 75. „ Frau von Laro(^e . 15 „ 11 106 76. „ J. 0. Kestner . ^ . 20 „ 11 108 77. 11 II . • • . 29 „ II 108 78. „ J. G. Herder 5 Deo. 11 109 79. „ J. C. Kestner ■ 6 „ II 110 80. 11 11 • • » . 12 „ II 110 81. II 11 • • . • 15 1, 11 111 82. MM ... M II 112 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Xlll Eablt Letters— ConMnuca 83. To J. C. Kestuer 84. 99 « • 85. » )J • 86. » 99 • 87. JJ »» • 88. „ Frau von Laroche. 89. „ J. C. Kestner 90. 99 » 91. 99 9> 92. » 99 • 93. » » • 91 » H • 95. » »» 96. 99 » 97. „ Br. Salzmann 98. „ J. C. Kestner 99. „ Hans Buff . 100. „ Johanna Fahlmer 101. „ J. 0. Kestner 102. >» )» 103. „ Charlotte Buff 104. „ Hans Buff . ■ 105. „ J. 0. Kestner 106. „ Johanna Fahlmer 107. „ J. 0. Kestner 108. JS »» 109. „ Hans Buff . 110. „ J. C Kestner 111. J5 ]l 112. )) » 113. n » 114. jj » 115. w )f 116. n )» 117. )) »» 118. „ Frau von taroche 119. „ C. G. Hermann 120. „ J. C. Kestner 121. „ Hans Buff . 122. „ J. C. Kestner 123. „ Hans Buff . 124. „ Lieutenant Demai ra 125. „ Frau von Laroche 126. „ J. C. Kestner 127. „ Hans Buff . 128. „ J. 0. Kestner 129. „ Frau von Laroche 130. » j» » 131. » » » FAGK 25 Dec 1772. 112 it 9* 115 If 115 (?) „ »» 116 18 Jan. 1773. 118 19 ,, » 118 '» 9t » 120 26 „ 1) 120 28 „ 1) 121 6 Feb. f) 122 6 „ » 123 11 « n 123 22 „ S) 124 25 „ j> 124 6 March J) 124 15 „ tf 127 (?) 127 March 79 128 (?) )• 129 (?) » 129 (?) l» 130 (?) )> 130 6 April 3) 130 9 „ » 131 10 „ n 131 11 „ n 132 (?) »» 133 14 April *i 133 15 „ 1} 134 21 „ n 135 28 „ » 136 3 May j» 136 )) 137 ») *) 137 )» 138 12 „ « 138 15 „ jj 138 n 139 )» 140 16 June » 140 n 141 It 142 11 July » 142 19 „ 9) 143 99 I) 144 it 144 ^^) )) 146 n 147 (?) n 147 XIV TABLE OP CONTENTS. Early Letters — Continued. PAGB 132. To Fran von Laroche ? 1773. 148 133. , J. 0. Kestner 15 Sept. )» 149 134. , Charlotte Kestner. 15 „ n 151 135. , J. 0. Kestner Oct. n 152 136. , Frau von Laroche 12 „ » 153 137. , Hans Buff . (?) » 153 138. , » »» ■ ' (?) n 154 139. , Dr. Salzmann »» • J) n 154 140. , Johanna Fahlmer. 18 „ » 154 141. , , Charlotte Kestner. 31 „ n 156 142. , , Jolianna Fahlmer. 31 „ 157 143. , , Fran (Helena Eliz.) Jacobl , )» n 158 144. , , J. G. Boderer (?) n 158 145. , , Frau Jacobi. 3 Nov. n 159 146. , I »» . • • 7 „ )» 160 147. , , Johanna Fahlmer. 16 „ jf 160 148. , » » ») • 23 „ )j 161 149. , » ») i> • 29 „ n 162 150. , , Frau Jacobi. . ' 183 151. , , Johanna Fablmej-. Dec. ti 164 152. , , J. 0. and Charlotte Kestner . 25 „ )9 165 153. , , Hans Buff . • ■ n 166 154. » » • • , , )j 166 155. , Frau Jacobi . ^ , .' 31 Dec 167 156, , Hans Buff . , . (?) Jan. 1774. 168 157. , , Heinrich Christian Bole . 8 „ jj 169 158. , Frau von Laroche . (?) ,, t) 169 159. , ) »» )» ;?) „ n 170 160. , Johanna Fahlmer 170 161. , , Fran Jacobi Feb. ^ 171 162. > » • , )) 172 163. , Gqttf. August Burger • 12 „ t> 173 164. , , Johanna Fahlmer. » , , 173 165. , ft. C. Kestner . March 174 166. , Charlotte Kestner 175 167. , Johanna Fahlmer „ ,j 176 168. , Frau von Laroche • (?) » j) 176 169. > » j» „ April 9) 177 170. , > 1) 5» • )» » 19 177 171. , > » 91 « )» 99 178 172. , Lavater and Pfenninger 2!) ,. 99 179 173. , . ' 6 May 181 » 174. , J. C. Kestner , • 11 182 175. > )» ■ , 11 ,. 182 176. , Lavater (from Frl. v . Klettenber^ and Goethe) . , , 20 „ 99 183 177. , Friedr. Theophilus Klopstock 28 ., 9) 184 178. , , Frau Ton Laroche • (?) June 99 185 179. , I t» »i • ■• • . lii » 185 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV KABV r LiETTEBS — Continued. PAOB 180. To Charlotte Kestuer . 16 June 1774. 186 181. . 2i „ 187 »» ' • • I82! „ Conaiil Schonbom . , 4. July 188 183. „ Frau von Laroche , . 19 „ 192 184. )> j» »i • • 193 18.5. „ FrauJacobi. 21 „ 193 186. » »» j» ^ . . • 194 187. „ Frit^ Jacobi l.t Aug. )» 194 188. »i i» » ... 21 „ 195 189. „ Chailotte Kestner 27 „ 197 190. »> »» »» • . 31 „ 198 191. „ Hans Buff r . . . (?) 200 192. „ Fritz Jacobi 31 Aug. 200 193. „ Johanna Fahlmer 201 194. „ Frau von Laroche 15 Sept. f« 201 195. j» )» »> . . 19 „ )) 202 196. „ Charlotte Kestner 2U2 197. „ J. C. Kestner 23 " " 203 198. „ Johanna Fahlmer. 203 199. „ J. C. and Charlotte Kestner . Oct. 2U3 200. „ Frau von Laroche 21 „ 204 201. „ Johanna Fahlmer. ij 205 202. „ Prof. Bockmanu . 15 Nov. ,j 205 203. „ Johanna Fahlmer 15 „ jj 206 204. „ Frau von Laroche 20 „ 1) 2U6 205. „ J. C. Kestner 21 „ It 208 206. „ J. G. Jacobi .... IDec. 209 207. „ Salzmann . . , , . 5 „ 210 208. „ Hans Buff )) 211 209. „ Henriette von Knebel . 13 „ ^ 211 210. „ Frau von Laroche 22 „ ft 213 211. „ H. G. Boie . 23 „ ti 215 212. „ Frau von Laroche. ti 215 218. „ HieronymuB Peter Schlosser . 26 „ n 216 214. „ C. L. von Knebel 28 „ It 216 215. „ Frau von Voigts . . . . 28 „ n 217 216. „ „ Laroche V* it 218 217. „ P. B. Eeich .... 2 Jan. 177.5. 219 218. „ Frau von Laroche 3 „ n 220 219. „ Hans Buff .... 9 „ )l 220 220. „ C. L. von Knebel. 13 „ M 220 221. „ Fran von Laroche 18 „ n 221 222. „ J. G. Herder It 221 223. „ J. H. Merck ,, M 221 224. „ Countess AuguaUi zu Stolberg 26 „ tt 222 225. „ FrauJacobi. 6 Feb. tt 223 226. „ Johanna Fahlmer. n )l 223 227. „ Auguste zu Stolberg . 13 „ tt 223 228. „ P. E. Eeich 14 „ » 225 XVI TABLE OP CONTENTS. Early Letters — Continued. TAOV 229. ToJ. Fahlmer Feb. 1775. 226 230. „ Frau von Laroche . 17 „ 22U 231. „ 6. A. Burger . 17 „ 227 232. „ Johanna Pahlmer March „ 227 233. »» >» jj 5 „ „ 228 234. 5J 9» »» 6 ,, „ 228 235. „ Augucte zu Stolberg . 6 „ 228 236> ,, J. H. Merck • )) 230 237. „ Frau Ton Laroche . 15 „ 231 288. „ Johanna Fahlmer. ■ n i> 231 239. „ Fritz Jaoobi. . 21 „ 232 240. „ Frau von Laroche . 21 „ 232 241. „ J. G. Herder 25 „ 233 242. „ Frau von Laroche 28 „ 233 243. „ P. E. Reich. . 28 „ „ 234 244. „ Lavater 234 245. „ Johanna Fahlmer 29 „ " 235 246. „ J. G. Herder 1 April „ 235 247. „ Johanna Fahlmer 99 99 235 248. » »> j» 99 99 236 249. »» »» »» 10 „ 236 250. „ 0, L. von Knebel . 14 99 237 251. „ Klopstook . 15 „ 237 252. „ Johanna Fahlmer. 9l $9 238 253. „ Lavater 19 „ 238 254. „ Johanna Fahlmer 23 „ 2.39 255. „ Auguste zu Stolberg , 26 „ 240 256. „ J. §. Herder . , May „ 240 257. „ Frau von Laroche I 13 „ „ 241 258. „ Johanna Fahlmer 16 „ 242 259. 99 99 99 22 „ 242 260. 99 99 99 26 „ 243 261. „ 0. L. von Knebel. 4 June „ 244 262. „ Johanna Fahlmer ' 244 263. „ Charlotte Kestner . 19 " 244 264. „ Frau von Laroche 245 265. 99 99 » 27 July Z 245 266. „ Auguste zu Stolberg 31 ,9 ,9 246 267. „ Frau von Laroche . 1 Aug. „ 246 268. „ C. L. von Knebel , 1 9. " 247 269. „ Auguste zu Stolberg 3 » 91 247 270. „ Lavater 248 271. „ Madame Earsch . 17 ,',' !,' 250 272. „ J. H. Merck 251 27.S. „ Johanna Fahlmer ' 251 274. „ Lavater . . . ' 252 27,5. „ Johanna Fahlmer 253 276. 19 9) 99 ■ 11 Sept. II 254 277. „ Frau von Laroche 15 „ 254 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XVU Earlt Lbttebs — Continued. 278. „ Auguste zu Stolberg . 279. >j )» »j 280. „ Johanna Fahlmer 281. „ Lavater 282. )» )> • • 283. „ Ooimts Stolberg and Hi 281 „ J. ja. Merck 285. „ F rau von Laroohe 286. „ 0. L. Ton Knebel 287. „ G. A. Burger 288. „ Johanna Fahlmei. „A. , Auguste zu Stolberg 289. „ J. Ct. Herder 290. „ Lavater 291. „ The Duke of Weimar 292. „ Lavater 293. „ J. G. Herder 294. j> j> • 295. » » • 296. j» >j • 297. 298. „ Johanna Fahlmer . 299. „ J. H. Merek 300. „ Lavater . . ■ 301. , J. H. Merck. 802. „ Johanna Fahlmer 303. „ Lavater. '. 304. , Johanna Fahlmer 805. , Lavater 306. , Johanna Fahlmer 807. , 7. H. Merck 308. , Johanna Fahlmer. 309. , The Duke of Weimar . 810. , Johanna Fahlmer. 311. , J. H. Merok 812. , Lavater 318. ) »» • • Lettebs to his Mother. Lettebs to Hebb " Keaft." Two Lettebs to J. J. Biese. 19 Sept. 1775. 255 ft 258 I» » 259 )l » 259 260 *) 262 Oct. 11 2B3 11 „ 11 263 11 264 11 264 22 Nov. 11 265 22 „ 11 266 Dee. 11 266 21 „ 11 267 23 „ 11 268 31 „ 11 272 31 „ 272 2 Jan. 1776. 272 »» » 273 1) 273 jj >» 274 5 „ )j 274 5 „ 11 275 22 „ )» 275 22 „ »j 276 14 Feb, 1) 276 J» »» 277 19 „ »j 278 6 March „ 279 6 „ )» 279 8 „ I) 280 18 „ II 280- 26 „ >» 281 April »» 281 24 July 281 30 Aug. >i 282 16 Sept. ») 284 1777—1801 287 1778—1783 301 1783—1814 317 A SHOET BIOGEAPHT JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. Section I. — Birth and Childhood. 1.749-1765. TfiE city of Prankfort-on-tlie-Maine ranks as the first of thoee which, until the middle of the present century, re- tained peculiar privileges as free or independent cities of the Holy Eoman Empire. Whilst aU of them, as centres of industry and commerce, could lay claim to political im- portance, Frankfort enjoyed the precedence and historical prestige attached to the scene of the great imperial pageants, the crowning of the emperors or Eoman kings.* Its citizens, for the most part traders or wealthy merchants, were duly conscious of this pre-eminence ; and though in other respects they had little converse with or care for hereditary rank and titles, the sense of their privileges, coupled with the independence nourished hy a free muni- cipal administration, created a sentiment of civic' nobility, so to speak, such as may always he found in some measure in a prosperous community not overshadowed by feudal prerogative or aristocratic pretension. In Frankfort, nevertheless, there were class-divisions, irrespective of the Jews, who inhabited their own quarter (the Judengasse) and took no part in the government of the city. The richest merchants were men who, with wide * The imperial crown could strictly only be received at Borne. But the crown of the subordinate dignity of " King of the Eomans " was conferred at Frankfort (formerly at Aix-la-ChapeUe) ; and the emperors of modern times dispensed with the imperial coronation. Sometimes the emperor caused his successor to be elected and crowned during his own lifetime, and the coronation of Joseph II. as Eoman king, which will be referred to afterwards, took place under these circumstances. b 2 XX A SHOET, BIOGEAPHT OF connexions in otlier cities of Europe, were less exclusively attaclied to tte spot on wiiicli they lived. The true Frankfort burgher was he who derived his wealth from his native town and seldom went heyond it. Well-to-do, but not ostentatious, his ambition aimed at the civic offices which presented the most readily recognised aspects of influence and power. There were many subordinate duties open to such a man, through which he might, if prosperous, attain even the position of Oherhurgermeister of the city. if qualified as a lawyer he might aspire to the dignity of Schoffe or magistrate, or the still higher ofSce of imperial magistrate or SchuUheisa, who presided over the fuU court of Schoffen, and was second to none amongst the permanent functionaries of the free city. To this burgher-class belonged by birth the poet Goethe on both his father's side and his mother's. His paternal grandfather, Friedrich Georg Goethe, was the son of a farrier of Artem in Thuringia : he settled in Frankfort as a tailor, and on marrying a second time, he became the land- lord of the inn Zum Weidenhof, and in due course the father of two sons. The elder did not long survive him ; the other, Johann Kaspar, having received a good education and spent some short period in foreign travel, settled down in Frankfort with a competent fortune. For the sake of having some employment he applied for one of the minor civic offices, in the hope that it would be conferred on him without the customary balloting ; but being unsuccessful in this, he withdrew in ill-humour, and having procured from the imperial government the honorary rank of Bath, or councillor, thereby rendered himself ineligible for any subordinate office. At the age of thirty-eight he married Katharina Elizabeth, daughter of Johann Wolfgang Textor, chief magistrate and imperial counfeillor, and by her became the father of the greatest of German poets. The family of Textor, though of older established wealth, was not more aristocratic than that of Goethe. It was ori- ginally called Weber (i.e. "weaver;" doubtless the handi- craft of some ancestor), but according' to ^cuptom prevalent in the 17th century, it was latinized by on© Wolfgang Weber, councillor, of Hohenlohe.. His son remfoved to Frankfort, where he became Oberbiirgermeister, and left descendants JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXI who continued to uphold the credit of the family. It was his great-granddaughter who married Eath Goethe. JoHANN Wolfgang Goethe, the eldest of their children, was born at Frankfort, on the 28th of August, 1 749. His life, which for the first few minutes flickered doubtfully, may have been saved, as he suggests with mild irony, by the fa- vourable conjunction of the heavenly bodies which amateurs in astrology afterwards noted, and interpreted as of good omen. Be this as it may, the doubt was not of long dura- tion, and he grew up a Tobust child. Sixteen months later a daughter also was bom, who was christened Comelie Friederike Christiane. She was destined to a more than usually close companionship with her brother, for of the other four children who appeared in succession, one barely completed his sixth year, and the others died in infancy. In this family there was one other member of whom mention must be made, namely, the mother of Eath. Goethe, in whose house in fact they lived. Though between eighty and ninety years old, she took a lively interest in her grandchildren, and devised means of gratifying them constantly. One device, a puppet-show which she had exhibited to them at Christmas, and afterwards gave to them, is worth noticing on account of the deep impression which it made upon the boy.* Her house was situated in the street called the Hirsch- graben. It is described as an old and rambling dwelling, formed by the union of two adjoining houses. After his mother's death, which occurred in 1754, Eath Goethe con- sidered it advisable to have it rebuilt ; and this house, as then altered, still stands unimpaired, and testifies to the respectability and~sbliT tastes of the worthy councillor. Of the character of Eath Goethe we derive a very distinct idea from the many allusions in the ' Autobiography ' of his son. No one is more likely to be a burden to his immediate associates, than a man with strong business instincts, and nothing on which to exercise them. Eath Goethe having beendenied anyfLtt.Wxg occupation amongst hisfeUows, made * It -was, no doubt, as Mr. Lewes points out, the origin of the pnppet- ahow described in an early chapter of ' Wilhehn Meister'a Apprentice- ship.' XXIV A SHORT BIOGEAPHT OF ance, who formed classes attended by the teacher at one or another of their houses, by which he had the advantage of associating with other children, without the worst evils of a school. The father at the same time took an active part^ in the education of both Wolfgang and ComeUe. He had no ordinary ground to work upon. His son's precocity was in the highest . degree remarkable, and prevented his de- riving advantage from lessons shared with ordinary children. In the eighth year he wrote Latin with ease ; at the same time he had made good progress in Greek, and also in French. He picked up Italian through hearing his father teaching Comelie. His German compositions show that he had already begun to think independently. It is true that his knowledge was inexact, and that he had, and always retained, an aversion to grammar ; but a ready and retentive memory went far towards making him indepen- dent of the drudgery of learning. At a very early age he showed an aptitude for verse-making ; and also became aware of his superiority over other boys in this respect. And whilst his father cultivated his intellectual and re- ceptive faculties, his mother with less formality and.method kept his imagination in active growth. She had a talent for improvising allegories and fairy tales, which she had as much delight in telling as the children in hearing. Little Wolfgang would sit and listen with rapt attention ; and often, as the story proceeded, would suggest by his im- petuous sympathy the turn which it was to take.* It wiU not be surprising that he began to reason on reli- gious subjects at a very early age. The event which, as he expresses it, first disturbed his peace of mind was one which filled Europe with consternation, namely, the great earthquake of Lisbon, which occurred on the Ist of Novem- ber, 1 7 5 5, The details of the catastrophe as they gradually became known affected his feelings powerfully, and raised doubts as to whether the Deity, in consigning both the just and the unjust to the same destruction, had acted in a benignant and fatherly manner. But this was not for long : that mankind was at the mercy of an unjust and arbitrary' supreme Power was not a creed which could take hold of his mind, and, as his whole life proves, was opposfd to * See quotation in Lewes, 2nd ed, p. 14. ' JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXV his healthy instincts. That religious questions, hoAvever, were approached by him in an original manner is shown by another incident. The recognised or established form of worship in Frankfort was Lutheran, but sectarianism largely prevailed, and various communities, known as Sepa- ratists, Pietists, HermMter (Moravians), Stillen im Lande (Quiet in the Land), existed, all of whom, he observed, ' ' had simply the design of approaching the Deity, especially through Christ, more nearly than seemed to be possible under the form of the established religion." Those forms which showed the greatest simplicity and indepen- dence attracted him the most, and " he came to the thought that he might immediately approach the great God of nature, the. Creator and Preserver of heaven and earth, whose earlier manifestations of wrath had long been for- gotten in the beauty of the world and the manifold blessings which we share therein." With this object he adopted the following strange expedient. He had to erect an altar to the supreme Deity, for which purpose he used an old music- stand of his father's, on which he arranged a collection of minerals and other natural productions, such as he con- sidered the most fitting emblems of that external nature whose Author he desired to honour. For the sacrificial fiame he coiild devise nothing better than a pastile, which he placed on the apex of the stand. As soon as the sun, appearing above the housetops, shone into his room, he held a burning glass to the pastile, and so through the most direct agency of nature he made his bumt-ofiering to the Creator of nature. In this curious scene, if the account penned in after-years is to be relied on, there is an amount of method and consistency which distinguishes lit from ordinary child's-play ; but at the same time it is not to be forgotten, in estimating its significance, how young a child he was. That it was enacted under the influence of the early Biblical history, which has so much attraction for all children, cannot be doubted; and later passages in his ' Autobiography ' prove how much more vividly than usual the whole Mosaic narrative had impressed him.* A similar influence, and one which ^^tes shared by thou- sands of his feUow-countrymen, was exerted by Klopstock's * See ' Autobiography,' (trans.), vol. i. pp. 104r-114. XXVI A SHOET BIOGEAPHT OF 'Messiah.' This poem, puhlished in 1747, had aroused enthusiasm in other countries besides Germany, notably in Switzerland and Denmark. Powerful imagery in combina- tion with the familiar Bible story was well calculated to appeal to the masses ; and as it was the first genuinely German work which did so, it is regarded as the starting point of their modern literature. But to a formalist like Eath Goethe it did not recommend itself, chiefly because it was not written in rhymed verse; and it was only by the connivance of an old family friend, Eath Schneider, that they were able to procure the book, and read it furtively, until their occupation was discovered and interdicted by their father. ' But in the next year, 1756, when Wolfgang had just com- pleted his seventh year, another world-stirring occurrence brought his thoughts back to mundane affairs. Frederick II., the young but already fambus king of Prussia, suddenly marched an army into Saxony, and commenced the rash but ultimately successful series of campaigns known to history as the Seven Years' War. This contest, as it divided the powers of Germany and of Europe at large, so did not fail to bring contention into many families hitherto closely united ; of which those of Goethe and Textor furnished an instance. The old magistrate and his wife were amongst the most familiar figures of Wolfgang's' childhood. They ' lived in a capacious but irregularly built dwelling in Niedberg Street, behind which lay a garden of great extent. To this garden the old man devoted great attention, and thither the children would run on summer evenings, and enjoy themselves with a sense of liberty to which the dis- cipline of their home gave all the more keenness. Wolf- gang, as the eldest grandson and also the godchild of the Schultheiss, was especially, favoured. The story of ' The New Paris ' gives a graphic glimpse of him at this period ; and it is not difficult to picture him on Sunday morning, dressed according to the fashion of the time, in green coat with brass buttons, knee-breeches, and shoes with silver buckles, going as soon as service was over to his grand- father's house, where he had always iDeen accustomed to take his Sunday dinner. But it was on these pleasant relations that political events JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXVII cast a shadow. Schultheiss Textor, who had officiated at the coronation of the emperor Trancis I., the husband of Maria Theresa, sympathized completely with the enemies of Prussia. Eath Goethe, on the other hand, had received his title of imperial councillor from the preceding emperor, Charles VII. (Elector of Bavaria) who had suffered at the hands of the Austrians ; and from this cause, as well as from personal admiration for tlie king of Prussia, his sympathies were all with Frederick. The worthy councillor was not a man to conceal or sup- press his feelings : hence disputes, coolness, and ultimately separation, ensued. Wolfgang enthusiastically adojjted his father's opinions, and thus the Sunday visits, at which he was compelled to hear the most horrible slanders of his hero, became distasteful to him, whilst his liking, and even his respect for his grandparents, were diminished. To these contentions he attributed later in life a bad efiect, since they taught him to distrust what he had heretofore reverenced, and caused a certain disdain for the opinion of others which clung to him for a long period. At the end of the year 1758 the war assumed a phase more personally interesting to the inhabitants of Frankfort, by the intervention of the French in favour of Austria ; in consequence of which many French troops passed through or near to the city. The excitement thus caused reached a climax on the 2nd of January, 1759, when large bodies of troops entered the city, and taking possession of the guard-house, manifested the intention of remaining. The citizens were called upon to quarter the soldiers in their houses, the accommodation being apportioned in accord- ance with the rank of the soldiery. Eath Goethe being a person of some consideration, with a good house, received as a lodger the " King's Lieutenant," a certain Count Thorane. In this respect he was fortunate, inasmuch as this officer was a man of some culture and refinement. Though, as it appeared, he was rigid and stem in his official capacity, whilst in temperament he was serious and melancholy or satiric and humorous by turns, he was uni- formly considerate and attentive to the convenience of the family, not only in the arrangement of the rooms allotted to him, but also in his daily manner of living. His pre- XXviii A SHOET BIOGRAPHY OF sence was necessarily a source of great disturbance, for his particular office required him to be accessible at aU hours of the day and night to subordinate officers in reference to the discipline of the garrison. From the first Kath Goethe conceived a prejudice against him as representing a cause hostile to that which he had at heart, and allowed it to be overcome neither by the determined politeness of the Count nor by the interest which he showed in matters of art. The walls of one of the rooms were decorated with numerous oil-paintings, which had been executed for Eath Goethe by living artists. When Count Thorane heard that these artists were for the most part to be found in Frankfort and the neighbourhood, he desired to be made personally ■ acquainted with them, and gave orders for a number of paintings, which were forthwith executed under his own supervision, and despatched to his home in France. The intercourse with these artists, and the inspection of their work, much of which was done in a small room set apart for it in the house, was exceedingly interesting to Wolfgang, who from this time acquired an enthusiasm for art which was of material effect in his after-life. The. presence of a foreign garrison added to his general experience in other ways. French soldiers were necessarily followed by a French theatre : a concert-hall was meta- morphosed into a play-house, on the gtage of which Eacine's and MoUere's master-pieces, as well as works of less renown, were acted in their native tongue. Wolfgang had the use of the free ticket which had been alloted to Schultheiss Textor ; and in spite of objections on the part of his father, in which however his mother did not share, he constantly availed himself of it. He soon found himself able to understand the language, in which he had already had instruction ; and the rapid progress which he made overcame his father's objections. At the same time his knowledge of the world received somewhat pre- "mature augmentation. When playing with other children in the corridors between the acts, or when the piece did not please him, he was attracted by the appearance of a hand- some boy of good manners, who pften joined them, and who turned out to be connected with the actors. " He was," says the 'Autobiography,' " a most engaging little braggart; JOHANK WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXIX he chattered charmingly and incessantly, and could relate so much about his adventures, affairs, and other peculiarities, that he amused me uncommonly ; and so far as concerns language, and communication by means of it, I learnt in four weeks more from him than could have been imagined, so that no one knew how it was that all at once, as if by inspiration, I had acquired the foreign tongue." This youth, whom he styles Derones, was apt to introduce the dramatic element into ordinary life : and one day, after some childish amusement, he insisted that Goethe had insulted him, and must give him satisfaction forthwith. The children being dressed in their b0st, wore each a small sword after the fashion of the time. Eetiring to a secluded spot, they drew, and exchanged thrusts, until the point ol Derones' weapon having become fixed in his adversary's sword-knot, he declared himself fully satisfied, whereupon the duellists adjourned to a caf6, and cemented their recon- ciliation with glasses of almond milk. With this friend Goethe also gained admission behind the scenes, where the unembarrassed manners andconductof the actors and actresses at first caused him some surprise, though in time it seemed to him " quite natural." After having witnessed almost the whole range of tjie Trench drama, he became ambitious to attempt a dramatic composition himself. He accordingly wrote a small piece, a mixture of allegory and mythology, with kings' daughters, princes, and gods as characters, aftei; the model of some which had especially pleased him. This piece he sub- mitted to the judgment of Derones ; but the critic, although he condescended to give it a general approval, suggested, so many alterations, and enlarged so dogmatically on the three unities and other, conventionalities, in respect to which he vaunted the superiority of the Frendh dramatists, that the young author withdrew his attempt in despair. The incident, however, was not fruitless. It led him to seek information on the alleged dramatic requirements, and, finding no firm ground in theory, to think for himself, and therel^ 'contributed to that freedom of treatment through which he afterwards helped to found a German drama. The French garrison left Frankfort in June 1761, after a stay of two years and a half. The King's Lieutenant XXX A SHOET BIOGEAPHY OP had left Goetiie's house a 'short time before, partly in consequence of a quarrel with his host; and by special favour Eath Goethe obtained relief from further billeting by taking as private lodgers a small family already known to him. The change restored the peace of the household, and enabled the worthy councillor again to give his attention to his children. Wolfgang at this time was nearly twelve years old. He devoted himself with versatile energy to various new pursuits. He took lessons for an hour a. day in drOijving. With his sister he began to learn the harpsichord. An English master was also engaged, from whom the father himself took lessons with his children. Wolfgang adopted an ingenious expedient for keeping up his knowledge of various languages. He invented a story the characters in which were several members of one family, scattered about in various parts of the world, who communicated with each other in various styles and languages. The eldest brother describes a journey in good German. A sister writes to him and the others in a style supposed to be characteristic of feminine authorship. A second brother is studying theology, and writes in Latin, with an oc- casional postscript in Greek. Two others being clerks in merchants' houses at Hamburg and Marseilles make use respectively of English and French. A fifth, a young musician travelling for the first time, adopts Italian; whilst the youngest brother, being forestalled in the purer tongues, is obliged to content himself with Jew-German, whereby the other characters are driven to despair ; and the whole affair is made very amusing to young Goethe's parents. His investigations in Jew-German, the hybrid dialect of the Jews' quarter in Frankfort, turned his attention to Hebrew, and he begged his father to let him learn it. The assistance of Dr. Albrecht,]the rector of the gymnasium or high-school, was obtained, and under his tuition, he made some little progress in reading the Old Testament. The business, however, turned out more formidable than either he or his father had anticipated. His eagerness to bring ■ out and comment on the text, outstripped his progress through the grammatical difficulties, which he never over- JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXXI came. Nevertheless the experiment had some effect in giving him an exceptional appreciation of the Scriptures, as is set forth in the lucid paraphrase of Mosaic history- given in the ' Autobiography.' KlopStock had helped to give him a tender and almost romantic conception of the personages of the Old as weU as the New Testament, and his imaginative faculties, attracted by the character which is the favourite of all childreif, found expression in a ' History of Joseph,' a sort of poetical-prose epic of con- siderable length, in which he felt some pride. It was written down for him by his father's amanuensis , a half- witted young man whom Eath Goethe kept in his house, partly from charity and partly to assist him in business. The whole was dictated to this copyist, and after the addition of sundry stray poems, already composed, the sheets were neatly bound ; after which the volume, lettered ' Vermischte Gedichte ' (Miscellaneous Poems), was pre- sented to and received by his father, with satisfaction on both sides. This was Wolfgang's, first work, not destined to the immortality of print : yet it is noticeable as showing the early age at which he commenced the habit of dictation, constantly adopted in his later years — an evidence of the ready flow of his ideas and of his natural command of language. Industrious as he was in this desultory way, his habits were by no means studious. He took a lively interest in aU that came under his observation, and eagerly picked up all sorts of miscellaneous information. He made friends with an artist named Nothnagel, whose special vocation was the application of art in the manufacture of ornamental oil-cloth. Wolfgang used to visit him at his factory, and watch the process with much interest, going about amongst the workpeople, and occasionally lending a helping hand. He also made friends with a jeweller whom his father employed, and from whom he learnt the names of precious stones and their comparative values. His avidity for all sorts of knowledge gave him unusual pleasure in the society of his elders ; and amongst his early friends he enumerates many of the Frankfort characters of his day of various social grades. In his fifteenth year Goethe, with the precocity which XXXU A SHOET BIOGRAPHY OP distinguished him in all things, fell in love. The ohject of this early sentiment was a girl beneath him in station, but, if his own account is to be accepted, of good manners and attractive appearance. Through a former schoolfellow he became acquainted with a set of youths belonging to the lower middle-class, who seemed to rely on the indefinite and precarious mode of existence known as " living by their wits." They naturally treated the son of the rich burgher with deference, and flattered his self-esteem by , admiring and turning to account his aptitude for verse- writing. One day, having accompanied some of these youths home, he saw, and forthwith fell in love with, Gretohen, by which name only is the fair one indicated. She captivated him still more by giving him some sen- sible advice in respect to a foolish practical jok%in which his friends desired his co-operation : and unknown to his parents, he took every opportunity of seSing her.* About the same time (1763) the approach of an im- portant political event was engaging the attention of the inhabitants of Frankfort. One of the stipulations of the peace of Hubertsburg, which terminated the Seven Years' War, was the condition that the Archduke Joseph, son of the Emperor Trancis I., should be recognised asHeir to the Empire and King of the Bomans. The formal election was to take place at Frankfort, and the preparations for this event, and for the coronation which would immediately follow, were now taxing the energies of the citizens. Eath Goethe j though he had no official position, was not the man to let such an event approach without special preparation. He therefore desired his son to read through with him the journals relating to the last two elections, m order that any new circumstances and conditions incident to the present occasion might be duly noted. We may well believe that the boy did not find this a very cheerful task, and that the image of Gretchen, as he declares, hovered here and there amongst the most august objects of the Holy Eoman Empire. Nevertheless it was diligently performed, and he gained the advantage of , knowing more than most people about the ceremonies that ensued. * She was probably the original of Margrete in ' Faust.' JOHANN WOLFGAN.G GOETHE. XXXIU The city became filled; with visitors. As in the days of the French occupation, ofEcials of distinction 'vyere quartered in the house in the Hirschgraben. WolfgEtng spent more time away from home than ever, and amidst crowds of other sightseers wandered with Gretchen about the streets looking at all that went on. The retinues of the several electors, and of the ministers or ambassadors of reigning sovereigns, the preparations made for their reception, the gorgeous procession which signalled the entrance of the emperor, and his son the king-elect, with all the pomp of heraldry, the endless display, and the cumbrous ceremony which still characterised the imperial court, were duly stared at by both, and gave the youth many an opportunity of exhibiting his learning and proving his devotion at the same time.* The festivities, however, were not ended before these pleasant relations came to an abrupt and dolorous con- clusion. One morning he suddenly learnt that some of his recent associates were accused of forgery, and that his connexion with them was known, and interpreted to his disadvantage. Though conscious of his own innocence, and certain of Gretchen's, his feelings were violently affected by the suspicion thrown on him, and he fell into a state of mind which resulted in a serious illness. It was only after his recovery that he learnt that Gretchen and his more immediate friends had, after examination, been acquitted of complicity in the matter, and that the former had left the city. At the same time he was mortified to hear that she had explained her relations with him by saying that she had treated him as a child, and had felt towards him as a sister. Injured vanity and separation (for he never saw her again) effectually ex- tinguished his love, though it was some time before he recovered his ordinary health and high spirits. After this affair he was placed in charge of a special superintendent or tutor, a young man of good abilities and educatioij, who, having a taste for philosophy, en- deavoured to turn his pupil's mind in the same direction. * The account of the election ceremonies given in the ' Autobio- graphy ' is very circumstantial and interesting, and is referred to by Professor Bryce in his ' History of the Holy Koman Empire.' C xxxiy A snoET biography of In tlaii he had no great success, since Goethe preferred to jpeisd his time in the quiet and picturesque spots in theneighhouring country, where he occupied himself in producing sketches from nature, which were carefully- preserved hy his father as evidences of greater achieve- ments in prospect. With his tutor also he made a longer journey, vjsiting Homhurg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, and othef towns in the fine district which lies between Fr; n^forl and the Rhine.* Under his father's direction he began to study juris- prudence, in preparation for his further studies at Leipsic, to which university it was now determined that he should proceed. On the other hand, there was no want of ordinary means of enjoyment. With his sister, to whom he was always much attached, and on whose sympathy he, reckoned in all youthful troubles, he had formed a pleasant circle of acquaintance amongst young people of their own standing ; and social intercourse, in winter in each others' houses, in summer on pleasant excursions, was gaily kept up. One of his chief friends was Horn, who was also about to proceed to Leipsic. Of lively temperament, and small if not grotesque in person, he was the lustige Person or " merry Andrew " of their meetings, but at the same time he had sufficient ability and good sense to retain Goethe's friendship so long as their paths lay together; In this way Goethe's sixteenth year passed quickly, notwithstanding some remains of discontent which caused him to look forward eagerly to his departure from his native city. He set out in the month of October 1765, and after experiencing some delay on account of the badness of the roads, he arrived at Leipsic in the midst of the annual book-fair, the celebrated resort of bookbuyers from all parts of Europe. The interest of this occasion added to the favourable impression, made by the handsome and regular streets of a *own which differed as widely as * It might be inferred from the absence of anything to the contrary in the ' Autobiography,' that this was the only occasion of his absence from home nntU his departure for Leipsic. A letter, however, -written from Leipsic to a friend named Trapp mentions his having been at Worms, which is at least forty miles from Frankfort. It is written in French (by no means Parisian), and refers to a young lady whom he appears to have admired. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXXV possible from the one in which he had hitherto lived. After taking lodgings at an inn (Feuerkugel *) he hastened to present his letters of introduction, and to enrol himself as a member of the university. Section II. — University Life: Leipaic and Strasbourg. 1765-1771. Goethe's own wishes would not have inclined him to choose Leipsic as his university. His natural bent was towards general literature rather than law, and he indulged in the secret hope of following in the steps of such men as Michaelis and Heyne, and attaining to a university pro- fessorship. To this end he would have preferred Giittingen, but his father was determined that jurisprudence should claim his first attention, and Leipsic was the most suitable university for the attainment of his object. On presenting a letter of introduction to Hof rath Boehme, professor of history and public law, Groethe frankly ex- pressed his inclinations iti favour of literature ; but he found his confidence peremptorily checked by the worthy jurist, who hated poetry and belles-lettres, and whose class he was forthwith compelled to join. He carried his ■point, however, so far as to attend lectures on literature by Gellert, a man of great popularity amongst the students. The instructions of Boehme were also compensated for by the friendship of his wife, an accomplished lady, who in- terested herself in the raw young student, corrected his peculiarities, and initiated him into the ways of refined society. For in this respect he found that he had much to learn. The manners and customs of the free and in- dependent trading city of" Frankfort were not as those of a centre of learning and mental cultivation such as Leipsic. As Mephistopheles is made to say — ^ Es ist ein klein Paris und bildet seine Leute.f And the very dialect of FrankSbrt sounded strange in Saxon ears. Moreover, Goethe's dress, was far from fashionable : it was not only provincial, but having beer, made at home in accordance with one of his father's whims, was doubly incorrect.. • Situate between what are now Universitdt Strasse and the NemanrVt. t i,e. " A little Paris 't is, and oultiyates its people."—' Faust,' part i.. c 2 XXXVl A SHOBT BIOGRAPHY OF /. Fran Boehme also improved his literary taste. Her criticisms on many of the writers of the day were dictated less by the prejudices of her hushand than by common sense afid natural good taste ; and in a negative way she was of Tifee to Goethe, in setting in a true light much that he had 'h^herto admired.* JGroethe's life at Leipsic might be described from several different points of view. It is only natural that an in- dividuality so many-sided as his should exhibit itself in a marked way in several different aspects, and it follows that observers who fail to take in the whole, may form very different estimates of his character. And since this remark applies no less to his whole life, it may explain the very diverse feelings, ranging from sincere admiration to some- thing like repugnance, which his character makes on differ- ent individuals. The studious element was by no means wanting in him, but it was considerably outweighed by a general and quickly-aroused interest in any matter which appealed tW the intellect. The study of art and modern literature is not bad in itself ; but, considered in reference , to the object with which he was sent to Leipsic, it might disparagingly be called waste of time, and lay him open to the charge of dilletantiem. Combined with both the above characteristics was that which is all but universal in youth, the mere enjoyment of life and society, which in his case was sometimes allowed to degenerate into extravagance of conduct or objectless encouragement of emotional senti- ment. It is, however, not surprising that in the ' Autobio- graphy,' written years afterwards, we find much space given to the subjects of literature and art, whilst the less orderly aspect of his student life is barely touched upon, f . * The seventh book of the ' Aotobiography ' girea a detailed criticism ot contemporaiy literature. He describes (tians. i. 226) an amusing visit which he paid to Gottsched, who had once exercised a great, though not a favourable influence, as a critic. His day was now over, and though still a celebrity he was, as Jahn says, " without influence* and more a curiosity." % • t This fact hardly justifies the general imputation which Slr..Lewes has cast upon this part of the ' Autobiography.' That Goefte wasted a great deal more time than he expressly accounts for may be taken for granted, even without the evidence of the few letters that, help to prove it. The eingnlarity of Goethe is, that a serious substratum con- sciously underlay all his extravagance ; and it is natural that in mature years he should record what he had most pleasure in remembering. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXXVU So we are not surprised to read that lie attended lectures on logic and philosophy with assiduity until about Shrove- tide, when unfortunately in the neighbourhood of the professor's house " the most delicious fritters came hot out of the pan just at the hour of lecture," and in consequence his note-books fell into arrear, and the conclusion of the subject was lost. The worthy Boehme's lectures on jurispru- dence fared no better. Goethe heard from him nothing more than he had repeated over and over again with his father, hence his good intentions were frustrated, and he ceased to persevere. In the m^ntime he learned to dress well, affected the airs of a dandy, spent money freely, and enjoyed after the manner of youth the first feelings of independence. It was the custom in a German university for students to dine as regular boarders at the table of some respectable householder. Goethe's host was at first Hofrath Ludwig, professor of medicine, and at that time rector of the uni- versity. Here he was accustomed to meet medical students, in whose conversation he discovered a new field of interest which for a time excluded poetry. Before long, however, a Frankfort friend, J. G. Schlosser (who afterwards mar- ried his sister Cornelie), came to Leipsic, and introduced him to a new circle. Schlosser was ten years his senior, and a man of considerable ability. His object while at Leipsic was to visit the most distinguished scholars there resident, and in these visits Goethe was glad to accompany him, and his interest in literature and poetry, which want of sym- pathy had begun to repress, was re-awakened. Schlosser also introduced him to a new dinner-table, at the house of one Herr Schonkopf, who kept a respectable wine-shop in the Bruhl. His wife, a person of good education, was a Frankfort woman, and naturally made her feUow-townsmen welcome. , Goethe speedily became intimate in the family : and it was not long.before he was in love with the eldest daughter, Anna Katrina, called by him Aennchen or Annette, and otherwise known as Kathchen. From a letter written by Horn, who was now in Leipsic, it appears that Goethe kep^i(f this love>ffair secret from his intimate friends, and even de- ceived them by affecting admiration for some other object ; but Horn before long was introduced to the Schonkopfs, and became himself attached to a lady of their acquaiat- XXXTlll A SHORT BIOGEAPHT OP ance. For Goethe the affair had no lasting consequences. He( confesses to have indulged without cause in fits of ill- humour and affected jealousy; and though Kathchen bore his caprices with "incredible patience," the time came when he found that he had tired out her affection for him. Their friendship, however, lasted until he left Leipsic ; soon afterwards she married. The episode only- had importance inasmuch as it originated the first of his extant dramas, ' Die Laune des Verliebten,' * which, like nearly all his writings, was directly prompted by his personal experience. Another sort of iafluence was brought to bear on him through Ernst Wolfgang Behrisch, a man between thirty and forty years old, who came to Leipsic as tutor to the young Count Lindenau. , He was thin, well built, with striking features, and fastidious though singular in his dress. His mind was as remarkable as his external appearance : he was, so to speak, naturally affected, a serious trifler, paying attention to small matters, and doing everything deliberately and with whimsical care. At the same time he had good sense and abilities, was well versed in modem languages and literature,- and culti- vated a talent for caligraphy. As an older man, experienced in the world, he had an influence on Goethe which was in some respects good. That time was wasted in amusement, in trifling, and in absurd and objectless disquisitions, in which species of conversation Behrisch exhibited much misapplied talent, is not to be denied ; but inasmuch as he had some real appreciation of literature and was cen- sorious in his criticism of modem poetry, he exercised a wholesome effect on his young friend's intellectual pro- gress. Eor example, it will not be disputed that he was right in urging Goethe not to print his youthful poems : on this condition only he exhibited forbearance towards them, and by way of compensation he under- took to copy them himself into a volume in a neat and artistic manner with ornamented letters and vignettes ; which task, after long preparation, and the expenditure of * Translated by E. A. Bowring, under the title ' Tlie Wayward Lover ' together with ' Die Mitsohuldigen ' (' The Fellow-oulprits '), which was written soon afterwards. ■% JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. XXXIX mucli thought and minute care, was at length successfully accomplished. This ooUection probably included those which were afterwards printed as 'New Songs, set to music by Bernhard Theodor Breitkopf,' without Goethe's name, some of which are now printed in his poems. How he became acquainted with the family of Breitkopf, the pubUshers (whose name is stiU eminent in that trade), is not clear from the 'Autobiography.' Possibly it was through their house being close by his lodgings in the Neumarkt ; and however that might be, it appears that he was intimate both with the elder and younger family. They supplied in some measure the loss of Frau Boehme, who died after a lingering illness before his departure from Leipsic. By her death the last link which held him to the avowed end of his residence at the university was broken, and henceforth Hofrath Boehme and jurispru- dence sank out of sight. Yet there was no cessation in his real mental education. Not only literature but practical art occupied his attention. Concerts and theatres ab- sorbed much of his time, and the lovely voice of Corona Schroter, then just sixteen years old, produced an impres- sion upon him, which led to a later theatrical connexion at Weimar. He had early made the acquaintance of A.- F. Oeser, director of the Academy of Design, an artist whose productive power seems to have been less than his ability as a teacher and suggestor. Goethe, in company with several young men of good family, regularly took lessons from him, at his apartments in the old castle of Pleissenburg.* Oeser taught him to find beauty in simplicity and directness of expression, and to discard the meaningless and heavy detail which characterised the decorative art of the day. Oeser was an ardent admirer of Winckelmann, with whose works his pupil now became acquainted; and the theoretical instruction which he derived from them was supplemented by the appearance of Lessing's ' Laokoon,' in which beauty is set forth as the essential condition of the highest plastic art, and its divergence in that respect from the kindred art of poetry for the first time clearly demonstrated. * Amongst the friends with -whom he became acquainted through Oeser was von Bai denberg, afterwards the celebrated Prussian statesman. v^ xl A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF ■ Goethe was not wanting in assiduity. Not content with drawing, he tried the difficult arts of etching and en- graving. With the assistance of an engraver nariied Storck, he etched several plates after landscapes by Thiele and others, some of which are extant, and show a' certain amount of dexterity. By these means Goethe became theoretically an artist ; but it must be confessed that, in spite of practice" and an earnest desire to succeed, he never attained facility" in carrying out his designs. The spirit was willing enough, but the necessary physical qualifications — the essential but inexplicable alliance between hand and eye which makes a practical artist, was absent. It was long, however, be- fore he learned this ; and notwithstanding practical failure, he acquired a true interest in art which never waned. The proximity of Dresden to Leipsic prompted him to pay a visit to the famous picture-gallery of the Saxon capital. The few days which he spent there were a new revelation to him ; but by his own account the pictures whiph were of most interest to him were those of Dutch and kindred schools, which he could compare with aspects of nature familiar to him. The Italian pictures he did not as yet understand, and, as he states, took their merits upon trust. The time now approached at which he was to leave Leipsic, but before his departure he was attacked by a serious iUness, the result of an irregular and unwholesome - course of life. A system of diet comprising much beer and coffee, together with late hours, disordered his digestive powers ; and alternations to the other extreme, by fitful attempts to carry out the precepts of Bousseau, in respect to sleeping on a hard bed with scanty covering, and other such ill-regulated strivings after primitive simplicity, did not mend matters. The mixture of dissipation and asceticism produced a constitutional crisis, which took the form of violent hemorrhage; and for the moment imperilled his life. With due care he surmounted the danger, but was for long troubled with a tumour. In these days of illness, however, it gave him pleasure to find that, in spite of his ' neglect of duties, and the carelessness or petulance which he had often exhibited to his best friends, he still retained the regard of those whose friendship he most prized. Not only the Breitkopfs and Horn, but others also of superior age JOHANN WOIFGANQ GOETHE. xli and standing, visited him, and aided his recovery by taking him out, or inviting him to their houses in the country. By August 1768 he had regained tolerable health, and at the end of that month returned to Frankfort. He reached home with no feeling of pleasure or self- satisfaction, but rather, as he says, " like one shipwrecked." A sense of neglected duties, an unhappy state of mind in respect to Kathchen Schonkopf, and the remains of his recent illness, combined to produce a condition the reverse of " mens Sana in corpora sano." Some of his letters to Leipsic friends abound in comparisons unfavourable to Frankfort. " He who has not seen Leipsic," he wrote to Breitkopf, " might do very well here ; " and to Oeser he calls his native town one " which is too much the antithesis of Leipsic to have much attraction for him." Domestic circumstances, moreover, were not such as to add to his' comfort; for during his absence Cornelie had borne the whole brunt of their father's didactic pedantry, and by dint of an unceasing routine of languages, composition, and harpsichord-playing, had been reduced to a state of mind in which mechanical and unwilling obedience only con- cealed discontent and bitterness towards her taskmaster. She therefqre turned on her brother the whole current of a deeply affectionate but peculiar and sensitive nature. By devoting herself to nursing and enlivening him, she regained her proper nature ; and the close ties which already existed between them, were strengthened by the sense of mutual dependence. Their mother, in the dreariness of the preceding three years, had turned her thoughts to religion, and found her society in a small circle of serious-minded ladies. Ad chief amongst these is named the Fraulein von Klettenberg.* It was by the conversation and letters of this lady that ' The Confessions of a Beautiful Soul' inserted in ' Wilhelm Meister' were suggested. She was of good birth, and a pleasing natural demeanour was made still more graceful by the manners of refined society. She suffered from an incurable disorder, which she bore with the greatest patience ; in intervals of relief she was lively and talkative. She admired Wolfgang, and treated him as a younger • See note, p. 67. xlii A RHOET BIOGEAPHT OP brother; and if she did not make a convert of him, Bhe^ succeeded in directing Ms thoughts to religious subjects, which led him to the construction of a system of theology harmonizing in some sort with her own tenets; He thus became intimate with Legationsrath Moritz and others of the Hermhiiter community, disciples of Count Zin- zendorf. Traulein von Klettenberg was also a believer in occult science. In those days a faith in alchemy still lingered in the byWays of medicine, and the doctor who attended Goethe professed to be in possession of a mysterious specific, which was only to be applied in cases of the direst need. As a member of their religious sect, he had the unlimited confidence of the women. Under his advice Praulein von Klettenberg eagerly engaged in the study of sundry works, half chemical, half cabalistic ; and not content with theory only, she busied herself with crucibles and retorts, in search for the universal specific. Goethe, and . even his mother, joined in these researches ; and if no immediate result was obtained, their studies were not with- out some permanent effect, to which several scenes in the immortal drama of ' Faust ' bear witness. Notwithstanding some further trouble from the tumour in his neck, Goethe's health gradually improved, and it was now decided that he should complete his academical course. His father's designs were still fixed on jurisprudence, and Strasbourg was selected as the university at which he could most conveniently take his degree. The intervening period was not wholly given to dabbling in mysticism. He devoted some of it to quiet retrospection and self-criticism. He read over his letters written from Leipsic, and carefully noted their peculiarities and defects, even in respect to language and handwriting. He again reverted to drawing, and experimented in etching so assiduously as to injure his throat with the fumes of the acid employed in the process, when it occurred to him that the outbreak of his iUness at Leipsic might be attributable to the same cause. His final act before leaving_h,ome, was to look over his poetical compositions, and to destroy all, including several unfinished dramas ; excepting only the MS. copied out by Behrisch, and the two plays ' Die Mitschuldigeii ' and ' Die Laune JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. xliii des Verliebten,' which he had carefully touched up from time to time. He started for Strasbourg in the spring of 1770, heing then in his twenty-first year, and arrived on the 2nd of April. His first attention was given to the cathedral) of which the single lofty spire had aroused his interest as he ap- proached through the narrow streets. He ascended at once to the external gallery, and gazed admiringly over the fair tract of country, the luxuriant plain beautifully inter- sected by the devious course of the Ehine, which was destined for a time to be his home. He took a lodging in the Fischmarkt,* and secured a place at a dinner-table kept by two maiden ladies. His fellow- boarders were mostly medical students ; but there were also older men, and in particular the president of the table, Dr. Salzmann, a bachelor of between sixty and seventy years old. Neat and methodical in appearance and habit, and estimable in character, he maintained the good order and respectability of the table. He held the position of actuary f to the university, which was in some respects similar to that of a college tutor at Oxford or Cambridge ; and as he became especially well disposed to Goethe, he came to be regarded by him as a confidential adviser in many matters besides such as related to his studies. Goethe's professed object, as already stated, was to take a degree in jurisprudence, and for this end he secured the aid of a private tutor, known in German universities as a repetent. But the literal and formal treatment of the subj ect was already familiar to him through his previous reading, and the more philosophical and historical aspect of the study, which was alone calculated to interest him, was not encouraged. His activity being thus restricted in his special department, he found another field for his energies. At the dinner-table, as formerly at Hofrath Ludwig's at Leipsic, his fellow-boarders talked chiefly of medical matters, and as he became more intimate with them, his propensity to throw himself into the interests of all with whom he came in contact did not allow of Jiis remaining a listener. At the commencement of his second half year, * Now known as No. 80. t See note to Letter 39. ^ xliv A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF therefore, lie attended a course of lectures on chemistry and anatomy, and continued to do so with more or less regu- larity. But his studies were not pursued without many counter-attractions. Only a month after his arrival a puhlic event of importance gave occasion for unusual festivity. This was -the passing visit of the young Archduchess of Austria, the iU-starred Marie Antoinette, but now the newly-married bride of the equally unfortunate Louis XVI. The town of Strasbourg, though German in history and character, had been assigned at the peace of Westphalia, with the whole of Alsace, to France. It was here, there- fore, as the frontier town, that the queen was surrSndered to the care of her husband's ambassador. . On a small island in mid-Ehine a building had been erected for her reception, and in it, amongst other costly decorations, were exhibited some specimens of the tapestries worked after EaffaeUe's cartoons. These Goethe had an opportunity of seeing, and though unable, as formerly at Dresden, to define in what manner he was interested, his artistic sense was so struck that he made several visits to the place, and even used his influence to procure an extension of the time for which the decorations were on view. His intuitive taste was, on the other hand, offended by the adornment of the principal saloon, in which tapestries by a modem French artist, illustrating the history of Jason and the tragic fate of his bride Creusa, were hung, with clumsy disregard to the inappropriateness of the subject, and the possible^ omen, which later events seemed to justify with too much truth. Goethe was introduced by Salzmann to several families in Strasbourg. He was at this time in the prime of youtli. Though of middle size, his well-built frame and fine bust made him appear tall. His hands6me features and dark eyes at once attracted immediate attention from everyone, whilst brilliant conversational powers, and ready sympathy with every one with whom he came in contact, ensured him general good will. He was not insensible to his personal advantages, and did not disdain to improve their effect by attention to fashion. He submitted to have his naturally fine hair curtailed, and tied up in the customary queue, and adopted the silk stockings and shoes wpm by well-dressed men. Finding that a knowledge of dancing JOHANK WOLFGANG GOETHE. xlv was requisite, he took lessons from a French professor of the art, whose instructions were enlivened by the assistance o? two pretty daughters. One of these fell in love with Goethe ; he however preferred the other, who was already engaged, and hence ensued a dramatic situation which gave occasion to a graphic and amusing episode . in his ' Autobiography.' * That he put little restraint if any on his inveterate pro- pensity towards sentimental relations with the other sex, may be inferred from one or two poems written at this period ; but all others were presently obliterated by a more serious attachment, which, though it was not destined to affect materially his career or history, produced a more than usually lasting impression' on his mind. Previously to this, however, he had formed a friendship with a man whose influence on his intellectual development cannot be overlooked. This was Johann Gottfried Herder, who had come to Strasbourg as companion to the Prince of Holstein- Eutin. He was then twenty-six years of age, and conse- quently five years older than Goethe, and had already a considerable reputation as a critical writer. On his arrival being known, Goethe took the first opportunity of introducing himself. He was received with politeness, and the acquaintance rapidly grew into intimacy. Herder was suffering from a malady in one of his eyes, which he hoped to have cured whilst at Strasbourg. Goethe was present during the painful operations which were necessary, and admired the courage with which he submitted to them, and to the disappointment which ensued when they were found to be ineffectual. The useful influence which Herder exercised upon him was due to superior knowledge, gravity, and maturity of mind. His intellect, if the less versatile and vivacious, had a keenness and precision which aroused Goethe's respect. It is not uncommonly observed how a more highly gifted mind allies itself with one which if by comparison commonplace is at the same time superior in training and in moral qualities, and this perhaps characterises the relations between Goethe and Herder. The respect of the former continued to exist in spite of, and perhaps in consequence of, a certain coldness and a repel- * See book ix. Xlvi A SHOET BIOGRAPHY OF lant phase of humour on Herder's part, who was apt to he intolerant of foibles from which his own temperament was free. Their intercourse for the present was not of long duration, for Herder left Strasbourg as soon as his health allowed, and it was not until both were at Weimar that it was personally renewed. Amongst various books which Herder had introduced to his notice was Goldsmith's ' Vicar of Wakefield,' which, though published so recently as 1766, had already been translated into German. Herder regarded it from the critical point of view, and claimed admiration for it as an eminent work of art, but whilst Goethe w^as willing enough to adopt his judgment as a critic, he was still more ready to fall in with its sentimental interest from the fact that at about this time circumstances had brought him into- contact with a family which forcibly called up into real life the chief characters of Goldsmith's romance. This was the family of Pastor Brion, the clergyman of the small village of Sesenheim, near Drusenheim, a town in Alsace situate not far from the banks of the Ehine. He first visited this family in October 1770, with a fellow-student, who being a relative was in the habit of riding over occasionally from Strasbourg to spend a few days with them. Goethe, with a characteristic wkim, chose to present himself on this first occasion as a poor divinity student, in which disguise he was cordially^- received by the pastor and his wife ' and their two elder daughters. These maidens were not above wearing the native Alsatian costume, which in country districts was not yet superseded by the French mode, and which dis- played to especial advantage the neat figure and pretty face of Friederike the younger of the Jwo, then a girl of sixteen. The whole household was unpretending yet cheerful, and the air of simplicity combined with refine- ment which pervaded it, so forcibly brought to Goethe's mind the family of the vicar of Wakefield that when later a youthful son joined the party he was on the point of exclaiming, " What ! Moses here too ? " In the presence of such good people the counterfeit divinity student grew ashamed of his disguise, and the next morning he devised a pleasant way of freeing himself from JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. xhii the embarrassment of continuing to play a false part. During the few days of his stay it became an object with him to show himself in the most attractive light. The idyllic influence of a beautiful country, fine weather, and the society of a charming girl, as fresh and unsophisticated as she was frank and lively, was not to be withstood by Goethe's susceptible heart, and when he and Triederike parted they were already under the spell of mutual love. To follow out the history of this episode with all the fulness with which it is attractively set forth in the ' Autobiography ' * is not necessary, nor would it be possible with any due regard to space. It will be sufficient to say that Goethe found frequent opportunities of visiting Sesenheim, and that with each visit the sentiment on both sides grew stronger.f The family of Friederike con- sidered that a tacit engagement existed between the two, and such were their relations when Olivia (for so Goethe names the elder sister, though her real name was Salomea) and Friederike paid a visit to some friends in Strasbourg. A period of pause and reflexion must occur in the most thoughtless career of pleasure, and this visit to Strasbourg aroused the latent sense of responsibility which Goethe had hitherto succeeded in repressing. Friederike in the city amongst more smartly dressed and town-bred women was not the Friederike of the country. She was in herself no less loving and loveable, but, like a jewel wrongly set, she was in circumstances disadvantageous to her, and was not in harmony with her environment. The perception of this fact, and the approaching termination of his univer- sity career, recalled him to reason. Friederike herself was not without foreboding, which, as it became visible, made her presence a reproach to him. The departure of the sisters was therefore a relief to his mind — " a stone seemed to fall from his heart," and he sought further distraction in literary activity and in preparation for his degree. At this time Shakspere was becoming revealed to Germans through the translation of Wieland, and the • See books x. and xi. t There are a number of beautiful lyrics amongst his poems assign- able to this period. xlviii A SHOKT BIOGEAPHT OP oritioisms of Leasing and Herder. By youthful enthusiasts he was at once regarded as a diviniiy before whose rugged strength and greatness the narrow formalities and meaningless art of the French school of tragic writers were swept away. Goethe and Lenz, a man of some poetical talent, were leading spirits in the new Shakspere- cult. Of the former an oratipn has been preserved which, in spite of magniloquence, very clearly testifies to the genuineness of the impression made on him by the English dramatist : Lenz on his part earned applause by the ingenuity with which he could imitate the intricate turns of humour and metaphor with which Shakspere's plays and sonnets abound. Amidst the alternate distractions of love, literature, and gaiety, it is obvious that the object with which Goethe came to Strasbourg received little attention. His practical study had been directed chiefly to medicine ; and amongst his more intimate friends was Heinrich Jung, who was afterwards better known as a surgeon under the name of Stilling. Under these influences jurisprudence had been treated merely as a collateral aiFair. For a degree, how- ever, the necessary preliminary was " a disputation " held with his fellow-students, the subject of which was either a treatise written for the occasion by the candidate, or a set of " theses " which he undertook to maintain. The latter was the easier process, but it was Eath Goethe's- wish that the other should be adopted. Finding ecclesi- astical history more familiar to him than any more strictly legal theme, he started with the proposition that " it is the duty of a legislator to establish a certain form of worship, from which neither clergy nor laity should free themselves." This he supported with some dexterity, and sent a copy of the essay, written in Latin, to his father, who, though disappointed in the subject, was pleased with the general result. The faculty also com- plimented him, but probably disapproving officially of the Protestant point of view from which it was written, declined to receive and print it as usual. This result was by no means displeasing to Goethe, who had learnt through Herder to mistrust his own critical powers, and, what is more strange, had imbibed from Behrisch'an unaffected JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. xlix." dislike to seeing his compositions in print. He therefore fell back upon theses, -which he worked up with his repetent ; a successful disputation was held, and the important occasion was concluded, according to custom, by a merry symposium amongst the students. He ob- tained his degree of Licentiate of Laws on 6th August, 1771 . He remained nearly three weeks longer at Strasbourg, in the course of which he once more saw Friederike, leaving her with tears in her eyes ; it was eight years before he saw her again, and for the last time. On the 25th August he started for Mannheim, where he wished to see the museum of antiquities, which contained casts of many of the finest antique sculptures. Here he saw for the first time the ' Apollo. Belvedere,' the ' Dying Gladiator,' and, with especial interest, th« work which Leasing had made famous throughout Germany, the Laokoon group. At Mainz his interest was aroused in a different manner, by a young harper who happened to please him. On the spur of the moment he invited him to come to Frankfort with him, thereby somewhat em- barrassing the worthy Frau Goethe, who had the trouble of finding suitable lodgings for her son's unexpected companion. , His father was not displeased with the conclusion of his academical career,, and no time was lost in starting the young jurist in the practice of his vocation, for he at once applied for leave to practise as an advocate, and on the 3rd September was sworn in as an Advocatus ordinarius before the Burgermeister of the city.* Section III. — Publication of ' Goetz v, BerlicMngen' and 'Werther': 'UK.' 1771-1775. Goethe, however, was not destined to remain long at home. In the spring of the next year he again left Frankfort. The few intervening months are nevertheless of importance in the history of his intellectual develop- ment. He was now passing from the period of tutelage to that of independence. Hitherto his aims and ex- periences had been limited to the student-world, and • See Diintzer : ' Gpethes Leben,' p. 139. 1 A SHORT BIOGEAPHY OF co-ordinated within, the microcosm of a university. They now became widened in scope, and placed in relation tg the world at large. Hence to this period must be referred the commencement of his public life, and in it wiU be found the first sure indications of those qualities which brought him into contact with the public. At this period was commencing that literary movement known in Germany as the " Sturm und Drang," or, sii^ translated by Carlyle, "Storm and Stress." Hithert^; France had been the leading nation in literature ; and in other countries, especially in Germany, French taste, and the classic traditions of the Academy, involving the three dramatic unities, and tuch-like antique proprieties, had been paramount. But now, in literature as in politics, ideas hitherto current were discovered to be founded on unreality, and were rapidly coming to be regarded as superfluous. A new school arose, the watchwords of which were Nature and Truth. Its existence was per- ceptible in England and France no less than in Germany, but in the last the movement took a more violent form. " Sturm und Drang " in Germany was a revolt of the new generation against false and untenable canons of literary criticism, and was analogous in its sphere to the great French revolution in political history. The writings of Klopstock had given the first indica- tions of the birth of a genuine German school of literature. His 'Messiah,' 'Hermannsschlacht'-('Arminius-fight'), and ' Odes ' had appealed directly to the German people of the middle class. An impetus being thus given, the sudden discovery, so to speak, of Shakspere, and the wonderful in- fluence exerted by the fabricated poems called " Ossian's," contributed, partly as cause and partly as effect, to augment it beyond due bounds. " The wisdom and extravagance of that age united in one stream : the masterly criticisms of Leseang — the enthusiasm for Shakspere — the mania for Ossian and the northern mythology — the revival of ballad liteVature — and imitations of Eousseau, all worked in one rebellious current against established authority. There was one universal shout for Nature. With the young. Nature seemed to be a compound of volcanoes and moonlight; her force, explosion ; her beauty, sentiment JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHK ll To be insurgent and sentimental, explosiye and lachry- mose, were the true signs of genius. Everything es- tablished was humdrum. Genius, abhorrent of humdrum, would neither spell correctly nor write correctly nor de- mean itself correctly. It would be German — lawless', rude, and natural ; lawless it was, and rude it was, but not natural according to the nature of any reputable- type." * In the list of works by which this description might be illustrated may be mentioned ' Ugolino ' by Gerstenbergj and 'Sturm und Drang' by Klinger. Nine years later the publication of Schiller's 'Eobbers,' and the tremendous popularity which it gained, marked the climax of the movement. Its effect on Goethe is evident in his letters-, and inspires his drama of 'Goetz von Berlichingeh.' The framework of this piece was derived from the old ' Chronicle ' of Gottfried — a genuine autobiographic nar- rative written by one Gottfri-ed (or Goetz) von Ber- Hchingen, a robber-baron who flourished in the sixteenth century. Like others of those times, he acknowledged no lord but the e-mperor, and lived a life of continual feud and 'tyarfare with his neighbours; but unlike the majority of his fellows, Goetz of the iron hand had a sense of right and wrong. A sort of German Eobia Hood, he was ever ready to hear the tale of the op- pressed, and to mete out on, the oppressor a rough and ready substitute for justice. In this stalwart personage Goethe recognised a type of the German character and nationality of his- century, and his aim was now to reinvest it with life. At Strasbourg he had been led to study medieval history, and had gained a conception of its life." To this he had been mainly incited by his profound admiration for the cathedral, the outward form and history of which he had carefully investigated. Many years later, he wrote, in reference to some drawings of the building which had been sent to hira, " with pleasure I recalled the 'feelings of those years, when Strasbourg Minster forced admiration from me, and impelled me tO: strange • G. H. Lewes's ' Life oSGoGthe.' 2nd ei p, 9T. d 2 lii A SHOET BIOGEAPHT OF yet "deeply felt utterances of enthusiasm." * The means by wMch material so supplied might be thrown into a dramatic form were amply suggested by Shakspere, and he had doubtless acquired a clear conception of his plan before his return to Frankfort. But he had often talked of the subject with his sister before anything was done ; until one day she urged him not to be for ever talking, but if anything was to come of it to lose no more time. Thus instigated he sat down and speedily wrote off a few scenes : in a few weeks the whole was complete in its first form, and for the present it was left in MS. In the meantime Goethe was enlarging his acquaintance;. With Horn, Eiese, and the brothers Hieronymus and J. Gr. Schlosser, who were old Frankfort friends, he was still intimate : tlirough Herder's introduction he now came into contact with a new circle in Dusseldorf. The most noteworthy of these was Johann Heinrich Merck, who, though the son of an apothecary, had by his talents " raised himself to the companionship of princes," and now held the post of Kriegszahlmeister (army-paymaster) at Darmstadt. He had 'an admiration for English literature, and readily sympathized with the rising enthusiasm for Shakspere, and the aims of the young German school, but his mind was of too critical a cast to allow of his being a successful original writer. He was eight years older than Goethe, and the influence which he exercised on him, derived from a superior keenness of judgment, some- what resembled that of Behrisch, with the difference that he was a man of higher aims and character. He was superficially characterised by a constant fund of satire and cynicism, with which he was ever ready to meet any weakness on the part of his friend; and to this is due the designation "Mephistopheles Merck" which is fre- * Pee ' Annals,' an. 1810. In the present days of revived medisevalism the fuU signiflcanoe of such an intuitive perception of beauty in Gothic art is apt to he overlooked. But it is equally remarkable in the case of Chatterton, whose ' Bowley ' poems are so closely connected with the church of St. Mary Kedcliffe. In those days the beauty of mediaeval architecture was unrecognised, and to the few who appre.' ciato i it it appeared like a new revelation. There was barely three years' difference between the ages of Goethe and Chatterton, and they were working almost simultaneously. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. liii quently applied to him in. the ' Autobiography,' and which cannot be taken to imply any real disparagement on the •part of Goethe, for whom, in fact, his friendship had considerable value. At Merck's instigation J. Gr. Schlosser undertook to edit the Frankfurter Gelehrten Artzeigen, a new journal, which, with frequent contributions from the latter and Goethe, became the organ of the " Sturm und Drang " party. Early in the year 1772 it was determined that Goethe should increase his experience in jurisprudence by a visit to Wetzlar, the seat of the Eeichskammergericht, or Imperial Chamber, which was in fact a sort of chancery for the whole empire. Ever since the Thirty Years' War suits had been accumulating year by year without' any strenuous effort to clear them off, until they had reached the in- credible number of 30,000, and were stiU on the increase. A commission had therefore been appointed, and had been some years in operation, for the object of solving this legal dead-lock, and of investigating the delinquencies of certain members of the chamber. With such a prospect of legal work as these circum- stances afforded, Goethe was surprised to find himself at once in the midst of a large and lively circle of young men, attached in various subordinate capacities to the commissioners of the various states. He was received with cordiality, and speedily initiated into their amuse- ments, some of which were strongly coloured by the at- mosphere of mediaeval antiquity into which their vocation threw them. They had instituted a comic order of knight- hood, in which each was known by an assumed name, fluch as St. Amand the Opinionative, Eustace the Prudent, Lubormirsky the Combative, and so on. Goethe himself, who was doubtless communicative about the subject then uppermost in his mind, was dubbed Goetz von Berlichin- gen der Eedliche (i.e. the trusty), and he entered with much appreciation into the various eccentricities and extravagances of speech and conduct which were prescribed by the rules of this redoubtable company.* It is likely * See Lewes's 'Life of Goethe,' p. 113. liv A SIIOKT BIOGRAPHY OP that this fantastic idea was suggested by the relics of the old Teutonic order of knighthood, the Teutsche Bitter, which still survived in Wetzlar and other old towns. This order, of which perhaps the knights of Malta are the only modern parallel, was a remnant of German chivalry, a body from which the spirit had long departed, and which remained extant only as the corporate possessors of landed property in various parts of the empire. These possessions were managed by bailiffs, who frequently had charge of an official residence- invariably designated as "Das Deutsche Haus." There was such a functionary at Wetzlar, and he has a special claim on our attention, for Herr Amptmann Buff was the father of Charlotte Buff, ■commonly known as Lottchen, the original of the heroine in Goethe's far-famed novel of ' Werther.' * During the first months at Wetzlar Goethe's mind was stiU ill at ease in regard to Triederike. He could not at once throw off all remembrance of her, and felt at times the depression of spirits usual in such circumstances! But Charlotte Buff was destined to give his sentiments a new turn, and to exert an influence which in the end produced remarkable results. She was at this time only sixteen years of age, but was already informally engaged to Dr. Kestner, secretary to the Hanoverian legation, a sensible and earnest young man, endowed, moreover, with considerable self-control and magnanimity, as is proved by his letters referring to this period, which have since been published by his son. Prom these we learn that Goethe first made their acquaintance at a baU. " Lottchen," says Kestner, " at once fixed his attention. She is young, and although not regularly beautiful, has a very attrac- tive face. . . . He did nqt know she was betrothed. I came a few hours later : and it is not our custom in public to testify anything beyond friendship to each other. He was exceedingly gay (this he often is, though at other times melancholy). Lottchen quite fascinated him, the more so because she took no trouble about it, * For an afioount of the Teutsches SiliertJium, see Carlyle's ' Life of Frederick the Great,' book 11. oh. vi; The Buffs' house was a smallei: tenement at the left of the entrance to the Deutsche Haus at Wetzlar. JOHANN WOLFOANG GOETHE. Iv but gave herself wholly to the pleasure of the moment. The next day, of course, Goethe called to enquire after her. He had seen her as a lively girl, fond of dancing and pleasure : lie now saw her under another and better aspect : in her domestic quality." As the eldest of a large family of motherless children her duties were not light, but she discharged them in such a manner as to increase Goethe's admiration. He speedily became at home in the family circle, and was an especial favourite with the younger children. He could not long remain ignorant of the relations between KeStner and Lottchen, but he did not therefore admire her less, and the circumstances only served to attach him more closely to Kestner. " Our coincidence of taste," says the latter in a letter to a friend, " and a closer acquaintance with each other, formed between him and me the closest bond of friendship. . . . Meanwhile, although he was obliged to give up all hope ia respect to Lottchen, and did in fact give it up, yet with all his philosophy and natural pride he could not so far master himself as to entirely control his affection, and he has qualities which might make him dangerous to a young woman — one, that is, of feeling and taste- But Lottchen knew how to treat him so that no hope could germinate within him, and he must himself have wondered at her plan of behaviour to him. His peace of mind suffered much in consequence ; there were often remarkable scenes, in which Lottchen gained in my opinion ; and he must needs become dearer to me as a friend, though I was often forced to wonder what strange creatpres love can make of even the strongest and otherwise most self-contained people. I chiefly pitied him, and mental struggles arose within me when I thought that, on the one hand,' I might not be in a position to make Lottchen so happy as he, but, on the other, could not endure the thought of losing her. The latter gained the upper hand, and' in Lottchen I have not at any time been able to remark a suspicion of the same doubt." * The position which the three held towards each other was a singular one, and not the less interesting because the * ' Goethe and Werther,' by A. Kestner, p. 78. Ivi A SHOET BIOGEAPHT OF ' magnanimity of Kestner deprived it of an element which might have made it more dramatic. But Goethe's self- control was not so complete, and there were times when he felt that his growing love for Charlotte placed an undue strain upon his sense of honour. This, however, could not but end in pain ; and with the practical common sense which underlay all rashness, inconsiderateness, and even weakness in his conduct towards women, he deter- mined to tear himself away. He left Wetzlar suddenly, leaving behind him a note for Kestner, in which he enclosed the following to Lotte. " I hope indeed to come back again, but God knows when. Lotte, what did my heart feel whilst you were talking ! for I knew that it was the last time that I should see you. Not the last time, and yet I am going away to-morrow. He is gone. What spirit led you to that subject. When I was forced to say all I felt, ah, my thoughts were of this life, and of your hand, which I kissed for the last time. The room into which I shall not return ! and the dear father who accompanied me for the last time ! I am now alone and may weep. I leave you happy, and shaU not depart from your heart. I shall see you again — ^but not to-morrow is never. Tell my boys, he is gone. I can say no more." * He left on the 1 1th of September, 1 772. He had previously arranged with Merck to meet him at Coblentz, and thither he walked alone down the beautiful valley of the Lahn. On arriving he was introduced by Merck to the family of Geheimrath von Laroche, with whom they stayed for a short time. Frau von Laroche was a Jady with literary abilities, an^ she found in Goethe a sympathetic critic. The society of her daughter Maximiliane, who was shortly afterwards married to Peter Brentano, and went to live in Frankfort, also afforded him consolation in the sorrow of his recent parting from Charlotte Buff. On his return to Frankfort he gratified his father by working assiduously at his profession : at the same time he found time to write frequently for the Frmikfurter Velehrten Anzeigen. Moreover, he now determined to make • ' Goethe and Werther," p. 45. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. Ivii public his drama of 'Goetz,' and considering that it was in several respects artistically imperfect he re- wrote the whole. He had previously failed in finding any bookseller who would undertake to bring out his earlier comedy of ' Die Mitschuldigen '; and Merck now proposed to publish 'Goetz' at their joint expense, and thereby secure a larger share of the profit which they both ventured to anticipate. This plan was carried out, Goethe providing the paper and Merck being responsible for the printing ; and in the next year (1773) the work was supplied to the public. It was at once a great success. Its originality of style and true German tone, its freedom from the conventionalities of the Trench school, fell in completely with the new tendencies of the time, and gained for it a reception in every class to which a literary production could appeal. That it proved pecuniarily profitable to Goethe and Merck is more doubt- ful, for such was the legal status of literature at that time that the author had no protection against piracy, and unauthorized i^eprints appeared in such numbers as effectually to alienate the proceeds of the sale from the 'rightful owners. About this time he wrote the farce called ' Gotter, Helden, and Wieland,' which, though a roughly-drawn satire, contained some fair restrictions on the literary style of the older poet. It was not intended for publication, and was certainly prompted by no personal hostility towards Wieland, who, by common consent, held perhaps the highest place amongst living German poets, and was now enjoying the patronage of the enlightened court of Saxe- Weimar. It was only at the request of Lenz, whom he afterwards supposed to have some sinister design, that Goethe allowed the farce to be printed, and it was satis- factory to him to find that Wieland took no offence, but was magnanimous enough to praise it in an article in his paper the Deutsche Merkur. Amongst the letters of this and following years will be found a number addressed to Frau von Laroohe, with whose family his intimacy continued to increase. A still larger number are addressed to Fraulein Johanna Fahlmer, a member of the same circle. She was the daughter of Georg Christoph Fahlmer, a manufacturer of Diisseldorf, Iviii A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF whose elder daughter by a former wife married a mer- chant named Jacobi, and became the mother of the poet Johann Georg and the philosopher Priedrich Heinrieh (Fritz) Jacobi. Johanna was therefore the annt of these Mothers, though, being a year or two younger than either, she stood more in the relation of a sister or cousin. Goethe addresses her as Tante (aunt), though she was only five years his senior. At a later date she became the second wife of J. G. Schlosser, who was now about to marry Goethe's sister.* Notwithstanding the frank and friendly terms which he maintained with Johanna, Goethe had at first no liking for her two nephews, whose straight- forwardness he appears to have doubted, but how ex- aggerated the prejudice was is evident fj-om the sudden intimacy which began a year later, and which seems to have been brought about by Herder's influence. In November, 1773, Goethe's sister OomeUe was married to r. G. Schlosser, and soon afterwards went to live at Em- mendigen, where Schlosser accepted the position of Bailiff. Her departure was a great loss to her brother, for amidst all the transitions of feeling to which his emotional nature was liable, he retained a constant love for her, and an admiration for her mental qualities. Her married life was a short one, for she died in less than four years. , ' It was probably towards the end of the year 1773 that ' Werther ' was begun, though it was not published until the autumn of 1774. The plan of the book must have been floating for some time in his mind. In October 1772 he had heard of the suicide of Jerusalem, a young man of good position and talents who had been attached to one of the legations at Wetzlar ; Jerusalem had also been a student at Leipsic with Goethe.f The cause of his suicide was an un- happy passion' for the wife of a friend. The tragedy made a deep impression upon Goethe, and it became interwoven in his mind with his own fruitless but less morbid attach- ment to Charlotte Buff, who in due course became the wife • Cornelie died in 1776, and in 1778 the widower married again. Johanna Schlosser died in 1821 in her 78th year, but her direct cor- leBpondenoe with Goethe does not extend beyond 1781. t Between the years 1765-1767 : but he had not been intimate with Goethe. See Diiutzer, ' Goethes Leben,' p. 71. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. lii of Kestner. The result is well known in the famous ' Sorrows of Young Werther,' the hero of which, so far as emotion and impulse are concerned, is himself — hut hy no means himself in conduct and mental calibre. The ahandonment of mind and intellect to one dominant craAdng and sentiment, such as must precede suicide from Buch a cause, are imitated from the character of the ill-fated Jerusalem. The heroine Lottchen is a closer, but not an exact portrait, of the real Charlotte, whose name he did not think it necessary to disguise ; while the third character, Albert, the fortunate lover and husband, is but a caricature of the friendly, liberal-minded Kestner. The story is evolved, after the manner of Eichardson and Bousseau, in a series of letters written by the unhappy hero, and this fact alone may tend to make it less attractive amongst ordinary readers of this day, who expect a more dramatic and lively method of treatment ; but to the public of its time it appealed with the most extraordinary vividness. It was read in all classes of society, and was translated into many foreign languages. "Perhaps there never was a fiotionwhich so startled and enraptured the world. Men of all kinds and classes were moved by it. It was the companion of Napoleon when in Egypt : it penetrated into China. To convey in a sentence its wondrous popularity, we may state that in Germany it became a people's book, hawked about the streets, printed on miserable paper, like an ancient ballad ; and in the Chinese empire, Charlotte and Werther were modelled in porcelain."* To Kestner and his wife the book was by no means pleasing. Goethe sent them a copy before its publication, assuming that they would have as much pleasure in reading as he had had in writing it; but they could only discern a distortion and unconcealed adaptation of their own characters and circumstances. The immense popularity of the book made it all the more obnoxious, and Kestner wrote a candid but easily justifiable reproof to their rash friend. This Goethe accepted with a frank apology and explanation, and his friends were easily induced to forgive his indiscretion. Goethe by two successes had now gained popular • Lewes's ' Goethej' 2nd ed. p. 153. Ix A SHOET BIOGEAPHT OF fame, and notable people were glad to make liis ao quaintance. Amongst these may be mentioned Basedow, an eccentric and freethinking educational reformer; tbe sentimental metaphysician, Friedricli' Jacobi ; and the Countess von Stolberg. To Lavater and Klopstock he had already become known. The latter Was in Frankfort just before the publication of ' Werther,' and on that occasion Goethe read to him portions of ' Faust,' the conception of which he had already formed in Strasbourg, but which was not to be completed for some years to come. A dramatic work on the subject of Mahomet was also in contemplation, but this unfortunately was never finished, though several songs to be introduced were written, one of which is now included in his poems. That the subject continued to interest him is, however, proved by his translation of Voltaire's drama in the year 1800. In these early days of his career some external and personal incentive seems to have been almost necessary to ensure success in production ; so that while greater works were laid aside, a trifle of minor importance might be produced with very little effort under special instigation. About this time a young lady,* one of his sister's friends in Frankfort, happened to gain his attention : and neither recollections of Lotte, nor his occupation with the subject of 'Werther,' prevented his falling in love with her. Matters had proceeded so far that his mother began to reckon upon his betrothal and marriage. This, however, was not to be, though their intimacy was not without an enduring result in the shape of ' Clavigo.' It happened that Goethe once took to a party at which this young lady was present, the so-caUed ' Memoire ' of Beaumarchais, a small volume which detailed the actual circumstances of a love story of which his sister, living in Madrid, was the unfortunate heroine — the recusant hero being Clavijo, • a man who afterwards attained some literary note. The story was thoroughly dramatic, and Goethe's Fraulein, during an amiable tete-a-iSte at the end of the evening, enjoined him to gratify her by turning it into a play. * There is some doubt about her identity : Duntzer says it was a certain Fraulein Anna Sibylla Miinoh. Viehofif and Lewes identify her with Antoinette Geiock. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. Ixi On the impulse of the moment he nndertook to do this. By adopting the anecdote almost literally, and adding a suitable denouement, he had redeemed his promise within the space of a week. The drama so produced, though of only second-rate importance as a literary work, was eminently adapted for the theatre. It became popular, and still holds a place on the stage. Two other trifles written about the same time are the ' Jahrmarktsfest zu Plundersweilern,' and the ' Prolog zu Bahrdts Keuesten Offenbarungen Gottes.' Goethe formed an intimate friendship with Lavater, which was, however, founded less upon any community of character and practical aims than upon the personal attractiveness of the man, the sincerity of his religious sentiments, which Goethe was always disposed to respect, and perhaps on their common friendship for the Praulein von Klettenberg. Lavater was then at the height of his reputation ; his well-known work on ' Physiognomy ' was in preparation, and his communications with various people of note, in respect to their portraits, which he was having engraved for his forthcoming work, added interest to his society. They spent some time together in travelling in the neigh- bourhood of the Ehine and Lahn, and on one occasion were accompanied by Basedow.. This philosopher, who was double Goethe's age, was eccentric in his conduct. Un- couth and dirty in his personal habits, described as never undressing to sleep, and as continually drinking beer and smoking, besides being a violent assailant of Christianity, he afforded an instructive contrast to Lavater. Under such opposing influences it is worthy of notice how strong a hold the Bible and Biblical theology continued to retain on Goethe's mind, notwithstanding that his whole intel- lectual Constitution was opposed to religious dogmatism. A new moral impulse was brought to bear upon him about this time by the writings of Spinoza. That he studied the works of this great writer systematically is not to be supposed, for he was never addicted to precise metaphysical reading. But even a superficial acquaintance with that philosopher could not but impart to him clearer and broader views over the material and moral world. "I well remembered," he wrote afterwards, " what, peace-and Ixii A SHOET BIOGRAPHY OF serenity came over me when I first glanced over the surviving works of that reinarkable man. This sensation was still quite distinct to me, though I could not have recalled any particular point. But I hastened forthwith to (the works to which I was so much indebted, and the same sense of peace took possession of me. I gave myself up to reading them, and thought when I scrutinised myself that the world had never looked so clear."*. As an illustration of his mental condition, if for no other reason, it must be regretted that he did not carry out a project conceived at this time for a poem on the subject of ' The Wandering Jew,' in which, without doubt, the character of the great Hebrew writer would have played a part. At the beginning of 1775 Goethe completed his drama of ' Stella,' for the heroine of which Johanna Fahlmer is supposed by some to have been the model. It is an unpleasant story of a double attachment on the part of the hero Fernando ; it had at first no artistic dSnouement, the tragical ending was only devised later, when the play was produced at Weimar. This piece added nothing to Goethe's fame, and is only interesting because the circumstances of its origin have never been satisfactorily explained.^ Goethe was still in the first flush of renown, when it was his fate again to fall seriously in love. Amongst the rich inhabitants of Frankfort was a banker named Schone- mann. He was not one of the old-fashioned burgher-class to which Goethe's relatives belonged, and when Goethe one evening accompanied a friend to the banker's private dwelling, he found himself in more fashionable society than that to which he was accustomed in his own circle. His attention was at once attracted to the daughter Anna Elizabeth, better known to readers of his works as Lili. She was pretty and graceful, not without some coquetry of manner ; and being, above all, only sixteen years old she had aU that attractiveness of early womanhood which, * See books xiv. and xyii. of the ' Autobiography. t It is stiange that no one has suggested that it was founded on the story of Swift's Stella and Vanessa, with which Herder had doubtless made him familiar. See ' Autobiog.' (trans.) i. 418, and page 109 below. JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE. Ixiii wten we recall tlie similar age of Gretchen, Friederike, Lotte, and other later favourites, seems in itself to have had a peculiar fascination for Goethe. His visits to her parents' house became frequent, and, as was usual in his case, a mutual attachment speedily sprang up, without any recognition of responsibility or acknow- ledged thought of marriage. That his love was as ardent as it appeared to him in later years to have been, is open to question ; but the sundry poems which owed their inspira- tion to Lili are, in a man with so much impulse and so free from pedantry, a proof that his thoughts were con- siderably engrossed by her. In any case their relations had this peculiarity, that Lili may be considered to have been his superior in social standing, and that her parents did not for this reason encourage their attachment ; which fact alone gave her a certain fictitious value. On the other hand, Goethe was well aware of the practical objections which a marriage with Lili would entail. Their parents lived in different spheres, and were separated by a difference of religious faith, which in those days implied a good deal.* He moreover looked forward to his bringing his bride to join their own domestic circle ; and how would they welcome a fine lady, inured to luxury, elegance, and gay society ; and how would she reconcile herself to the homely ways of their old-fashioned and unpretentious household ? Matters however drifted on, until some definite resolution was necessary, at which point a well-disposed but officious friend intervened, and, with some difficulty, obtained the consent of the parents on both sides to a betrothal. This result did not, however, remove Goethe's own misgivings. It is true that in contemplation of marriage he worked at his profession with more diligence ; but as time wore on it became more and more clear to him that he was taking a step not warranted by prudence, or justified by his own feelings. At this juncture the two young Counts von Stolberg came to Frankfort, on their way to Switzerland. Goethe was already engaged in a correspondence with their sister ♦ The Goethes were Lutherahs; tkeScli6nemannsheld"Beformea donne, Le cruel ! II connoit mon cceur sensible et tendre, II connoit le repos qu'il y pourroit rbpandre, II scait bien qu'un ami s'il ne peut lious aider, Devroit en nous plaignant pourtatfTiiajis Boulager. Le fait il ? Oh que non ! ma douleur est estreme. Je suis faible il est vrai. Est on fort quand on aime ? Mais il ne cherche rien que de combler mes maux, Et me dit en riant : Ha, tu as des rivatix. .Je ne le scais que trop, sans qu'il le dise encore. , Tout qui la vit 1' admire, qui la connoit I'adore ; Mais faut il eveiller, I'idee plein d'effroi ; Un rival est plus digne de cet enfant que moi. Soit ! Si je ne le suis, je vais chercher de I'etre. Chassons le vil honneur ! que I'amour soit mon maitre. J'ecouterai lui seul, lui seul doit me guider, Au sommet du bonheur par lui je vais monter. Au sommet de la science mont6 par I'industrie, Je reviens, cher ami, pour revoir ma patrie, Et viens voir en depit de tout altier censeur ; Si elle est en etat d'achever mon bonheur. * Charlotte (or according to Diintzer, Charitasl IMeixner, the daughter of a rich merchant of Worms, and a cousin of Trapp's. She visited a near relation, Kuth Moritz, at Frankfort, who was intimate with the Goethe family, and so became a friend of Curnelia Goethe. See O. Jahn, p. 77. 17CC.] LETTEBS OF J. W. GOETHE. 13 Mais il faut jusque la que votre main m'assiste Laissez parler toujours ce docte moraliste. Ecrivez moi ! Que fait I'enfant autant aime ? Se souvient-il de moi ? Ou m'a il oubli^ ? Ah ne me cachez rien, qu'il m'eleve ou m'accable. Un poignard de sa main, me seroit agreable. Ecrivez, c'est allors, que de mon cceur cheri, Comme elle est mon amante, vous serez mon ami. Je suis avec toute afi'ection possible cher Trapp Le votre Goethe. 7.— To A. Trapp. Monsieur mon cher ami ! Leipsic, ce l" d'Ootb. 1766. Vous me confondez ! Est ce done vous meme qui autre- fois mon rival, m'enviates tout jusques au plaisir d'etre regarde par ma maitresse, vous qui quelques fois sentites la rage au cceur, parceque j'aspirois au meme bonheur que vous ; est-ce done vous m^me, qui m'apprenez aujourd'bui le plus souhaitte et le plus inattendu evenement, qui me met au comble de la joie. Elle a done vu ma lettre, elle n'a done pas ete fachee de ce cceur faroucbe, de cet amour ardeirt, de mes senti- mens impetueux, elle meme a souhaitte de posseder ces lignes miserables. Ah pourquoi ne les lui avoz pas donnees sans me demander ! Comment avez vous pu croire, que je ne serois pas ravi du sort agreable de ma lettre, d'etre gardee par les mains de celle que j'aime, et que je refuserois a mes vers le bonheur d'etre si proche d'Elle, que je souhaite moi meme si ardement ? Donnez lui la lettre, mais dites lui pour quel usage je souhaiterois qu'elle le gardat. Qu'elle se souvienne quelquefois, en regardant ces lignes, d'un amant malhetireux qui I'aime sans attendre jamais le fruit de son amour, qui lui souhaite la vie la plus heureuse, sans esperer de pouvoir contribuer a son bonheur quelque peu de chose. Je n'aurois jamais eu la hardiesse de dire si hautement mes sentimens, si elle ne les avait pas rejus si gracieusement. Vous me dites des compliments de sa part ! seroit-ce bien possible, qu'elle cut tant pense a moi. 14' EARLt AND MISCELLANEOUS [1766 Dites lui— Mais que pourriez-votis lui dire quelle ne sent pas encore ? Elle connoit mon cceur. Conservez moi son amitie et la v6tre. Adieu ! Goethe. 8. — To WiLHELM Carl Ludwig Mooes,* 'Fkankfokt. Goethe amico suo Moorsio Salutem plwrimam dicit.'\ My dear Moors, L[eipsic], l October, 1766. At last I write to you. The disjointed circum- stances in wMch. I find myself will excuse me for hav- ing been so long undetermined what to do. I have at last made up my mind to disclose everything to you, and Horn has taken upon himself the trouble of writing to you, a matter which for me, moreover, would not have been the most agreeable. So you know everything. You wiU have seen therefrom, that your Goethe is not quite so culpable as you think. Think as a philosopher — and so you must think if you wish to prosper in the world — and what blameworthy aspect has my love then? What is the position ? A frivolous pretext that men have invented by which to punish people who do not deserve it. And money is just as miserable an advantage in the eyes of a person who thinks. I am in love with a girl without position and without means, and at this moment I feel for the very' first time the happiness that a true aifection affords. For the attachment of my maiden I am not indebted to the * We learn from a oommunloation made by Otto Jahn (printed in the Briefe tm Leipziger Freunde) that this Moors was the second son of J. I. Moors, formerly SchuUheies, or chief magistrate, of Frankfort. He was bora on the same day as Goethe, August 28, 1749. Six'months after Goethe's arrival in Leipsio, Horn, who was also there, wrote to Moors bewailing Goethe's altered manners, especially his ridiculous and affected conduct in respect to some woman with whom he was supposed (though wrongly) to be in love, and asking Moors to write and expostu- late with him. Moors did so, and elicited the following reply, from which, as also from a second letter from Horn to Moors, it appears that Goethe was only acting a par{, and that his affections were really engaged by another lady, namely Kathehen Schonkopf, to whom several of the following letters are addressed. C. L. Moors himself ultimately became SchuUheiss of Frankfort. t These lines form' the address of the letter, whicli- was enclosed in another. — 0. J. 1768.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 15 miserable petty coquettings of the sentiraentalizer ; only tkrough my character, only through my heart, have I won her. I have no need of presents to keep her, and I look down with a contemptuous eye upon the expedients by which before now I have purchased the favours of a "W. The excellent heart of my S. is my pledge that she will never fail me until duty and necessity shaE bid us part. Were you only to know this excellent girl, dearest Moors, you would forgive me this foUy which I am committing in loving her. yes, she is worthy of the great happiness which I wish her without being able ever to hope that 1 shall contribute anything to it. Tarewell. I will write to your brother ; it is not pride, it is carelessness, which has made me forget him. I must in conclusion impose upon you, in the name of friendship, the most profound silence. Let no person kn(Jw it ; none, without exception. You can imagine what harm might herelsy come to pass. Farewell. Goethe. 9. — To Adam Feedeeick Oeser,* Leipsic. Fiankfort-on-Maine, 13 Sept., 17CS. Dearest Here Professor, I have now been twelve days again in my native town, surrounded by relatives, friends and acquaintances, part of whom rejoice, and part of whom are surprised at my return, whilst all of them take pains to be obliging to the newly-arrived half stranger, and to render bearable to him, by friendly intercourse, a city too greatly the antithesis of Leipsic to" possess much attraction for him. We. shall see how they succeed; at present I can say nothing. I am too much distracted, and too busily engaged with , my new arrangements, for my heart to have much * Adam Friedrich Oeser was the director of the Academy of Design at Leipsic. He was also professor in the Dresden Academy, and painter to the Court of Saxony. He was a fiiend of Winokelmann, and his artistic taste was greatly in advance of that of his day. The bene- ficial influence which he exercised on Goethe, who put himself under his tuition at Leipsic, is enlarged upon in the Autobiography. (Book viii., et passim.') The friendship between them proved a lasting one, and, through Goeihe, Oeser afterwards became an intimate friend of the dowager Duchess Amalia of Saxe-Weimar. 16 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768. feeling for what I have lost, and what I here regain. At the present time I only write to advise you that my arrival, after a pleasant journey, has given ■ a long . expected gratification to my family, and that my illness, which, according to the report of the physicians here, does not so much affect my lungs as the passages to,-them, appears daily to diminish. Also that your cabinet-maker,* after staying some days with us, left for his destination with good recommendations, in the hope of succeeding as well as possible in his object, and left his best respects to yourself and your whole house. For the present that is all. Let me defer until a more quiet and seasonable period every grateful acknowledgment for all that I owe you. As soon as I shall have arrived at this much desired period, I will write you a longer and better letter ; in the meantime preserve for me all your attachment, your' friendship which is so flattering to me, and has cheered me so much ; also keep me in the remembrance of your hon- oured wife, and of your amiable children, and all my friends. In particular I desire you to assure of my regard, Heny Kreuchauf,^ Herr Cravinus, Herr von Hardenberg,f Herr von Lieven, and Herr Huber, and to wish my successor, Herr Groeni[n]g,| the most rapid progress in art. I am, with the most constant esteem, dearest Herr Professor, yours most sincerely, J. W. Goethe. lO.-^To Anna Katharina [KXtuchen] Schoenkopf,]] Leipsic. Mademoiselle, [September 1768.] . Herr Goethe, to whom it is well known that scissors, knives, and slippers arei the articles particularly in demand * John Jung (who is afterwards referred to), attendant at the Academy of Art in the Pleissenberg. He was by trade a cabinet-maker, aind gained the appellation of " the model oabinet-maker.".^0. J. t See Aulobiog., bk. viii. (trans, i. 269). J Afterwards Prince Hardenberg, the celebrated Chancellor of Prussia, 1810-22. § Autdbiog., bk. viii. (trans, i. 284). II "These letters were in 1849 in the possession of the widow of President Siokel, nee Kanne, of Leipsic, granddaughter of Schoenkopf, .laughter of Kathohen, by whom I am allowed to publish them." — 0. J. Schoenkopf carried on the business of a wine-seller, and Goethe vt.fts 1768.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 17 •wit'hyoTi, sends you herewith a pair of pretty good scissors, an excellent knife, and leather for two pairs of slippers. All are of sound material, and substantial, and my master has moreover commended to them the utmost forbearance ; yet in my opinion neither blade nor leather will hold out in your hands so long as he. Do not take it ill of me that I speak as I think ; but two years and a half you cannot demand of either slipper, knife, or — I will not say what — for cruelly do you treat all that subjects itself, or must be subjected, to your authority. Tear and break them all up by Easter, when a new supply will be at your service ; and let these trifles occasionally remind you that my master ever as before is devoted to you. He has not thought fit himself to write to you, that he may not break his vow never to send you a letter before the first of the month. In the meantime, that is from to-day until the 1st October, he commends himself through me most devotedly ; and I myself take this opportunity of similarly com- mending myself to you. Michael, Formerly entitled Duke, but after the loss of his duchy, A trusty tenant on his Grace's ducal estate.* 11. — To Christian G. Schoenkopf, Leipsic. October 1, 1768. Your servant, Herr Schoenkopf, — how are you, madam? — good evening, miss, — Peterchen, good evening. N.B. — You must imagine that I enter at the little door. You, Herr Schoenkopf, are on the sofa by the warm stove, aoousfomed to dine at his house. His daughter, in these letters addressed as K'athchen, is called Aennchen in the Awtdbiog., bk. yiii. * Goethe here refers to the representationofKriiger's comedy, 'Duke Michael,' in which a servant named Michael, who had captured a nightingale, and bad heard of the high value of the same, dreams that he will BO profitably employ the proceeds as to be able at last to pur- chase a duchy ; and in anticipation plays the part of the imagined noble towards his master and his daughter Sannchen. As he is announcing his plans to the wondering maiden, he suffers his nightingale to escape, again descends to reason, and comforts himself with her affection. — 0. J. . 18 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768. Madame in her comer at the -writing-tahle, Peter close in front of the stove ; and if Kathchen is sitting in my place, by the window, she may just get up, and make way for the stranger. Now I hegin to discourse. What a long time I have been away, have I not ? Five whole weeks, and more, since I have seen you, since I have spoken to you — a thing that has not happened once in two years and a half, but unfortunately will now happen frequently. You would like to know how I have been getting on all this time ? Well, that I can tell you, — middling — only middling. Apropos, I am sure you will have forgiven me for not having taken leave of you. I was in the neighbourhood, indeed at the door, saw your lamp burning, and went to the foot of the ' stairs, but had not the heart to mount them. For the last time, — how should I ever have been able to come down again. So I do now what i should have done then ; I thank you for all the affection and friendship you have shown me 80 constantly, and which I shall never forget. I need not beg of you to remember me ; a thousand occasions will come on which you must think of a person who for two years and a half made a part of your family, — who often, perhaps, gave you cause for pain, but yet was always a good young feUow, and whom I hope you will sometimes miss. At any rate I miss you often. Of this 1 wiU say no more, for to me it is always a sad subject. My journey was prosperous and uneventful. I found all here weU', except my grandfather, who is actually almost recovered from the paralysis of one side, but still suffers in his speech. I am as well as any one can be who is in doubt as to whether he has pulmonary disease or not. Yet I am somewhat improved ; my cheeks are filling up again ; and as I have neither girls nor worldly cares to plague me here, I hope to get on from day to day. A word to you, Mamsell ! Did my messenger lately; hand you the little trifles I sent you on account ? and' if so, how did you receive them ? The other commissions have not been forgotten, although they are not all exe- cuted. The neckerchief I have completed with great gu^o, and it shall be sent by the first opportunity. If you 1768.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 19 ■would like one of the enclosed colour, you have only to command it, telling me at the same time ■whatever colour you ■wotild like on it. The fan is in hand ; the ground will be flesh-coloured, ■with natural flo-wers. Ha^ve you still got the shoes ? See that your shoemaker takes care in making -them up, ■when the colours are ■well fixed, not to spoil them ; and then send me your size, and I ■will paint you as many as you please, in ■whatever colour you please, for they are soon done. Time will settle any other matters. Write to me when you like, only let it be before the 1st November, for then I shall write to you, and more. Yet, dear Herr Schoenkopf, I know you do not write Voilfself ; but urge Kathchen on a little, that I may soon receWe news of you. Surely, madame, it would be unfair did I not receive, at least every month, a letter from the house in which, up to this time, I was to be found every day. And if you do not ■write to me, all the same on the 1st November I ■will qertainly write again. Compliinents to Madame Obermann, Hr. Obermann, and Mademoiselle Obermann particularly; to Hr. Eeich, Hr. Junius, besides Mademoiselle Weidemann, to whom you must apologize for my not having taken leave. Adieu, »11 of you. Kathchen, if you do not write to me, you shall see ! Sent off 3rd October. 1 12. — To Kathchen Schoenkopf. Mr DEAREST Friend, Frankfort, l Nov., 1768. ^ Still as lively as ever ! still as malicious as ever ! So happy in sho^wing up good in a false light ! So pitiless as to la,ugh at a sufferer, and jeer at one -who complains ! All this wicked pleasantry is contained in your letter : arid could the countrywoman of Minna -write otherwise ? I thank you for so unexpectedly early a reply; and I beg of you in future in pleasant happy ho-urs to think of me, and, if possible, to write to me. It affords riie the greatest delight, to witness your liveliness, your vivacity, your ■wit, however flippant and sharp it may be. No one knows better than I the figure I have cut ; and the figure my letters cut I can well suppose. When we c 2 20 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [176?. remem'ber what lias happened with others, it needs no prophetic sonl to divine what will happen with ns. With that, I am well content. It is the nsnal lot of the departed, ' that those left behind and those coining after should dance on their graves. How does our manager, our director, our majordomo, our friend Schoenkopf, get on ? Does he ever think of his leading actor, who all this time has played as- well and as naturally, as possible, in comedy and tragedy, the onerous and difficult parts of lover and deserted friend? Has no one yet offered to take my place ? — ^though it is not likely to he completely fiUedj . Tou inay sooner find ten actors to play Dulce Michael than one to play Bon Sassafras.* Do you understand my meaning ? : Our good Mamma has reminded me of Stark's ' Manual ';t 1 will not forget it. You remind me of Gleim ; he assured I will forget nothing. Absent as well as present, I seek to satisfy the wishes of those I love. I very frequently think of your library ; you may rely on its being increased very soon. If I do not always perform at once what I have promised, I often do more than I promise. You are right, my friend, in supposing that I am now punished for my sins against Leipsic. My present resi- dence is as unpleasant, as my residence in Leipsic would have proved delightful, 'had certain parties felt disposed to make it agreeable to me. If you will blame me you must act fairly. You know what made me discontented, wilful, and sullen. The roof was good, but tl^e beds inight have been better, say's Trancisca.J Apropos, what news of our Francisca ? Will she soon have made it up with Just ? I fancy so. As long as the Corporal was there she thought of her promise; but now that he is off to Persia, why, out Of sight put of * This expression, which puzzled Otto Jahn, is probably an allusioD, of a rather dubious sort, to his own state of health. In Letter 17 it seems to be applied to Horn. t Probably H. F. Stark's Daily Manual for Good and EvU Days. Frankfort, J739.-0. J. . I The allusion here and in the following passage is to characters in Lessing's Minna von Barnhelm, which had recently been Acted at Leipsic. 1768.] LETTERS OF J. vV. GOETHE. 21 mind. Sho will sooner take up with a lover she would rather not have had, than not have any. Remember me to the good girl. You are rather stiff about the particular compliment I paid your fair neighbour.* What remains for you? Why, what a question! You have my whole heart, all my affection ! and the most pointed compliment does not amount to the thousandth part of that ; and that you weU know, although you act, for the torment or amusement of your friend (either is the same to you) as if you did not think so ; and you take care in your letter to tell me this— ^for instance, where you speak of my departure ; — ^but let us pass this over. Show this letter, and all my letters, to your parents, and, if you like, to your moat intimate friends, but to no one besides. I write, as I have spoken, in all honesty ; and therefore I wish no one who might distort my meaning to set eyes on it. I am as ever, unceasingly yours, J. W. Goethe. 13. — To Feiedeeike OESER,t Leipsic. MamsELL, _ Frankfort, 6 Nov., 1768 As fractious as a teething child. Now downcast like a man by writs made wild ; Then like a hypochondriac quiet, And moral as a Mennonite, Obedient as a pretty lamb ; Then as a bridegroom brisk I am. Half ailing and anon half well once more. My body wholly well, only my windpipe sore ; Disgusted much that neither lung Inhales sufficient breath to give my tongue What many a time it wants, when it would proudly boast What I have had with you, and what I now have lost. . With might and main they try to make me live Afresh, and strength and stamina to give. I'm handed by my Doctor Medicinae Decoctions of the Cortex CMnae, * The Mademoiselle Obermann mentioned at the end of the last letter. Her parents lived opposite to the Schoeukopfs.— 0. J. t A daughter of Adam Friedrich Oescr. 22 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768 The young man's nerves witli torpor stricken. In hand and foot and eye To brace anew, and memory And intellect to quicken. V By day, and specially hy night, Yield not ^o Thought's aUuring flight!" "What a prescription for an active mind By every charm to ecstasy inclined ! He takes away iny Boucher's " Maid " From my apartment'; hangs instead A superannuated from. With teeth half broken out and wrinkle-furrowed face. By careful, frigid Gerard Dow, Upon my walls ; and orders me, in place Of wine, a tasteless oatmeal brew. Oh ! say thou, do : Can one endure a lot more sad— My body old, in years a lad. Half aUing, half in health to be ? Such doleful moods ensue that I Could ne'er be free, Had I six mandrakes,* from my misery. Of what avail to me were all earth's wealth? The world 's no pleasure without health. And yet indeed I'd not complain, Tor I already am -well versed in woes, If I had only that, which pain And weight of sickness to sustain More strength than virtue's self bestows, The short'ning of dull rainy hours, A balsam plaster for all sores — Companions whose love one knows 'Tis true I have continually Eight friendly people at my side. Who when I suffer grieve with me, And many a joy for me provide ; I'm only wanting to myself, quite blest to be. Yet no one know I who the misery •".... Not poppy, nor mandragma. Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world .... " — Otlielb. 1768.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 23 Of pain so quickly mitigates, or who With one look gives the soul repose, as you. I came to thee a dead man from the grave, Whom soon a second Death had taken for his own. And he around whose head he once hath closely flown, That one WUl tremble at the thought, aye, till life's day is done. I know well how I trembled have ; Yet thou didst change, with thy endearing powers, The tomb into a bed of flowers. As thou didst tell how fair, how sorrow-free, How good, how sweet was thy blest destiny — With tones of such deluding witchery That I of whatsoe'er grief had bereft me Because thou hadst it — felt as if 'twas left me. Content, and, what is more, with joy away I came And all my journey was the same. Hither I came, and found the ladies here Somewhat — if one must say it — as they were. Enough ! not one has moved me to this day.* Though what Herr Schiibler f once affirmed Of Hamburg belles I cannot say. Yet am I too a stickler most confirmed Since Leipsio girls led me astray. Whom hardly can I e'er forget ; And you must know how easily dispraised are they Whose worth ds by your standard set. Oh ! gracious Heaven ! as for sprightlinfess, For intellect, and wit, not one like you have we ; A voice like yours for tunefulness. How could such in the Empire be ? * Horn also writes after his return to Frankfort. " It is quite intoler- able here in the Empire ; the people are as stupid as ever one can imagine. Often I am forced to laugh at it, but' more often it annoys me. The girls ! oh they are quite unbearable ! very proud, and without any common sense. I- could go mad when I think of Leipsic. Not one of them is capable of carrying on a conversation, except about the weather, or a new-fashioned headdress. — O. J. t Daniel Schiebeler, of Hamburg, according to Otto Jahn, resided in Leipsic from 1765 to 1768, and occupied himself with music and poetry. In his poem Pygmalion he likens the ladies of his native city to the most beautiful statues. See 4u'obi°7-> ^^^- viii- (trans, i. 280). 2i EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768. Sucli discourBe as our garden tete-a-t^te — That at the play too— in unusual style, So gay, yet so discreet the while — For such I needs must wait. If, fitfully, with girls I'm gay, They give me a censorious frown : " The Herr must be from Bergamo !"* they say. And not in quite a civil tone. If one shows sense, that too they will not have ; For if one's self one cannot force To be the most obedient slave Of Grandison, t and blindly to endorse The tyrants' every word, One's laugh'd to scorn without being heard. How good you maidens are, to self-improvement prone^ Kindly to others' faults, severe towards your own ; And though to please you take no carp, There's no one whom you win not to you. Ah ! one must be your friend, little as one may know you One loves before one is aware. But hereabout, with womankind One has but dreary tedious sport ; Tor friendship, they've no gifts of mind ; For love, they are of feeling short. Had I not many a whim, so were I surely done — Did I not often make untimely fun, Did I not laugh where none a joke can see. Did I not think that you are thinking oft of me. Yes, think of me you often must, say I ; = Upon that day especially "When at your cottage J you may be — That spot which such anxiety — The spot which so much pleasure, gave to me. You do not understand ? I will explain ; I know that you will pardon me. * Bergamo is the home of Harlequin, as Salzburg is of Hanevmrst [the German ' Jack-Pudding ']. — O. J. t Eichardson's Sir Cliarles Grandison. See, again, p. 29. X At D'alitz, more than three miles from Leipsic. — 0. J. 1768.] LETTKES OF J. W. GOETHE. 25 The songs that I have given to thee, these will remain The special property of that fair spot and thee. When from the town I fled away, Teased by my cruel maiden, in' dismay, Audaciously I did essay To seek you out ere hreak of day, Within those fields beloved by you Which from your words so well I knew. So now within your paradise, I trod On every mead, in every wood, By stream, by brook, my eager face aflame With ruddy morning-light, and sought — ^but you ne'er Then slew I, prompted by my evil mood. The wretched frog, hard by the sunlit flood ; Then round and round careering, I Caught now a rhyme, and now a butterfly. And many a rhyme and many a butterfly riew by The hand outstretched to take ; which stood In very act of catching stayed. When on my listening ear from out the wood Did fall the sound of voice or tread. I sang these lays by morning light ; At evening, home my way I made ; J took my pen, and did indite The verses good and verses bad. With fortune ever worse, I oft again Eeturn'd to the ill-omen'd plain. Till fate at last to favour me did deign. And one more day I had not hoped for gave. Yet scarce did I enjoy the sweet houi-s of farewell ; They were but all too near the grave. My feelings I forbear to tell, For this prosaic verse of mine Is witH such feelings now but ill-attuned. 26 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768. Here then you have my lays,* and, to repay All that I have endured for you, When to your West abode you hie away Then take them too ; And sing them oft, rejoicing, where My grief dictated every song. Then think of me, and say : " 'Twas thero Beside the stream he tarried long, The poor one ! who so oft, hy fortune stem, Saw pitiless the meadows fair. Were he this moment to return. Ah ! now would I he there." But now, methinks, 'twere high time to he done, For if one thus two sheets f with verses fill They will at last refuse to run ; Yet only wait till humour me compel. And your good favour is assured me still, I'll write you many a letter like this one. If brothers, sisters you will greet. Let Eichter f too included be. Farewell ! and if good luck's your friend as constantly As I, then you will e'er the fairest fortune meet. Goethe. 14. — To A. F. Oeseb, Leipsic. Frankfort, 9 Nov., 1768. Most esteemed Here Professob, The protracted absence of your Jung has delayed this letter, which I ought to have written so soon, for a month and more. I hoped to send by him to Leipsic a packet of letters, and a packet of trifles, which must now wait for some other opportunity. Should you not have received more tidings of him than I have, you will be more anxious than I ; for I always think that he has written to you, or returned to you by ♦ See note", p. 31. t The letter, in fact, fills two sheets, written very closely and neatly. —O.J. J Eeeeiver-General (Obergeleitseinnehmer) Bichter. See Autobiogt bk. viii. (trans, i. 270). 1768.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 27 Bome other route, I hope soon to ascertain ; a kind friend has undertaken to inquire in Grehweiler as to how he and his affairs stand. My health begins to improve, and yet still it is not much better than had. The enclosed letter, which I have taken the liberty of addressing to your daughter, says more on. this point, and more on my mode of life otherwise. Art, now as before, forms almost my chief occupation, although I read and think on the subject more than I actually draw ; for, now that I am to run alone, !• begin to feel all my weakness. I can hardly get on at all, Herr Professor, and have no resource but to take ruler in hand, and see how far I can progress with this support in Architecture and Perspective. How am I not indebted to you, dearest Herr Professor, for having pointed out to me the path to the true and the beautiful, and for having made my heart susceptible of their charms. I owe you more than I can thank you for. My taste for the beautiful, my knowledge, my ideas, have they not all been derived from you ? How certain — how clearly true, is the strange and almost incompre- hensible phrase that the studio of the great artist develops sooner the developing philosopher and the developing poet, than the lecture-rooms of the philosopher and the critic. Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.^ Who amongst all my teachers has considered me worthy of encouragement, but yourself. They either altogether blamed, or altogether praised, and nothing can be so injurious t6 progress. Encouragement after blame is sunshine after rain — fruitful increase. Indeed, Herr Pro- fessor, had you not given my love for the muses a helping hand, I should have really despaired. What I was when I came to you, you know, as well as what I was when I left you ; the difference is your work. I well know that that ifiappened to me which happened to Prince Biribincker,* after his bath of flames; I saw altogether differently, I saw more than before; and, what is beyond all, I saw what I still have before me to do, if I will be anything. Yon have taught me to be modest without losing confi- dence, and to be proud without presumption. I should • In 'Wieland's Don Si/lcio von Bosalva. — 0. J. 28, EAKLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1768. never end, were I to tell all I have learned from you. Excuse this apostrophe, these sentences, from a thankful heart. I have this in common with all tragic heroes, that my passion is very apt to overflow in tirades, and woe be to him who comes in the way of my lava. The company of the muses, and a written correspond- ence maiiitained with my ,friends, will this winter render pleasant .my sickly, solitary life, which, for a young man of twenty years of age, would without them he rather a martyrdom. My friend Seekatz * died a few weeks before my arrival. My love for art, and my gratitude to artists, will give you the measure of my grief. If Herr CoUeotor Weis[s]e "f would do me the kindness of inserting a notice of his life and works in the Library, I would send it to you.f Be so kind as to take an opportunity of asking him about it. 1 have just read Jc?n«,§ — of my thoughts on this, another time. My parents greet you and your family, with all the affection and gratitude they owe to a man to whom their son is 80 much indebted. Tarewell. I am, dearest Herr Professor, yours, Goethe. 15. — To A. F. Oesee, Leipsic. Most esteemed Professor, Frankfort, 24 Nov., 1768. Jung leaves to-morrow ; can I neglect this oppor- tunity of writing to you ? I envy every one going *to Saxony, my letters included ; and yet my correspondence with Saxony is now almost the only thing in which I take real delight. You will be astonished at seeing all the treasures your cabinet-maker takes with him. We were all rejoiced to find that his journey has proved so successful-^his sickness excepted, and hope that his return journey at this bad time of the year will be as pleasant as is likely. * A Frankfort artist. See Autdbiog., bk. iii. et pagsim. t District-Eeoeiver of Customs, and a dramatic writer. See Autobiog., bk. viii. (trans, i. 280). X In the New Library Qfthe Fine Arti (Neuen Bibl. der sch. Wisaensch.) there is only a short notice of Seekatz, which did not emanate from Goetlie.— 0. J. § By Wieland. ■■1768.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 29 Were it not that the road to Leipsio is so bad, and so long, I should some day or other take you by surprise ; for I have much to say to you. You ■will remember that I had always a nice stock of reflexions, ■which I generally laid before you. It is true they ■were often somewhat far- fetched, but then yo^a taught me better. There are, ho^w- ever, a thousand things one can talk of without hesitation, but which one would greatly hesitate to ■write about. My thoughts on Idris, and the letter to Eiedel, * on Ugolino,^ on Weisse's Grosamuth (Magnanimity) fur Gross- mutli, on the Essay upon Prints, from the EngHsh,| are all of them' fitting subjects for conversation, but not precise enough for writing about without length or method. The collections here are, it is true, small, but all the more numerous and select ; my greatest delight is to make myself thoroughly acquainted ■with them. It is well that you have taught me how to look around. Generally speaking, however, I suffer much for art. It is my luck, to which I am already accustomed, to suffer for my friends. Apostles, prophets, and poets are seldom honoured in their O'wn country, and still more seldom at a time when they are to be seen every day ; but yet I can- not forbear preaching in favour of good taste ; even if one does not accomplish much, one is always learning more by it, if one only has the opportunity of finding out that ex- tensive learning, reflective acute intelligence, cursive wit, and profound scholastic knowledge, are very heterogene- ous with good taste. The ladies here lay great store by the wonderful, and hold less by the beautiful, simple, or comic. Consequently, all such marvellous tales as Grandison, Eugenie, % the » 'Wieland's letter to Eiedel was prefixed to the first edition of Idris and Zenide, 1767. — O. J. t On April 19, 1805, Goethe ■wrote to Fr. Jacobi of Gerstenberg's UgoUno : " I have taken this opportunity of reading the piece through again, and, according to my present views and convictions, must consider it wonderful." See also Schiller's correspondence with G., Letter 801. — O- J- , „ , ' J An Essay iwon Prints. London, 1768. Svo. German ed., Frank- fort, 1768.— O. J. § A translation of Beanmarehais' Eugenie (Paris, 1767) appeared at teipsio in 1768.— O. J. 30 EAELT AND MISCELLANKOUS [1768. Galley Slave,"* and: alj the fantastic treed are held in great respect here,. Of Wilhelmine,^ which yet, thank Heaven, has gone through three editions, I have not, in spite of all inqjUJries, jseen ahle to find a copy in any lady's library. More of ttis sad state of affairs in my next. : If the red stone I ajid the hlack chalk are good, I have more at ypnr sei;vice. Have the kindness to rememher me to your wife, and kll the family, as well as to my well- wishers and friends, among whom I name Herren Creuchauf, Weissei Ciodius Hubert, von Hartenberg,^ Cravinus, and Grrojiing, My parents commend themselves to ypu, and jt.ajn,' with the most sincere respect, .your obedient scholar and servant, Goethe. 16. — To K. SCHOENKOPF. PranMort, 30 Dec, 1763, My best, my most anxious Peiend, Xou will doubtless have received from Horn, for the new year, the. intelligence of my recovery, and I hasten to. confirm it.§ . Yes, my dearest one, the cloud has rolled by, and it will serve to comfort you in future when you hear — he is again laid up ! You know my constitu- tion often makes a false step, and in a week I am generally well again. This time it went badly with me, and looked worse than it was, for it entailed dreadful pains. But in evil there is a,lso good. I have learnt during my sickness many things I should not otherwise have learnt in my life. STow that all is over, I am quite lively again, although I have not left my room for fully three weeks, and scarcely any one visits me but my Doctor, who, thank God,, is an estimable man. What a foolish creatui:e is man ! When I was in lively company I was ill-tempered ; ♦ The Galley Slave (Leipsic, 1768) was a translation of L'hennete Criminel of Fenouillot de Palbaire (Paris, 1766). Lessing at one time thought of working on the same material ; " for he was not at all satisfied with the French piece, great as was the applause bes1»wed on the German representation." — Lessing's Theatr. Nachlass, I., p. xlvii. — 0.' J. t Thiiinmel's Wilhehnine appeared in Leipzig in 1764, 1766, and 1768.— O. J. 1 See notef, p. 16. § Goethe had left Leipsic in impaired health, and had had a relapse. See Autdbiog., bk. viii. 1768.1 LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 81 now that I am forsaken of all tlie world I am full of vivacity : for oven during my illness my cheerfulness was a source of relief to my family, who were hardly in the position to console themselves, let alone me. In a fit of folly I composed the lines on the new year,* which you will have received ; and to kill time, I have had them printed. Besides, I draw a good deal, write tales, and am contented. God grant me in the new year everything good for me. May he grant this to all of us ; and if we ask for nothing more we may certainly hope to receive it. If I can only last until April, I shall be able to resign myself to my fate. Then I hope to get on better, more particularly as my health may be expected to improve daily, now that my complaint seems to be known. My lungs are as healthy as can be, but my stomach seems oppressed with something. I have been given to under- stand, in confidence, that I may look forward to an agreeable and pleasant mode of life: my mind, therefore, is contented and at ease. As soon as I recover, I am to visit foreign countries ; and it will only rest with you, and somebody else, to decide how soon I shall again see Leipsic. In the meanwhile, I contemplate starting for France, to see what life there is like, and to learn the language. You can therefore form a notion of what a polite man I shall doubtless have become by the time I see you again. The idea often strikes me — what a stupid fate mine would be were I to die before Easter, notwith- standing all my fine projects. In that case, I would order a gravestone for the Leipsic churchyard, so that every year, on St. John's, my name-saint's day, you might at least visit the St. John's-Manikin and my grave at the same time.f What say you ? Commend me to the continued regard of your parents. Kiss your dear friend for me, and thank her on my part for the interest she takes in me. I will soon write to her * A piece of this nature is the first of the Nevs Lieder, composed by Goethe, and set to music by Bemhard Theodor Breitkopf. They are reprinted in Derjwnge Goethe, edited by M. Bemays (Leipz. 1875). t It is still customary in Leipsic, on Midsumhier day (St/ John Baptist), to visit the churchyard, and ornament tlie graves with flowers. On the same occasion a small figure of St. John, carved in wood, is placed on the fountain and decked with garlands. — 0. J. S2 EAKLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1769. Tour neiglilDOur I really am sorry for. Will it not prove the greatest disappointment to tlie loving couple? Poor creatures ! They are in great straits ; and, Heaven help, them or not, they will not be thankful for it. That you will live to see, and will say, — Did not Goethe say so ? Certes, marriage, nowadays, has become a grand affair; neither of them has, or at least one of them has not, a pennyworth of discretion. Oh, holy Andrew ! descend, and work a miracle, or we shall have a mess. N.B. — Take care that nobody sees this but those it may help. Farewell, my love ; in sickness or health, altogether yours, Goethe. 17. — To K. ScHOENKOPP. r FiaDkfoit, 31 Jan., 17C9. To-day or to-morrow — ^it is all one when I write, if you only learn how I am getting on. Things must be better in Leipsic than here. Neither you, nor Horn, nor anyone else writes to me. Possibly you are enjoying balls and twelfth-night revelries, whilst I am moping here. Miserable carnival. For a fortnight have I again been in- doors. At the commencement of the new year I was released on parole ; the little license accorded me is again expired, and, in all likelihood, I shall be caged for a good part of February. Heaven knows when this is to end, . but I make myself as comfortable as I can, and trust you do likewise. I shall have been here half-a-year on the 3rd of March, and already have been ill for half-a-year. I have learned much in this half-year. Horn, I fancy, must also have learned more all this time ; we shall not know one another again when we meet. Horn certainly cannot have half the desire to see me that I have to see him. The good fellow is to leave Leipsic; and as yet has not spit blood. Sad fate ! " Can you be so merry who have only to-day left Leipsic?" said a Saxon officer to me, when I supped in Naumburg with him on the 28th August. I replied, " Our hearts frequently know nothing of the hilarity of our blood." After a time, he commenced, — " You appear unwell ' " I added, " I really am so and 1769.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 33 eeriously. I have spit blood." Spit blood ! " he cried ; " Ah ! then I see it all. You have already made a great march on the road out of the world, and Leipsic became indifferent to you because you could no longer enjoy it." " You have hit it," I answered ; " the fear of death has dispelled all other regret." " Naturally enough," he said, taking me up; "for life is always the grand point: without life is no enjoyment. But," he continued, " has not your departure been made easy?" "Easy?" I inquired; how so?" "Why, plainly on the side of the ladies," said he; "you have the aspect of being not altogether unwelcome amongst the fair sex." I made a bow for the compliment. " I say what I mean," he added ; " you seem to me a deserving young man, but you are ill ; and I wager, therefore, ten to nothing that no maiden has held you by the sleeve." I held my tongue, and he laughed. Stretching his hand to me across the table, he said, " Now I have lost ten dollars if you say on your con- science, ' One has held me back.' " " Done, Captain ! " I said, seizing his hand ; " you keep your ten dollars. You are an expert, and do not throw your money away." " Bravo ! " said he ; "I see that you, too, are an expert. Ood preserve you ! And if you recover your health, you will derive advantage from this experience. I " And then he plunged into an account of his history, which I pass over in silence. I sat and listened with dismay, and when he had ended, assured him I was confounded ; and my history, as well as the history of my friend, Don Sassafras,* has more and more confirmed in my mind the philosophy of the captain. Unfortunate Horn ! He has always prided himself so much on his calves ; they will certainly bring him now to grief. Only let him get away alive.f You may still look * See note p. 20, and cf. Geiger's Goethe Jahrhuoh, p. 376. t Horn returned to Frankfort in the beginning of April. In his first letter he says : — " Goethe desires to be remembered to you, Mamsel. He still looks far from well, and has grown very stupid. The air of the Empire must have affected him. I must see that I pack oif, or I shall he in the same predicament ; and I am yet too young to become stupid. The time hangs terribly heavy on my hands, although I am seldom alone. Goethe tells me to liaiig myself; but here, at any rate, I shall not ; had I been wise I should have hanged myself in lieipsio." — 0. J. ' B 34: EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [17C9, at Mm to your heart's content, for he is the last Frank- forter of any note left in Leipsio ; and when he has gone; you may wait awhile hefcOre you set eyes on another. But console yourselves, I will soon he with you again. Good.hea-v^ns! here am I joking again in the midst of my affliction. How should I get on were I not in such good spirits ? Completely chained to one place for aliuost two months. Adieu, my hest of friends. Greet your parents, and your friend, and whenever you writ6 let me know how the members of the former Sunday party are now agree- ing amongst themselves. Love me. Ill or in health, till death Your Fkiend, Goethe.' • 18. — To Pkiedeeike Oeser. Mademoiselle, Frankfort, 13 February, 1769. , The answer has been long deferred,— ought I perhaps to beg you to excuse me? Certainly not, if I could do so ; if I could say : Mam'selle, pardon me,^I have had many, many things to do, at which Hercules might have dislocated his arm; I could not possibly do it; the days were short ; my brain, owing to the influence of Aries and Aquarius, was somewhat cold and damp, — and if I had brought to bear the full string of conimonplace excuses, not to let it be imputed to myself I was lazy : if I were in circumstances to say any such thing, I would rather never write at all. Oh ! Mam'selle, it was an inopportune composition of my 'natural humour, which screwed me for four weeks to my bed-post, and for four weeks to my chair, so that all the time I would just as soon have been bewitched in a cleft tree. And yet they have passed by, and I have studied well and thoroughly the chapter of contentment, patience, and what not of subjects in the book of fate, and am grown somewhat the wiser thereby. You will therefore excuse me if the present letter is more a commentary on yours than a reply to it ; for so great as is the pleasure which I have had from your letter,' so much also have I to take exception to it ; and — Eonneuf aux dames — but indeed you are wrong. 17C0.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 35 We must understand, each, other better, before we proceed further. Assume, then, that I am dissatisfied ■with you. And now I will begin, and go on from beginning to end, in order, like a chronicler, and the letter will grow to be as long as the dissertation of a cathedral canon on a short simple text. You know, then, of old — at least it is not my fault if you do not know it — you know that I look upon you as a very good girl who, if you were so disposed, could easily have it in your power to reconcile an honourable man with the female sex, even though he were as prejudiced as Wieland. If I am wrong, that again is not my fault. For nearly two years I have frequented your house, and have seen you almost as seldom as a nightly-searching Magus hears a mandrake whistle. To speak then of what I have seen — the Church does not judge of that which is not revealed, said Paris — I do. assure you that I have been thereby enchanted ; but- indeed philosophers of my stamp generally carry with them Ulysses' bundle of herbs, along with other trinkets,, in a sachet, so that the most powerful witchcraft does them no more harm than a drinking boiit, — a headache next morning ; but the eyes again are clear. Let this be well understood, in order that there may be no misconception. You are fortunate,^ very fortunate ; if my heart were- not just now dead to all sensation, I Would tell you how ;, indeed I would sing it to you. The most possible of all Gessner's worlds; at least so I imagine. And your mind has formed itself with very much good fortune ; you are tender, sensitive, a connoisseur of charmingness ; this is: good for you and for your companions, but it is not good for me ; and you must be good for me, if you would be a thoroughly good girl. I was once Ul, and again became well, well enough to reflect with comfort upon my last will. I slunk about in the world like a spirit, which after death is often drawn again to those places which formerly attracted him when he could still enjoy them in the flesh ; sorrowfully he creeps to his treasures, and I meekly to my girls, to my friends. I hoped to be com- miserated; for our self-love must hope for something, cither love or pity. Mistaken spirit, remain in your tomb ! D 2 36 EAKLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [17G9. You may ■weep and wail ever so pitifully and dolefully in your white sheet, — he that is.dead is dead ; he that is sick is as good as dead ; go, ghost, go ! if you don't want them to say you are a troublesome ghost. The stories that led me to these reflexions do not belong to this letter. Only one of them will I narrate to you circumstantially, if I can still manage to recall it correctly. I came to a girl, — I could have sworn it was you, — she received me with a great shout and almost died of laughter that a man could have the ridiculous idea of dying of consumption in his twentieth year. Indeed she is right, thought I ; it is laugh- able, although as little so for me as for .the old fellow in the sack, who well-nigh died of a beating at which a whole audience almost died of laughing.* As however all things in this world have two sides, and a pretty, agree- able girl can easily make one believe that black is white ; and as I am at any rate easily persuaded; the thing pleased me so well that I allowed myself to fancy that ic was all imagination, and that one would be happy, so long as one were pleased, and so forth ; and she told me how happy she had been in the country, how she had played at blindman's-buff, at whip-top, had fished, and sung,'so that I felt as a young girl does in reading Grandison : there's a fine specimen of a man, such an one you too might have, thinks she. How gladly would I have joined in, and have made my illness woise. Let a man be what he may, Mam'selle, there is nothing so bad but that fate could not turn it to good account, — your mercilessness during the last few days towards the poor doomed one gaye him strength. Believe me, you alone are to blame that I left Leipsio without any especial pang. Joy of heart and heroism are as communicable as electricity, and you possess as much of them as an electrical machine has sparks within it. I will see you again to-morrow ! — such a farewell to a poor wretch one is about to chain to the galley, by my faith, is not the most tender. So be it ! It gave me strength, and yet I was by no means satisfied with it. Between ourselves, be it said, greatness of soul is generally want of feeling. When I consider it well,' you acted quite naturally; my departure must have been a * Molierc's Les Fourheries de Scapin, iii., 2. 1709.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 37 subject of indifference to you ; but to me, in truth, it was not. I should certainly have wept had I not been afraid of spoiling your white gloves ; an unnecessary precaution, for I saw just at last tliat they were of sUk and knitted, and then I could have wept again, only it was too late. But let me conclude. I left Leipsic, and your spirit accompanied me with all the sprightliness of its being. I arrived here, and commenced making observations for which time had failed me before. And I looked about for friends, and found none ; for girls, they were not so com- pounded as I like ; and I was in grief and I complain to you in beautiful rhyme, and wonder, will she commiserate you, and comfort the unhappy swain with a letter ? Then came a letter ! Well, it is true I was enlivened ; for you cannot imagine the drought which causes one here to pant for agreeable entertainment; but comforted I was not. I saw you were of opinion that poetry and untruth are sisters, and that your correspondent might perhaps be a respectable man, but he was also a thorough poet, who, from his preference in favour of chiaroscuro, laid on his colours somewhat more strongly and his shadows some- what more darkly than Nature does. Bon. I will give you credit where you are right. But it is a little too bad to attribute things to me which 1 as little possess as the philosopher's stone. A sound head, — a good heart ! now, as to that, I might yet perhaps let myself be persuaded that I have them; but teachable lady-disciples, male friends as is fitting, — these I still await : when I have caught such birds of paradise I will write to tell you. That you there- fore were wrong to write me out a recipe according to the species as it existed in Leipsic, and that this must of necessity vex me, this you probably now conceive. It is very unreasonable ; you have made my heart indifferent about leaving L., you will have it that I forget it alto- gether. Oh, you know yourself and your countrywomen too little ! Any one who has seen Minna played in Frank- fort, knows better what Saxony is. You are therefore wrong. This I repeat once more, although for the instant 1 know not why ; for I have written so much about it that I really have quite forgotten the text. Let it be what it will, the whole affair was an impartial, disin- 38 EAELY AND MISOELLAKEOUS [17G'J. terested reminder of a certain young lady, that a really good heart includes also compassion; that the feeding of poor people or of larks is not, by far, the highest degree of feeling ; that laughter at real misfortune is just as little a good cure as when it is from f orgetf ulness ; that when we are ourselves satisfied we can with very little grace address a discourse upon contentment to a hungry man ; and, lastly, that the most delightful letter does, not possess a hundredth part of the charm of a conversation. Now yau might have cast all this and much more in my teeth, and not by any means so gently, whereby I should have been confounded, and should never have ventured to make any, even the least, of these inopportune observations. If young ladies only knew -vyhat they could do if they wished ! It is well that it is as it is ; I shall be content that they do not know all our weak points. But enough of this subject, about which I have written so much, because I hope never again to write about it. Would that I may have benefited some unfortunate one whom fate may in the future give into your hands, which the daintier they are can so much the more cruelly inflict . _ pain. Hereafter I hope to annoy you with no complaints^ 1 : with no wailings. I hope never to have'need of the com* ;| ] passion to which I exhort you. In spite of the illness which I have had, in spite of the illness which. I still have, I am so contented, so cheerful, often so merry, that I would not give in to you, even if you visited me at this very moment, when I have settled myself in a. chair in front of a table, with my feet wrapped up like a mummy, " to write to you. Here too must be said that this new year's time I have written a farce very shortly to appear, under the title of " Comedy in Leipsic." For at the present time all farces are contraband in Parnassus, like everything else of the time of Louis the Fourteenth. Be your connexion with Fate what it may, I shall hold my ground with her ; and your motto might pass muster, and be a good and proper one, were it not that it is taken firom Ehingluff,* or Heaven knows what he is called : twenty * K. Fr. Kretzsohmann's Song ofBinrfulyh the Bard, ichen Varus kOs Slain (Zittau, 1700)) was highly pruised iu the N. Bibl. der gchSii. Wit- 1769.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 39 poets have said it just as well, and better ; and why should the man with the barbarous name receive all the honour ? for, between ourselves, I am not a friend of his. I know nothing further of him ; but his verses, which I do know, give the lie to the venerable beard and majestic presence Herr Geyser* 'attributes to him. I will swear that in real life he looks younger. Are the songs bad, then ? Who is likely to ask such heartsearching questions ? Enough, I do not know what to make of thetQ. Mam'selle, if you desire it, you shall have my opinion respecting all sorts of things : tell me your own, and it will afford the most agreeable and most fruitful materials for our correspond- ence ; but experience produces distrust. I speak frankly to you, as I would speak to few in Leipsic, only do not let anyone see how I think. Since Clodius | has evinced a more friendly disposition towards me, a great stone has been taken from my heart. I have always guarded against giving offence. Ehingulff doubtless is in Leipsic ,- per- haps you know him. I know nothing ; for I have lost all connexion with all witty souls. I think of E. as of all poems of this description. Thank God we have peace ! Of what use is all this cry of war ? Yes, if it was a sort of poetry, in which a great abundance of images and of sentiment, and so forth, was contained. Ah ! then, good, there's always fish there. But nothing besides an eternal thunder of battle, the fire flashing valiantly from the eyes, the golden hoof splashed with blood, the helm with its plume, the spear, a few dozen monstrous hyperboles, an eternal ha ! ha ! when the linejjannot be completed, and the nionotony of the measure if it goes on long — all this to- gether is unbearable ; Gleim, and Weisse, and Gessner in one short poem, and enough to satiety of aught else. It is sensch. 1769, VIII., i.. p- 7fi- Later appeared The Wail ofBingulph the Banl (Zittau, 1771). In the Franlefurter Anzeigen Goethe ridiculed him thua :— " Herr Kretzsohmaim appears here in the altogether unexpected light of a patron, standing with a golden sickle under the consecrated oak. and, as an old bard, initiating the stranger Telynhard. Can any one tell who consecrated him as Kiugulph, au that one might rebuke him a little on Klopstock's and Gerstenlierg's account?" — 0. J. ■ * The copperpliite engraver, afterwards Oeser's son-in-law. — O, J. . t Professor Clodjus, whom Goethe and his friends had offended. See Autdbiog.yhk. vii. t 40 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1769. a thing that fails altogether to interest ; a wish-wash that is good, for nothing but to waste time. Forced pictures, — hecause the versifier has not seen nature ; eternal tautology, — for battle is hattle ; and the situations which it affords are very stale. And what does the victory of the Germans concern me, that I should listen to the shouts of joy ? Why, I can shout myself. Make me feel something which I have never felt:— think of something which I have never thought of— and I will praise you. But noise and shouts instead of pathos, — that will not answ;er the purpose, — tinsel, and that is all. Then there' are in E. pictures of rural innocence which might be apt if applied to Arcadia; under the oaks of Germany no nymphs were bom as under the myrtles in Tempe. And what, in a picture, is most insufferable is want of truth. A fable has its truth, and must have it, else it would be no fable. And when the subject is so hashed up one grows afraid. Then our friends think the outlandish costume must produce effect. If the piece is bad, of what use are the fine clothes of the actor ? When Ossian sings in the spirit of his times, I can will- ingly make use of a commentary to explain his costumes, and can take great pains about it ; but when modern poets strain their wits to present their poems in an old dress, it does not suit my humour to strain my wits to translate it into modem language. Gerstenberg's " Skalde " I should long ago have gladly read, but for the glossary. His is a lofty spirit, and he has a principle of individuality. One should not judge from his " Ugolino."* I would take this opportunity of observing that grace and lofty pathos are heterogeneous, and no one can unite them so as to produce a worthy subject of a noble art ; certainlya subject of lofty pathos is not adapted for painting, that touchstone of grace ; and poetry has by no means any occasion to enlarge its bounds, as its advocatef maintains. He is an experi- ' enced pleader of his cause ; rather a little too much than too little is his mode of thinking. I cannot— I need not further explain myself; you cannot but understand me. When one thinks differently from great minds, it generally is a sign of a small mind. I have no desire to be at the same time one and the other, A great spirit errs as well * See uotet p. 29. t Lessiiig, in Laolwon. 1769.] LETTERS 6p J. W. GOETHE. 41 as a little one ; the former because it ignores all bounds, and the latter because it takes its horizon to be the whole world. ' Oh ! my friend, light is truth ; yet the sun is not the truth, although light flows from it. Night is untruth. And what is beauty ? It is not light, and not night. Twilight, an offspring of truth and untruth — a middle thing. Within its empire is placed a finger-post, so ambiguous, so much awry, that a Hercules amongst philosophers might be misled by it. Here I must stop ; for when , I come to this subject I begin to ramble, and yet it is my favourite subject. How I should enjoy a few delightful evenings with yonr dear father ! I should find so much to say to him. My present existence is devoted to philosophy. Locked in, solitary, paper and ink, pens and a couple of books, form all my apparatus. And, by this simple road, I arrive at a knowledge of truth often as far^,' or farther than others with their library knowledge.--'^A great scholar is seldom a great philosopher ; and he who, with miich labour, has thumbed the pages of many books, despises the easy, simple book of nature ; and yet nothing is true but what is simple, certainly a poor recommenda- tion for true wisdom. Let him who follows the simple path go on his way in silence ; humility and prudence best become our footsteps on this path,, all of which will even- tually meet with due rewardj^i^or this thank your dear father ; he first moulded my g(5ul in this fashion : time will reward my diligence so that it can carry out that which has been begun by him. When I once begin to chat, I lose myself, as you do ; only I cannot so soon find my way back. In saying I have chatted much, this remark applies more to the present letter than it does to yours. It was a little short. Be encouraged by me to write. You do not know how much you do for me in occupying yourself for me only a little time. And were it only on account of its seldomness, you ought to keep up a correspondence in the Empire. Yet one or two trifles before I close. My songs, of which a portion have had the bad fortune to displease you, will be printed at Easter,, set to melodies.* I might, perhaps, have taken the liberty of offering a copy to you * The Neue Lieder releiied to iu the notes pp. 2G, 31. 42 EAKLT AND MISCELLAKEOUS [1769. •with my autograph., -were it not that I know that you are easily moved by some trivialities to invective, as you your- self say at the commencement of your letter, which I think, by the way, I have well understood. It is my mis- fortune that I am so frivolous, and that I look at every- thing on its bright side. If you have regarded my songs from the worse side, is that my fault ? Throw* them into the fire, and do not look at them when printed ; only keep me in favour. Between ourselves, I am one of the re- signed poets ; if the poem does not please you, we will write another. I Aould like to write something about Wieland, did I not fear prolixity. It would afford materials enough for another letter. You also have a good deal to tell me, you say in your last letter (which was the first). Well, spend only an hour every week ; I will gladly wait a month, and then I hope a friendly packet will console me. You would do me a particular favour if, amongst other things, you would give me some information about the newest agree- able and good works; here one never gets it before a quarter of a year after the fair. Although I have now al- most wholly renounced modern literature, and rhymes will no longer flow except after some small excitement, I should not like altogether to forsake neologism all at once. One always keeps one's liking for the trashy reading which in Leipsic often passes muster for learning. How I should like to pay you a visit at Easter, if I could ; or, I tell you what, — d9 you come here to me, or send me the Papa. We have room for all of you, if you will come. I am quite in earnest. Only ask Master' Jung,* he will tell you this is true. And our table ex- pands when we have guests just as well as your own. Tou will probably not accept this invitation; the Saxon girls are somewhat particular. Well, I will not force you. But if you make me angry, I shall come myself and invite you in person. Will you not accept then ? I am, your most devoted friend and servant, GOETIIK. * See note,* p, 16. 17G9.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 43 19. — To A. F. Oksee, Leipsic. Dearest Herr Professor, Frankfort, 14 February, 1769. At last a letter ! It has waited long, and must have waited still longer to hring you the news of my complete recovery. I am really still a prisoner with my illness, although with that greatest hope of being soon released. This new year has opened out for me the first prospect of life since that miserable August, and it seems as if the winter of my nature is to coincide in epoch with this winter. Am I then to be well by Easter, and yet not come to you ? I am not coming, Herr Professor. Not at Easter, not at Michaelmas, perhaps not for a year, kind as you are to me. You are willing to have me just the same now, in one year, or in two. What is that, that I must just once more take leave in that way.* No, if I come I will come to stay with you a good time, for the end does not follow the beginning so closely as two follows one. And how could I now be of use to you ? Forgive me the vanity, the gratitude (as you will call it) that your pupil would be glad to contribute something to your pleasure. France and Spain send astronomers to California to observe the transit of Venus. If you think of me, think as France does of the astronomers. If you speak of me, speak of me 80. You have scattered abroad in the world so many pupils who will never see you again, and so many friends have you sown for yourself ; they .will all bear fruit. Allow me a preference over many. Do pot speak of me as having gone away, speak of me as of one sent forth. If any one asks you, " How is he ? " say, " Well, I have provided him with everything that he wants in the way of know- ledge and tools, in order to employ the world well, and have sent him on his travels that he may gain knowledge * A reference, probably, to something which Oeser had written : only a portion of hia letter to which tliis is a reply has been preserved ; it is printed by Otto Jahn, and relates chiefly to a criticism by Lesaing on a passage in Pliny's NatuM History concerning the polishing of marble by sculptors. Oeser states that Lessing is mistaken, as may be'proved by witnessing the practice of ordinary stone-carvers. This is " the in- t irmation " referred to bv Goethe below. The controverted criticism of Lesaing is in Anlvinar. Briefe, 28, 30 et teq. .44 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1769. everywhere, and seek out curiosities everywhere, and at last, after a time, bring them to my museum." " And where is he now ? " " Since August in his chamber, which has given him the opportunity, of making a prosperous journey to the great straits through which all must go. He will be able to tell us marvellous things about them." Yes, Herr Professor, if what the world has in store for us will go in accord with my heart, I will return: only do not be impatient if I stay away long, and do you remain as happy as ever in your castle.* And when on a fine summer's evening you are standing at the window, and a man in strange attire comes tramping across the bridge, that is I, the knight-errant, coming to give account of the adventures which he has undergone. I am joking and allegorizing, and am already enjoying it. Whatever will it be when we are again going round the town in Leipsic ? For the present, indeed, my physician has forbidden it and anything through which I might fall into a relapse. More explicitly of these things in my next. I thank you very sincerely for the information about sculpture : it has made the matter clear to me. Lessing I Lessing !' If he were not Lessing, I might say something. I must not write against him ; he is a conqueror, and will make nasty wood in Herr Herder's groves f if he arrives there. He is a phenomenon of mind, and, of a surety, these appearances are rare in Germany. Whoso will not give him credit in everything, he is not compelled; only confute him not. Voltaire was not able to do any harm to Shakspere : no smaller spirit will vanquish a greater. Emile remains Emile though the Berlin pastor should go mad ; and no Abbe will disparage Origen. I now conclude or I shall begin a fresh sheet. Ee- member me to the Herren Kreuchauf, Weisse, Clodius Huber[t], Hardenberg, Gervinus ; and especially to your wife. My parents are quite your friends. To Herr Weisse my illness excuses me. The longed-for will appear. I am, with the most inexhaustible loquacity nevertheless, your most faithful and devoted pupil, Goethe. * The Academy of Design, of which Oeaer was director, was iu the old castle of Pleisseiiburg at Leipsic. t An allusion to Herders KrilUche WdUer, the first of which treats of Laoltoon, i 17G9.] LETTERS OF J. "W. GOETHE. 45 20. — To Feiedekike Oesek, Leipsic. Frankfort, 8 April, 1760. Well, what great crime is it if I Vieg of you to gossip a little ? How do you come to abuse an honourable man who intends nothing, as a villain, because he tells a girl who knows how to employ her tongue in a voluble and agreeable manner, that he knows how to value this pre-eminent gift of her sex ? All your vehement accu- sations do not affect me in the least, and you would Lave done better not to have grown angry. And so I have an evil idea of the fair sex ? In a certain way, yes! Only you must understand me, and not always interpret in a bad sense. I know what 1 have experienced, and I hold experience for the only genuine knowledge. I assure you that, for the few years I have lived, I have acquired a very moderate idea of our sex, and, to say the truth, no better one of yours. Do not take offence at this. You have followed my example ; and even you, do you not give me cause to continue in obduracy V You will show me your sex from another point of view ! Oh ! would that you had left matters as they stood, and your cause would have remained bad, without becoming worse. How then is this new point of view advantageous? Let us see. That every young, innocent heart is thoughtless, credulous, and therefore easily seduced, lies in the nature of innocence. Do you deny that ? And do you call that blame, if one states the case as it is ; and is it, then, a discredit to your sex to be credulous ? It looks as if you thought so. You contradict me, and wish to defend your sex. That not all girls are frivolous, you yourself have proved ; that I must confess. But you have helped me to a dangerous argu- ment: the wiser portion then is distrustful. For distrust is the temper of all fJjfQur letter. How have I deserved this? 'Oh! suspicion lurks in your own heart and there- ?Ore nonclialant, upright, honest passages in my letters must be malevolent jesting. My letters are in your hands, and I appeal to them ; you will find no malice in them, except what you seek in them. 46 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [I'TfiO. The opinion of a young lady on ■works of taste is to me of greater weight than the critique of a critic ; the reason of this is patent, and all your eloquence shall not serve to pervert niy prohity. What do I say when you confess that the lines from Ehingulff * were inserted as an artifice ? You can well guess what. I will say you know well how to place your mouse-trap, and that I am glad I have let myself he caught. You can see how straightforward I am. Had you been , frank, and had you asked me, I should have told you neither more nor less. Had Herr Gervinusf not been with me here, I should not have known how the matter stood. By his account I learn that the bard was well received in Leipsic, and that he gave universal satisfaction; and I can well see that he has pleased you too, and that I have written evil of your friend. Let it be so. What I have written I have written. Put it down to the account of trade-jealousy, or of my want of feeling, that the bard does not please me. It is all one to me. Enough, I can feel nothing where nothing is conceived. And the republican spirit does not deny itself; Saxony has tempered its roughness and boldness, but has not been able to attune it to the concert of praise. I am indebted to your father fo^* the sense of the ideal; and the distorted attractions of the Trench will as little rouse me to ecstasy as the insipid nymphs of Dietericli, however naked and- sleek they are. Every style has its merits, reckoned by its own standard. I am your most obedient servant on aU, points; but we will not fall out on this account, Mam'selle. In future, be not so severe against authors, bt(t at the same time do not be so severe against me. How shall I reconcile niyself with your sex, if you continue as you have begun. And yet, if you cannot act otherwise, just scold • See p. 38, teq. t Fried. Gervimis, of Zweibriicken, studied at Leipsic in 1768. According to a letter from Hardenberg to Eeich (27 March, 1769), "notre ami Gervinus" was in Langenselbold. In the year 1770 Boio became acquainted with him in Gottingeu (Weimar Jalvrh., iii., s. 29). Later he was in Holland in friendly intercourse with the renowned philologists Kuhnken, Wyttenbacb, and Sante, and put them in corres- pondence with his Leipsic friend Langev (Euhnken, Epp. ad Wyllenlach, p. 26, Mahne'B Vita Wyltenb., pp. 278, 279).— O. J. 17G9.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 47 on; you are always nice, whether you are friendly or cross. Your trees at Delis * will now soon be budding, and so long as they are green I do not hope for a letter from you. Meanwhile, I will compel you often to think of, me ; my spirit shall think so intensely of your groves, that he will appear to you before you expect him, and my letters in prose and verse shall make you more observant of the delights of a country life, in spite of Hirschfeld, the anatomist of nature, should no other subjects present themselves. Herr Eegis can hardly be satisfied with us ; I am really sorry that so agreeable a man should have found so unpleasant an accessit to us on the first occasion, I am — I do not myself rightly know what — but still as much as ever, with all my heart, your friend and admirer, Goethe. 21, — ^To K. SCHOENKOPF. My Friend, Frankfort, 1 June, 1709. From your letter to Hom,f I have learnt your * Dolitz, where Oeser had a country-house. t In May she had informed Horn of her betrothal to Dr. Kanne, and received a reply, which I subjoin, for comparison with Goethe's letter : — Most ■worthy Bbide, — Frankfort, May 26, 1»69. ■Without water we should die of thirst ; without bread starve ; and without matrimony our existence would have scarce half its pleasure. How happy are you, excellent bride, in having resolved to change your condition for one esteemed the most happy by even the most savage nations. As regularly installed pedagogue and publisher of the banns here in Frankfort and in Sachsenhausen, I feel thereat the most cordial delight, and esteem myself especially fortunate that I have the honour of being able to offer my congratulations respectively to the bride- groom as well as to yourself herewith. Human beings seek their greatest pleasure in social interconrse one with the other. This in the case of men alone gives rise to friendship ; when ladies are in the case, to love ; love to matrimony; matrimony to children ; children to grand- children, and so on. As all this, my dear bride, is likely t6 be your portion, it naturally causes unbounded delight to my pedagogueish heart. Would to Heaven that I could assist at your wedding, and take the lead of my community in singing the hymn, " How beautiful it is !" A^, howpver, the distance of a hundred and sixty miles will render this impracticable, nothing else remains for me but to metamorphose my official assistance into a poetic effusion, and instead of support and 48 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [17CJ' happiness and seen your joy ; what my feelings are, and what my joy is, you can picture to yourself, if you can still picture to yourself how much I love you. Greet your dear doctor, and commend me to his friendship. I might well have considered myself guilty of neglect for not writing long since, had you looked forward with impatience to a letter from me. I knew this, however — and therefore did not write, — that it was a time for you when a letter from me was as little worthy of your attention as the Erlangen Journal ; indeed, taking all melody, send you for the occasion the glad result of my melancholy Jluse. Pray, therefore, kindly let me know the day of your marriage, that I may make my arrangements accordingly. Your friend, Horn, Schoolmaster and Ludimagister in Postscriptum (translated). • Frankfort and Sachsenhausen. King Horn begs to inquire after the state of health of his ministers in the Sohoenkopfio house. By these presents he'also accords his most gracious permission to such members as have betrothed themselves for the aforesaid holy state of wedlock to complete the marriage as soon as it shall seem unto them fittin":. with the legal form and with all due ceremonies. Given at our residence in the city of Prankfort-on- Maine, this 22nd May, 1769. HoEsiDS Eex. But, joking apart, I experience the most heartfelt pleasure when I reflect on the house of Schoenkopf. Papa and Mamma contented, Mademoiselle a bride, and Peter regarding the whole aflaii with com- posure ; truly it must be very pleasant to me if you know "how much sympathy I have always taken in your welfare. Would to Heaven that I could be present at the wedding ! — it would certainly come off as merrily again. You know me. Without boasting, I may say that I always play the part of the Merry- Andrew. But now I have lost all taste for enjoyment : you know what I have lost ; the life I lead here is altogether miserable. I study as if I were mad, so as to pass away my time. Often I get a letter from Leipsic, and that brightens me up a little ; but hardly have I read it than I fall again Into my old melan- choly. Who knows whether I shall ever in my life get to Leipsic again ; whether I shall ever be made as happy as you have made my friend Kanne ? I must not yet give up all hope, but my happiness is still very uncertain. My dear friend, do not forget me. Think often in your joy of the unhappy one. Remember me and my Constantia on your wedding day. May you enjoy as much happiness as we now suffer pain. J?arewell ! and soon console with a letter your sincere friend, EOEX. Greet the Eeceiver-General. Goethe intends writing to you eoon. O. J. 1769.J LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 49, together, I am like a fish out of water, and could swear that, — but swear I will not, since you might imagine I am not in earnest. Horn is beginning to improve ; on his arrival I could make nothing of him. He is so tender and susceptible for his absent Ariadne that it is comic. He believ.es in earnest what you have written to him, that Constantia* has grown pale through grief. Talking of becoming pale-faced, one would suppose that his love could not be very strong ; for his cheeks are ruddier than ever.f When I assure him that Sophy will take a leaf out of her friend's book, and by degrees learn, &c., &c., he curses me to his heart's content, wishes me and my examples at the devil, and swears that the characters of tenderness which have been engraven on her heart by the might of his love are indelible. The good fellow does not reflect that maidens' hearts cannot be of marble. The most loveable heart is that which loves the most readily, but that which the most readily loves, forgets the most readily. But of that he does not think, and very properly ; oh ! it is a horrible sensation to, see one's love expire. A lover who cannot command attention is not nearly so unfortunate as a forsaken one : the first still cherishes hope, and at least dreads not hate ; the other, yes the other — he that has once felt what it is to be cast out of a heart that was altogether devoted ^o him — shuns even reflecting upon, much less speaking of it. Constantia is a good girl, and I trust she may find a con- soler ; not a tiresome one, who says, " Well ; so it is, you must be content," but such an one as in consoling is in himself, consolation, inasmuch as he replaces all that we have lost. Oh ! she will not want one long. Mark my words, my dear friend, and when you see one who so attracts; * Horn had an attaoliment for Sophia Constantia Breitkopf (unknown, to the lady's father), to which he continually referred in his correspond- ence. She subsequently married Dr. Oehme, and died 1818. — O. J. Her father, was a member of the well-known firm of publishers. See Autobiog., bk. yiii. etc. t Horn, writing to Kathchen on 30th June, 1769, says: — My dear friend, you do me Injustice when you believe what Goethe in jest wrote to you regarding me. Are, then, ruddy cheeks always the sure tiign of the state of our minds? I pray you, my friend, not to blame me for what I do not deserve." — O. J. E 50 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [I7G9. her — and goes for walks witli lier, and — but you know . how all happens, when people say that it is not right, then advise me of it,— you can easily imagine how it will please me. My songs are still unpuhlished ; were they ready I would willingly send you a copy, hut I know no . one in Leipsic to whom I could entrust it. Give the few groschens they will cost you for my sake, and sometimes when you would think of me, let Peter play one to you. ' When I wrote these songs, I was altogether a different fellow from what I . am now. The poor fox ;* were you to see how I employ myself the livelong day, you would he amused., Writing, particularly to you, has grown distasteful to me. If you do not expressly command it, you need look for no letter from me before October. For, my dear friend, even though you address me as your dear friend, and some- times your heat friend, yet there is always something tire- some about the best friend. No one asks for preserved beans, whilst fresh ones are to be had. Tresh jack are always most esteemed ; but when one fears they may grow ;stale, one pickles them, particularly if one wishes to take -them about. It must seem comical to you when you reflect on all the admirers you have salted with friendship, big ones, and little ones, crooked or straight ones ; I laugh myself when I think of them. Yet you must not alto- gether break off your correspondence with me, siace for a jfish in .pickle I am still good enough. Apropos, lest I forget it, I send you herewith a trifle of j^hich you can make what you will, either for your own "head, or for another person's hands. The neckerchief and fans have not yet advanced a finger's breath; You see I am candid; when I would set to painting, * Goethe attributed his illness at Leipsic to his irregnlar manner of life ; and he incurred the ridicule of his friends by the warning which ho impressed upon them. The allusion to the fox is explained by the following stanza in one of his JTeue iieder. Hirzel, p. 110 :^ You laugh at me and say. Insane ! The fox who's lost his tail would fain That all should tails forswear ; But here the fable is not apt, — The fox whose taU was really trapp'd Gives warning of the snare. — See Otto Jahn, p. 30. 1769.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 51 soltietliing sticis in my throat. It is only in spring tide that the shepherd carves on the trees, only in the flower season does one weave garlands. Pardon me ; but the remembrance grows too saddening for me, if I try to do that for you which I have done, without being more to you than I am. I have always told you that my fate depended on yours. You will perhaps soon see how truly I have spoken, perhaps you will soon learn news that you little expected. Greet your dear parents, and whoever belongs to your famUy. My respects to the Eeceiver-General.* I remain as much as possible Your devoted friend, Goethe. 22. — To K. SCHOENKOPF. My dear FeienD, Frankfort, 26 August, 1769. I thank you for the interest you take in my health, and must tell you, for your consolation, that the last report of my illness was not altogether well founded, I find myself pretty well, although often undoubtedly less so than I could wish to be. You may readily suppose that nothing but indisposition prevented my writing to you long since ; perhaps other reasons may shortly hinder you from communicating with me. It is curious that a year ago to-day I saw you for the last time ; it is stupid how 'different everything looks in one year ; I wager that were I to see you again, I should no longer know you. Three years ago I would have sworn it would turn out differently. We should swear to nothing, I maintain. Time was when I could not cease talking to you ; now all my wit will not go far enough to write a page to you, for I can think of nothing that would be agreeable to you. If I only hear from you tha,t you are happy, that you are happy without ex- ception, I shall be pleased. Do you believe it ? Horn sends greeting to you;, he is more unfortunate than I. But wonderfully as everything is distributed, so his folly aids in curing hajn of his passion. TareweU, dear friend ; greet * The EeceiTer-General Bichter, also referred to in the Oeser letters. See p. 26. E 2 52 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [17G9. your dear mother and Peter for me. I am in a disagreeable mood to-day. Were I in Leipsic, I would sit at your side, and make a grimace. You may remember some such scenes of old. But no ; were I now beside you, how happy I should feel life. Oh ! that I could recall the last two years and a half. Kathchen, I swear to you, my dearest Kathchen, that I would act more wisely. G. 23.* — To GoTTLOB Beeitkopf,"!' Leipsic. God give thee good even, Beothee Gottlob. [Frankfort, August, 1769.] That you are an honest, hearty good fellow, and" that you are distinguishing yourself, so say all the people who come from Leipsic ; and highly delighted I am that you are not in any way changed, except to your own advan- tage ; for you were of old a good lad, with shrewd sense, and thoughts such as those of a man who comprehends his subject, and ideas not like everyone's. _Pay us a visit soon. The girls here are all on your side ; I have given them Buch a full account of you, and there are some merry- pates among them who fancy there is perhaps something;, to be made of you. Just write to me, dear brother, and let me know in what circumstances you are now. I am living tolerably, — content and quiet. I have half- a-dozen angels of girls whom I often see, and with none of them have I fallen in love ; pleasant creatures they are, and they make ny life uncommonly pleasant. He that had not seen Lv.ipsic might be happy enough here ; but Saxony — Saxony ! Ah ! — ah ! — that is full flavoured tobacco ! Be one never so hearty and strong in that confounded Leipsic, he burns away as quickly as a bad pitch-link. Well, well, the poor little fox wiU doubtless recover by degrees.^ One thing I must say to you, and that is, beware of * Printed in the Fragmenten am einer Goethe-Bibliothek^ p. 3. — 0. J. + Cliristoph Gottlob, son of Johann Gottlob Immanufil, and grand- son of Bemhard Ohristoph Breitkopf, who was the founder of the firm of publishers at Leipsic. The brother referred to in this letter was Bemhard Theodor, who set the Neue Lieder mentioned note * p. 31 to music. J See above, p. 50. 17G9.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 53 dissoluteness. It happens to us men-folk with'onr powers, as to maidens with honour, when once virginity goes to the deuce, it is off. It is true it may be in a measure quack-salved ; but all that helps but a little. Adieu, my dear brother. Keep me in your heart, and do not forget me. In. the spring I go to Strasbourg. Who knows whether we shall hear anything of each other there ? Write me before then ; and if brother Bernhard will not do so, let him give you any message he may have for me, and include it in your letter. Greet Stock and his lady, and tell him he made right pretty things;* Goethe. 24. — To K. ScHOEJfKOPP. Mr VERY DEAR FiilEND, Frankfort, 12 December, 1769. A dream reminded me last night that I owe you a reply. Not as if I had so completely forgotten it ; not as if I never thought of you ; no, my friend, every day says something to me of you and of what I owe. Yet it is strange, and a sensation which you too perhaps will linow, the memory of absent friends becomes dimmed, although not effaced by time. The distractions of our life, acquain- tance with fresh objects, in short every change in our condi tion, works upon our hearts as dust and smoke on a painting, making the finely-drawn lines quite imperceptible, whilst one does not know how it happens. A thousand circum- stances bring you before my mind, a thousand times do I see your image, but as faintly, and with as little feeling as if I thought of some stranger. It often occurs to me that I owe you a reply, withbut my experiencing the . slightest desire to write to you. When I now read your kind letter, already some months old, and see your friendship and care for one so unworthy, I am shocked at myself ; and then only feel what a sad change must have come over my heart, when I suffer that to pass by without gladness, which formerly would have raised me to the heavens. Pardon me for this. Can one blame a miserable being because he cannot rejoice ? My wretchedness has made me proof against the good that still remains to me. My body is restored to health, but my mind is not yet * The engraver, see Auiohiog., bk. viii. 54 EABLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1769. healed. I enjoy a quiet inactivity, but that is not to he happy. In this state of rest my power of conception is so tame, that I can form no image of that which of old was so dear to me. It is only in my dreams that my heart sometimes appears to me as it is ; a dream only can recall those sweet pictures, so recall them that my impres- sion becomes living ; as I have already said, you are indebted to a dream for the present letter.- I saw you ; I was beside you as of old ; it was too strange for me to tell you about it. In a word, you were married. Could this be so ? I took up your dear letter, and found the time corresponded. Should it prove so, oh ! may this be the beginning of your happiness. When I reflect on this unselfishly, how does it gladden me to know that you, my best friend, you before all others ■ who envied you, who thought more of themselves than of you, are in the arms of an estimable husband, to know that you are happy, and freed from .all the unpleasantness to which a single 'existence, and especially your single existence, was exposed. I am thankful to my dream for havrptg-^vividly pictured to me yoiir happiness, and the ^ajppiness of your husband, and his reward for having 'tendered you so happy/ Preserve for me his friendship, that you thereby may remain my friend, for now in friends even you must have community. If I may believe my dream, we shall see each other again, but I hope not very soon yet ; and as far as I can I shall strive to defer its fulfil- ment, if a man may seek to resist fate. I formerly wrote to you somewhat ambiguously as to what was to become of me. I can now tell you more plainly, that I shall change my present residence, and remove farther from you. Naught more shall remind me of Leipsic, save perhaps some fitful ' dream : neither friend who comes there, nor letter. And yet I feel that this will not help me. Patience, time, and - distance may efiect what nothing else may avail ; then blot out all unpleasant reminiscences, and restore to life that friendship with the pleasure with which, after a lapse of years, we shall regard each other with other, eyes, but with the same heart. Till then, farewell ! Yet not quite till then. Within a quarter of a yea;r you shall have another letter from me, which will acquaint you with my 1769.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. bo destination, and the time of my departure, and once again tell you, if needlessly, tliat which I have already told yoTi a thousand times. I pray you not toreply, but to let me know, through my friend, if you would have anything more from me. This is a sad recLuest, my dearest one, the only one of your sex I may not call friend, for that is a title without significance in respect to what I feeh I desire as little to see your handwriting as to hear your voice ; sad enough it is to be so hatintpd by my dreams. You may count on yet one letter from me : this I will hold sacred ; a part of my debt shall be discharged, the remainder you must still excuse. Fancy that all our connexion has ceased when I hive made good this last point. The large book you want shall be sent you. I am glad that you have asked this of me : it is the most splendid gift I could make you; a gift which will preserve me longest and most worthily in your memory. I can send you no nuptial ode. I had composed several for you, but they gave either too much or too little expression to my feelings. And how could you desire of me a worthy song for a .joyous festivail? For sometime — yes, for a long time past— my verses have been as peevish and as ill-conditioned as raf head, as you will observe from most of those already printed, and will see too from the remainder if they should be .printed. I will very I soon send you Hagedorn* and some other books. May you take as much pleasure in the verses of this delightful poet as he deserves. For the rest, commend me to your dear mother and to your now no longer little brother, who will doubtless by this time have become a good musician. J>'emember me to all kind friends, and recall me in some measure to the memory of your circle. Farewell, • dearest friend ; receive this letter with love and kindness. My heart could not but speak once more at a time when I was informed only by a dream of an occasion which might have forbidden it. A thousand times farewell, and think occasionally of the tenderest devotion of your ' ' Goethe. * The second edition of Von Hagedorn's collected woj'ks was published at Hamburg, nn'J.—O. J. 56 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. 25- — To K. SCHOENKOPF. My dear FetEND, Frankfort, Jauuary 23, 1770, Indeed it was fully my intention.when I wrote my last letter, never again to take pen in hand to write to you. ]3tit, in old times, it was frequently my full intention not to do something, and Kathohen could make me do it as she pleased ; and if the Doctor's wife possesses the same gift of governing according to her little head, I suppose I must write to Madame Oanne, although I had sworn even a thousand times more than I have. If my memory serves me well, my last letter was written in rather a doleful strain ; this is again in a more lively tone, as you have given me grace until Easter. Would that you 'were already married, and Heaven knows what more. But, truly, at heart I am vexed, as you can imagine. I know not whether you have received the books from me. I had no time to get them bound. And let me recommend the small French one to your notice. You have a transla- tion of it, and I know that you study French a little. I cannot tell you more of myself than that I am living quietly, and am hearty, heailthy, and busy, for I have no maiden in my head. Horn and I still remain good friends ; but, as is the case with the world, he has his thoughts and ways, and I have my thoughts and ways ; so that a week passes by and we scarcely see each other once. But, all things considered, I am now fairly tired of Frankfort, and I am going away from here towards the end of March. I see that I must not yet go to you ; for if I arrived at Easter you would perhaps not yet be married, and I must not see Kathchen Schoenkopf again if I do not see her other than so. If, then, it is of interest to you, as I believe it is, I am going at the end of March to Strasbourg. V\ ill you also write to me at Strasbourg ? You will not play me any prank. For, Kathchen Schoenkopf — well, I know better than anyone that a letter from you is as dear to me ^ as one from any other hand. You are still the loveable girl, and will also be the love- , able wife. And I — I shall remain Goethe. You know what that means. When I mention my name, I mention 1770.] LETTEES OF J. "W. GOETHE. 57 my whole self; and you know that, as long as I have known you, I have only Uved as part of yoiu. Before I leave here you shall have the book not yet sent. And I shall be a fan and a neckerchief in your debt until my return from France. In Strasbourg I shall remain ; and there my title will be changed, like your own ; both will acquire something of the Doctor. From Stt-asbourg I go to Paris, where I hope to enjoy my- self, and perhaps stay some time. And afterwards ? — God knows whether anything is to come. Well now, if it is not at Easter, it will be at Michaelmas ; and if it does not happen at Michaelmas, I shall certainly not hang myself. How would it be if I brought you the fan and the neckerchief; and could still say Mdlle. S., or Kathchen S. I should then be doctor also, and, what is more, a French doctor.* And, after all, there would be a mighty sma^ dif- ference between Frau Doctorinn O.f and Frau Doctorinn G. In the meantime, farewell; and greet for me Father Schoenkopf, and dear Mother, and friend Peter. My connexion with the Breitkopfs, as with all the world, has almost ceased. It is true I received letters just lately, but I have not the heart to reply. Stenzel still loves Eiepel the Peguanf to distraction, which strikes me as foolish and absurd ; you can suppose why. " The grapes are sour," said the fox. It might actually end in a wedding yet, and that would be a sight. But I know another wedding that would be a still greater sight ; and yet it is not impossible, only improbable. Our arrangements here are excellent. We have a whole house; and if my sister marries, she must quit. I will suffer no brother-in-law. If I marry, my parents and I will divide the house between us— I getting ten rooms, all well and handsomely furnished after the Frankfort taste. WeU, Kathchen, it really looks as if you would not have me : court one of your acquaintances for me, whichever is • Strasbourg, the reader will remember, was from the treaty of Utrecht until 1871 a French city. t ie. Canne or Kanne. J Constantia and Horn are here referred to. Horn was called " the Peguan " jn jest : Vega being in Saxon phraseology the equivalent of Ibo land dl fools or buffoons. 58 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. most like you. Tor what of my journey ? In two years I am back again. And after that ! I have a house ; I have money. Heart, what dost thou still desire ? — A wife. My dear friend, adieu. To-day, for once, I have been merry, and have written badly. Adieu, my best one.* 26. — To Assessor Christian Gottfried HERMANN.f Leipsic. Dear Herr Assessor, Frankfort, 6 February, 1770. I thank you for the little note of reminder. I see that you still love me, and I am Very glad of it, for I still love you as much as ever, and often think of you. That I have not written will be -explicable- to you. New way of life, new acquaintance ; and in addition to that you can picture to yourself how much, he has to do to bring his knowledge into order, who for three years at Leipsic has been intent on studying the good studies. Towards the end of March, I shall again be taking wing. In the first place to Strasbourg, where I would gladly have my juristic efforts crowned. Thence, I shall march (salvia accidentibus) on Paris. And from there — God knows. And do you keep me in continual remem- brance until at length I come again. If anything amongst my songs has pleased you, I am glad of it. I hope that in time I shall do. something better : with us quasi modo_ genitis, people must have patience. Painting and music and whatever is termed art is still alwayts as near my heart as ever. What is Oeser about ? I have not heard from him for a long time : give * On March 5, 1770, Horn wrote : " Goethe this time sends greet- ing's. He is going to Strasbourg." And on April 9 : " Goethe arrived at Strasbourg a week ago. I accompanied him as far as Mainz. He will probably soon write to you once more." This, however, did not happen, although he had not forgotten her. — 0. J. t Goethe' had madethe acquaintance of Dr. Hermann at Schoenkopfs table, to which lie had been introduced' by G; J. G. Schlosser. He is described in the Autobiography as having passed through his aoadeinioal course with the greatest credit and regularity. He speedily obtained tlie position ' of assessor or assistant judge, and afterwards that of liiirgermeister. He was also a man of considerable humour, and accom- plished in music and diawing. Goethe experienced much kindness from him, especially during his severe illness (see Autobiog., bk. viii.) 1770.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 59 him the most friendly mcBsage. I will write to him ouce more before I leave here. Herr Eeich sent me by the stage the " Dialogues of Diogenes," and I read it in the stage : it was the most welcome present that he could have made me. The engravings are excellent, and the book is by Wieland. One must mention his name, for to depict or judge of ^he' character, the humour, of this man is not for us to do. Of great men no one should speak but one who is as great as they, so as to be able to see all round them. A small man, . if he stands too near, sees single portions well, but nothing ^ of the whole, and if he wiU survey the whole must stand too far off, where his eyes do not reach to detailSj/S'orgive me this allegory. Greet the Eeoeiver-General Eiohter, to whom I will write as soon as possible ; and love me. I am, as at the cottage— as in the green-room — as always, your GoliTHE. 27. — To Philipp Erasmus Eeich,* Leipsic. Dearest Herr SfitCH, Frankfort, 20 February, 1770. There are mixed emotions which Mendelssohn f can so correctly drawj and Wieland so sweetly depict, and of which we others must be silent. By one of such it ^as that I was overcome when I received your kind letter, and the very agreeable gift.f Nothing was new to me. For that Wieland is such an author, and you such a publisher, and so kindly inclined towards me, I have been aware of since you and Wieland have been known to me ; but to such a degree !. and under such circumstances ! that was all new to me. My thankfulness you can readily measure by the value of your friendship, the excellence of the book, and the delight which in this Frankfort dearth of good taste must be felt in a very lively degree, when one so quickly gets in one's hands a new book. Hence I gla,dly abstain from acknowledgments ; for certainly you would needs be very tired of listening to oft-repeated thanks, did * A ^vell-tno^yn bookseller at Leipsio : lie is not mentioned in the Autchiography. He liad a country-house at Sellerhausen, a few miles from town, wiiere Goethe often visited him. t See page 63., X iVVielaad's Dlahgir des Diogenes, Ijcipzig, 1770. See last Letter. 60 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770- not your especial kindness impose respectful silence ou all you oblige. Oeser's discoveries gave me a fresh occasion to bless myself that I have had him for my instructor. Dexterity or experience no master can communicate to his disciple, and a few years' practice in the fine arts produces but moderate results,-^aoreover, our hand was only, his secondary aim ; he strove to penetrate our very souls, and one must have had none not to have benefited by him^ His instruction will influence my whole existence. He taught me that the ideal of beauty is simplicity and, repose, whence it follows that no youth can be a mastey , Fortunate is it when we have no need to be convinced it this truth by dire experience. Commend me to my dear Oeser. After him and Shakspere, Wieland is the only man I can acknowledge as my true instructor ; others had shown me that I erred, these exhibited to me the way to do better. I do not suppose that you ^sire to learn my opinion respecting the " Diogenes." ^o feel and to keep silence is the utmost that I can do at present ; for one ought not to praise a great man unless one is as great as he^ But I have been much vexed on Wieland's accoun't ; and I think with reason. iWieland is so unfortunate as often not to be understood, — the fault possibly is often his own, but often it is not, and it is then annoying if people retail their misunderstandings to the public as explanations. Very recently a critic wrote, " The speech of the Man in the Moonj is a subtle satire on the philosophy and follies of those times." How could such an idea occur to anyone ? Yet, indeed, he has found a companion in the person of the translator of Agathon, Tableau des Mceurs do Tancienne Grece. Some such is his title.| I verily believe the good man took the book for a work on archeology. I know not whether Wieland is also annoyed at thisj he certainly has cause to be so. * Cf. preceding letter to Assessor Hermann, t Diogenes, 3i. Op. XIII., p. 141. X Bisioire d'Agailion, ou Tableau pMlosophique des Maeurg de la Grice, imite de VAllemand de M. Wieland, Lausanne, 176S. — 0. J. 1770.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 6l When yoTi write to your friend this great author, or Bee him, be kind enough to make him acquainted with an individual who, it is true, is not man enough to bo able to value his inestimable services, but yet has a suffi- ciently sensitive heart to honour them, and who, with the sincerest regard, also calls himself your most devoted servant, ^^-^ Goethe. 28. — To JoHANN Christian Limpebcht,* Leipsic. Dear Limprkcht, Straabonrg.t Good Friday, 12 April, 1770. I do not for a moment doubt that you will now be in want of money, for it has occurred to me to-day, in a very strange way, to send you the louis-d'or. It is stUl better than nothing, methinks, if it is fiot much : accept it at least as a sign that what is fore-gone is not forgotten. I am again studious, and have, thank God, as much health as I want, and cheerfulness in abundance. As I was so am I still, except that I stand somewhat better with our Lord God and with his dear Son Jesus Christ. ' Whence it follows then that I am somewhat wiser, and have experi- enced what this means — The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Verily we sing first the hosanna to him who cometh yonder ; weU and good : even that is joy and gladness ; the king must first approach before he mounts the throne. For the rest, I want to hear that your circumstances have improved. You have always had a heavy burden in the world, and more latterly with your eyes and me. I do not mean my illness, — that was a labour of love, and love's labours are never burdensome ; but, when I recollect what an unbearable fellow I was for the last summer, it seems to me a marvel how anybody could have endured me. Yet I deserved pity. I also had my cherished burden. ■^ * Limpreoht was a poor theological student, wlio occupied neigh- bouring apartments to Goethe's in the " Feuerkugel " at Leipsic. He is described in the Autobiography, bk. vi. (though his name is not given there), as having injured his eyes by excessive reading, and by his habit of studying by twilight or moonlight in order to save oil. t Goethe reached Strasbourg on 2 April. 62 , EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. Farewell, and accept the letter as I -write and send it, without ceremony and with an undivided heart. Greet all friends, and remain mine. ■ Goethe. 29. — To J. C. LiMPEECHT, Leipsic. Strasbourg, 19 April, 1770. Yesterday I received your kind letter of the 28th March, and so only a few days after the strange fancy which, JTist as it occurred to me and was.carried out on Good Friday night, I here forward to ypu. I am glad to hear that you are all alive and preaching, and if you devote yourself to that you must contrive to get through the world without eyes. It is said that Democritus Winded himself so as not to be distracted by this danger* ous sense, and in truth if he could do it, he was not wrong*: I would often give something to be blind. And yet if it is the case as heretofore that you see twilight where others have day, you do not lose much. For it is indeed aU twilight in this world : a trifle more or less ; one may Con- sole oneself for that. I am altered, much altered, for which I thank my Saviour; that I am not what I am said to be,! am also thankful for. Luther says, "I am more afraid of my good deeds tha;n of my sins." And when ■ one is young, one is nothing completely. I have now been a fortnight here, and find Strasbourg not a hair's breadth better or worse than all that I am acquainted with upon this earth, — that is to say, very ordinary ,-^and yet it has certain aspects which can give one an impulse towards good and evil, and take one out of one's usual condition. Adieu. Goethe. 30. — To THE YOUNGER HeTZLEE.* [Strasbourg], 14 July [1770]. , Teapp thinks me dead; and what will you think me? for I have owed you an answer longer than him. But you know me too well, dearest' friend, to have to rake up an improbable reason for my silence. I am always * Neither Hefzler is mentioned iu the Autobiography 1770.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 63 more negligent tlian busy ; and because I Lad nothing to do, or -wislied for nothing to dt), your letter also remained unanswered. Now at last am I just going to say to you that I love you, and that I am glad to see you still, as ever, a vigilant scholar of the Muses. You are a kind fellow to me, and hold me dear ; but you esteem me as too wise and yourself too little, when you propound questions to me which, whilst they are very easy to your experience and your own feelings, I can answer to you neither clearly nor shortly. Only a little patience ; and, if I may counsel you, you will get more profit from trying to find where beauty is, than in anxiously inquiring what it is. Once for all, it remains undemonstrable ; it appears to us, as in a dream, when we behold the works of the great poets and painters, in short, of all feeling artists ; it is a hovering, shining, shadowy form, the outline of which no definition holds. Mendelssohn* and others, whose pupil our Eector is, have tried to catch beauty like a butterfly, and to fasten her down with pins for curious beholders. They have suc- ceeded; yet it has not happened otherwise than in but- terfly catching, — the poor creature trembles in the net, rubs off her finest hues ; and even if one does catch it Un- spoiled, yet in the end it perishes there, stiff and lifeless : the corpse is not the whole animal, there is still something that appertains to it, still a comer-stone, and in this case as in every^other, a very chief comer-stone — life, the spirit that makes everything beautiful. Unjoy your youth and be glad to see butterflies flitting round the flowers, while heart and eye are filled thereat. And leave that joy-killing search for knowledge — the butchered birds and anatomized flowers — to old and cold people. I constrain myself to break off here ; you know that I am as inexhaustible on this subject as a widow in the details of her late husband's last hours ; and also that I am especially glad to speak with you thereof, because we understand one another. Miiller's Introduction to the classical writers is too com- prehensive ; there must be many others, but I do not know V' of any suited to you : it is best to read the authors first, and * Moses Mendelssohn of Berlin, the friend of Lessing: he was great-grandfather of the musician. 64 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. then the Introduction as epilogue; we learn hetttr to esteem them and to use our own judgment. Yet I should like you to consult the Eector in these matters ; he must anyway know better than I. Literary knowledge is gained by time and diligence, and in both a youth must give place to a man. So it is also with Homer. The English edition, with Clarke's translation, is dear ; the Leipsio reprint must have many errors of the press ; of that too I cannot judge. Farewell. 31. — To AuGUSTiN Teapp.* [Strasbourg], 28 JuIy'[I770]. I ENOW nothing. You have known that, I should think, a long time, and yet you are always inquiring of me, and are surprised when I do not answer. Gladly as I com- municate with my friends, and especially with you, yet my unmethodical mode of life withholds me so much from doing it ; so that whenever I come upon the letters that have to he answered, and find questions and inquiries to which I am not equal, my laziness gladly seizes upon this excuse and puts oS an answer into the far distance. I live somewhat for the day, and thank God for it ; and often, if I dare, his Son too, that I am in circumstances which seem to impose this upon me. How can. you wish me to advise you in a situation which goes so far beyond my experience/,^ and that too when I know not how, nor anyone else ? '3 "What, then, can I do, to discuss whether it is well for you to marry or not ? Dear friend, such general reflexions make neither the one nor the other wiser than he is, and of your special case I know far too little to be able to have a single correct idea. This is altogether one of those occa- sions upon which our prudence, .wisdom, subtUty or dis- trust, however you like to call it, is least available. He who cannot, like Eliezer, with perfect resignation in the all-pervading wisdom of his God, leave the fate of an * See former Letters 6 and 7. ' SoMll {Brief e und Aufsatze, p. S4) prints an imperfect diaft of a letter dddfessed to a certain T., which ha considers may have been intended for Trap'p, but superseded by the following letter. In the same volume p. 23 is a draft of what may have ' been a letter to a female friend, but, as its motive and destination ore ' altogether uncertain, it is omitted. 1770.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 65" entire future world to the drinking of the camels * is in sad case ; there is no help for him. For how would he be advised who will not let himself be advised by God ? In truth, it will be with you, dear friend, as with all of us young men. We will not let our fathers do our courting for us, and are not easily to be called abroad when our bride is coming. Our affections — what ought we to do in re- spect to them ? They are fools, these immature emotions of our hearts, and you know what happens, if one lets' one's self be led by the nose by such comrades. I could here bring many a fair floweret, many a good moral thought, indeed many a politic one too, to bear, upon this occasion, did I not know so well the value of the words. Eeflexions are very slight ware; prayer, on the other hand, is a very profitable business : a single upraising of the heart in the name of Him whom we call a God for the time, until we may be able to call him our God, and we are overwhelmed with countless benefits. One thing more. In what condition is your health ? I beseech you, do take thought for this body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone; and if they are dim, the whole world is beclouded. I, perhaps, know that as well as anyone. There was a time when the whole world seemed as fuU of thorns to me as it now does to you. The heavenly Physician has strengthened the fire of life in my body again, and courage and joy are again there. So too will it be with you when you are at your best. And if you cannot quite agree with me, you need not make yourself unhappy about it : only be persuaded of the perfect truth that I am your faithful friend. 32. — To THE YOUNGEE H, ■\ August 24 [1770]. TotJ have, as ever, too much affection and kindness for me : it makes me sad : how long have I been wishing * See Genesis iv. 2 and xxiv. 14. Eliezer of Damascus was Aliraham's steward, t Probably Hetzler. ' ' 66 EABLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. to tell you this ! I derive no advantage from the ail-too- favonraUe idea of me which you have concocted. It is an old truth, an unfailing experience, which makes me thus afraid. Take good care of this letter : I might perhaps have reason to appeal to it at some future time. I have wished that you may remain my friend, but to that end you must first estimate me at what I really am, so that you may not in course of time change your sentiments with your opinion. Your affection for me has attributed to me merits which I do not possess. One loves one's friends like one's maiden ; and each one's PhUlis is the most beautiful to each, so prone are we always to desire the best. We are parted. Separation is a powerful destructive powder, and your heart cannot remain empty. You are going to the University : the first thing you will find is a hundred people like myself. So, after all, he was not the only one ! you think ; and you go further, and find a hundred better than me : you measure me by a new standard, discover faults all over, and then I am undone. Him whom one has considered perfect, and finds wanting on one side, one does not easUy judge with kindness. Our vanity is thus brought into play : we have deceived ourselves, and will not confess it ; and we flatter ourselves that we have been deceived : whereupon we cast all the blame, Hi-temper, and a sort of hatred, upon an unfortunate wretch who is not in the least responsible for the fact that our precipitancy took him for somethiug for which he had no wish to be taken. t In general, in order to see the world aright (for which you certainly testify a desire), one must estimate it neither too low nor too high. Love an,d Hate are indeed nearly allied, and both cause us to see indistinctly. If I do not take care, I shall begin to talk twaddle. We will not aim at hitting the middle path so long as we are young. Let us perform our daily task, and not dabble in the work of our elders. To look at things as weU as. we can, to inscribe them in our memory, to be observant and let no day pass without gathering something: then to apply one's self to those 177D.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 67 branches of knowledge wHch give the mind a sure direction, to apportion everything to its own place, to assign to everything its value (in my opinion a genuine philosophy and a fundamental mathesis), this is what we have now to do. Moreover, we must desire to he nothing, hut to hecome everything ; and must especially not stand still and rest more frequently than the need of a tired mind and body claims. I know well that for both of us there are not always facilities for doing what we ought; but if we recognize our opportunities a little, and know our strength, a noble sentiment readily arouses our courage again. One's morning indolence is soon gone, when one has once persuaded one's self to put a foot out of bed, &c. 33. — To FeXulein von Klettenberg.* Gnadige FjrIulein, ' 26 August [1770}. 1 have been to-day to the Holy Communion, ta keep ill mind the passion and death of our Lord ; and you can guess why I am amusing myself this afternoon, atid at last intending in earnest to write a letter already so long delayed. ■ We treat our best friends as we are accustomed to treat. God himself : every love has its collectanea ; and I would sooner that rejected brass tokens were again collected than scattered thoughts; and especially here, in the circum- stances in which I am now. And yet it is not little that they seem to promise me.. The many people whom I see, the many accidents which cross my path, afford me experiences and knowledge of which I have never let myself dream. Moreover my body • This lady, Susanna Katharina v. Klettenberg, was the daughter of a former chief magistrate of Frankfort, and she seems to hare been a distant connexion of Goethe's mother, for an uncle of the latter. Colonel Johann Nicolaus Textor, married a lady of the Von Kletten- berg' family. (See Madame Belli's Leben in Frankfurt, iv. 94.) Of her religious opinions and their influence on Goethe much is said in the eighth book of the Autolfiography. She is also depicted in the Confes- sions of a Beautiful Soul, in Wilhelm Meister See Autobiog. bk. viii. (trans, i. 290), and W. Meister, i. 333 F 2 68 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. is juBt robust enough to tear moderate and needful labour, and to remind me occasionally that neither in body nor mind am I a giant. My connexion with the religious people here is not exactly firm : at the beginning I had turned myself very firmly towards them, but it seems as if it could not be. They are so mortally prosy when they begin, that my liveliness could not endure it. Mere people of moderate intellect, who thought their first rational) thought with their first sentiment of religion, and now think that that is every- thing because they know nothing else, withal so Halleish* and so hostile to my Count, "f so orthodox and methodical, that . I need just say nothing more to you. Something may still be added y%he preference for our own feelings and opinions, the conceit of wishing to twist everyone's nose in the direction in which our own has grown — failings to which such people as are well off give way with the greatest safety^ How often' have, I heard mix up the interest of his own whims and God's interest, as he was rebuking my cousin. I Hke the man — we are good friends ; but, even as father of a family, he is too strict; and you can fancy what happens when he wishes to have the more subtle duties of religion observed by his rough young people. Another acquaintance exactly the opposite of this one has been of no little use to me hitherto. I must go through all the classes ; so it seems, dear lady. Herr ,J an ideal for Mosheim § or Jerusalem ||, a' man who has gone through much experience with much sense ; who, with the cool-bloodedness with which he has * I.e. atin to the tone of thought in the University of Halle, which ■was equivalent to " narrow-minded." — Scholl. t Count Zinzendprf. Oomp. .4MioWogr.,bk. viii. (trans, i.,290), also WiUielm Meister, bk. vi. Nicholas Louis, Count Zinzendorf, was the protector of the Moravian sect of Hermhuters, and, having received episcopal ordination, became their bishop. He died in 1760. J SchoU supposes this to refer to Dr. Salzmann. See note, p. 75. § The well-known ecclesiastical historian, who died in 1755. II A' Protestant clergyman, • who • held the secularised endowment of the Abbey of Eiddagshausen. He is described in the Auto- hiography as one of the first theological scholars and writers. He was the father of the young Jerusalem, the friend of Lessing, whoso romanlie suicide occasioned Goethe's famous novel, Werther. See below, Letter 71. 1770.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. C9 always regarded the world, thinks that he has found out that we are set in this world especially to be useful to it, that we are able to make ourselves capable of this, whereto Eeligion also affords some aid ; and that the most useful man is the best. And all that follows therefrom. The day after to-morrow is my birthday ; * a new epoch will hardly commence with it. Be it as it will, pray with me, for me, that all may turn out as it should. Jurisprudence begins to please me much. Thus is it with everything as with Merseburg beer : one shudders the first time, but if one has drunk it a week, one cannot give it up again. And Alchemy is still as ever my secret love.f Still as much as ever the old madcap ! the 34. — To Here Engelb[ach]4 10 September, 1770. Everyone has his turn in the world, as in a peep- show. Is the Emperor with the army taken past ? stare at them, spy at them : here comes the Pope with his illustriousness. I have now played out my part in the lecture-room. Herewith are your MSS., which have rendered me good service. How you are living, I can imagine ; with me all is ut Bujira. One continues to be welcome in the B. house- 'hold. The A. and I are going to be married as soon as possible. The whole table greets you. All the youngsters in the town are manufacturing kites, and I am sweating par compagnie at my disputation. May you be happy ! Eemember me : remind my friends, too, that I am still in existence, and hold you all dear. * His 21st birthday. t Bee Autohiog., bk. viii (trans, i. 292.) X lingelbaoh is mentioned in tlie Autubiograpby in conjunction with Weyland, who was related to the wite of Pastor Brion of Sesenheim. Goethe did not know the Briou family until the following month, so that the reference cannot be to them. It is probably to some family with whom the Actuarius (Salzmauu) wa;j aUo iutimuti^ 70 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [177Q 35. — To THE ELDER HeEKN H.* 28 Se^^tember [1770]. To BEGIN to notice and to be noticed is a curious crisis in our life, dear friend. The first moral glance into the world no more brings to our bead or our heart a definite sensation than the first physical one. One sees before one knows that it is seen, and only a very long time after- wards does one learn to hnow what one sees. Eejoice that you have still long to live before the thought comes to you that there is nothing more in the world to see. Time goes slowly with you, I suppose. When one does nothing else but while it away, it must of necessity often be a burden ; and you are such a wicked fellow that you like avoiding trouble. At least, I do not know whether liitherto you have not been willing to make use of the fine gifts of which you are conscious, or whether you have not yet found opportunity enough to be able to be willing. The academical years which are now awaiting you ought by rights to give occupation to your whole mind. It is this time which, well or ill-employed, affects a man's whole after-life. Well ! we shall see each other again, and then we will talk of the past, which as. yet is still in the future. You will in many things change your modes of thought : I only ask you to keep steadfast your love for me, and let separation be only separation, — a cloud which draws between objects, and, without changing them, makes their, shapa undistinguishable, &c. 36.— To Mam'sell F.f 14 October [1770]. Shali^ I once more tell you that I am still alive and well, and as content as a tolerable condition allows, or shall I remain silent and rather not think of you for shame? I trow not. To receive forgiveness is to my heart as sweet as to- earn thanks — yes, even sweeter, for the sensation is more unselfish. You have not forgotten * Probably Hetzler, an elder brother of the correspondent to whom Letter 30 is addressed, t Tho lady to whom this letter is addressed has not been identified. 1770.] LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 71 me, that I know; I have not forgotten yoti, as you know, in spite of a silence the length of which I cannot account for. I have never bo vividly experienced what it is to be contented without the heart having any in- clination as now, — as here in Strasbourg. An extensive acquaintance amongst pleasant people, a lively, merry social circle, chases away one day after the other, leaves me Httle time to think and no repose for feeling; and when one does not feel, one certainly does not think of one's friends. Enough, my present life is exactly like a sleigh-drive, showy and tinkling, but affording just as little for the heart as it offers much to eyes and ears. You would hardly guess how the idea of writing to you so .unexpectedly comes to me, and, as the reason is a nice one, I must tell it to you, I have been spending a few days in the country with some pleasant people.* The society of the amiable daughters of the house, the beautiful neighbourhood, and the most favouring weather, have awakened in my heart every slumbering feeling, every remembrance of all that I love; so that I have scarcely returned than here I am sitting already and writing to you. And thereby you can see how far one can forget one's friends when one is happy. It is only immoderate, unenviable good fortune that makes us forget ourselves, that even clouds the thoughts of a loved one : but when one feels one's self completely, and quietly enjoys the pure pleasures of love and friendship, then, by a peculiar sympathy, every interrupted friendship, every half-severed tenderness, at once comes to life again. And you, my dear friend, whom, amongst many, I can so name especially. Letter No. 44, below, is possibly written to the same person or to her sister, for the drafts of both are on the same sheet. SohoH (JBriefe und Aufsatze) supposes that the F. stands for Franzehen mentioned in Letter 44, and that both were addressed to this same lady. It has also' been suggested that tliey A-ere written to Friederike Oeser at Leipsio, but the tone is more patronising and less intellectual than that which distinguishes his other letters to her. Possibly the lady was Fraul. Fraiiziska Crespel, wlio is mentioned as " our Franzehen " in a late letter to Eiese, 14 February, 1814. * This can only refer to the family of Friederike Brion at Sescuheim. See the date of the next letter 72 EABLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1770. accept this letter as a new pledge that I shall never forget you. May you contimie happy, &c.. 37. — To Feiederike Briobt, Sesenheim.* ' Deab new TkIEND, Str[asbourg], 15 October [1770]. I DO not hesitate so to call you : for if other- wise I understand hut very little of the eyes, still, at the first glance, my eye found in yours the hope of this friendship, and for our hearts I would swear. You, tender and kind as I know you, should you not, since I hold you so dear, be a little hit favourably inclined to me in return? Dear, dear friend. Whether I have anything to say to you is, perhaps, not in question, hut whether I precisely know why on this particular occasion I wish to write, and what I may have to write, that is another thing : thus much do I remark, hy a certain inward unrest, that I would gladly be with you ; and under the circumstances a scrap of paper is as true a consolation, a winged horse for me here in the midst of noisy Strasbourg, as it can but be for you in your peacefulness, if you feel with real keenness separation from your friends. The circumstances of our journey back you could imagine pretty well if you were able to see on my departure how sad I was; and if you remarked what a hurry Weyland was in to get home, gladly as, under other cir- cumstances, he would have stayed with you. His thoughts went forwards, mine backwards, and so it is natural that the conversation could be neither pleas&,nt nor interesting. /At the end of the Waniienau'\ we made a venture to fedorten the way, and lost ourselves, by good luck between the marshes : night came on, and nothing was wanting but that the rain, which a short time afterwards came down pretty freely, should have hastened itself somewhat> , for then we should have had every reason to be persuaded of the love and fidelity of our princesses.^ * The story of Goethe's attachment to Fiiederike is fully given in Autobiog., bks x. and xi. t Lit. The " Bug meadow." X Doubtless an allusion to some story with which they had amused themselves. 1771.] LETTEES OF J. Vf. GOETHE. 73 Meanwhile the roll, whicli, for fear of losing it, 1 kept in my hand, was a real talisman, wMch. charmed away for me all the difficulties of the journey. And yet ? — Oh, I need say nothing, either you can guess it or you would not believe it. .^==^^ At last we arrived, and the first thought that we had, which had, too, already been our consolation on the way, concluded in a plan of seeing you soon again. There is something too dear in the hope of seeing again. And we others, with our over-indulged hearts, if any little trifle vexes us, straightway come with the remedy and say, " Dear heart, be quiet ; you will not be separated long from them, from those people whom you love : be quiet, dear heart ! " And then we give' it in the meanwhile a shadow, so that it has something, and then it is good and quiet, like a little child whose mamma gives it a doll instead of the apple which it ought not to eat. Enough, we are not here, and you see that you were wrong. You would not belieye that the noise of town would ill please me after your sweet country joys. In truth, Mam'sell, Strasbourg has never yet appeared to me so empty as now. I hope, indeed, it may be better when time shall have a little obscured the thoughts of our delightful and unrestrained enjoyment ; when I shall no longer feel so vividly how kind, how amiable my friend is. Yet should I be able or willing to forget it ? No, I wiU rather keep the little heartache, and write to you often. And now many thanks stUl, still many sincere remem- brances to your dear parents, to your dear sister many hundreds of , what I should like to give you again. 38. — To Feau Schultheiss Textor. Dearest GrANDMAMA, [Strasbourg, February 1771.] The death of our dear father,* already dreaded from day to day for so long a time, has yet come upon me * The father, that is to say, of Goethe's mother, Johann Wolfgang Textor, imperial councillor and chief magistrate (Schultlieisi) of Frankfort. He died on 6th of February, aged seventy-eight. See Avtobiog., bks. i. and ii., et passim. 74 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1771. unprepared. I have felt this loss with all my heart; and what to us is the world around us when we lose what we love ? To console myself, and not you, I write to you, you who are now the head of our family, to beg you for your love, and assure you of my tenderest devotion. You have lived longer in the world than I, and must find in your own heart more comfort than I know of. You have endured more misfortune than I ; you must feel, far more vividly than I can say it, that the most sorrowful occur- rence often, through the hand of Providence, takes the most favourahle turn for our happiness ; that the succes- sion of fortune and misfortune in life is intertwined like sleep and waking, neither without the other, and one for the sake of the other ; that all happiness in the world is only lent. You have seen children and grandchildren die hefore you, ceasing their work in the morning of their life; and now your tears accompany a husband to the everlasting sabbath-rest — a man who has honestly earned his wage. He has it now; and yet the good God, whilst he took thought for him, has also taken thought for you — for us. He has taken from us 'not the merry, friendly, happy old man who carried on the affairs of age with the vivacity of a youth, who stood out amongst his fellow-citizens, and was the joy of his family : He has taken from us a man whose life we have seen for some years hanging by a silkeil thread. His energetic spirit must have felt with painful heaviness the oppressive weight of a sickly body ; must have wished itself free, as a prisoner yearns to escape from his cell. Now he is free, and our tears bid him God-speed ; and our sorrow gathers us around you, dear mamma, to console ourselves with you, hearts simply full of love. You have lost much, but much remains to you. Look at us, love us, and be happy. May you enjoy for a long time yet the temporal reward which you have so richly earned of our invalid father ,\ who has gone hence to report it at the place of requital, a|nd who has left us behind as tokens of his love, tokens of the past time of sorrowful yet pleasing recollection. And so may your love for us remain as it was ; and 1771.] LETTEllS OF J. W. GOETHE. 75 ■where much love is, there is mtich happinesF. I am, with a truly warm heart, your loving grandchild, J. W. Goethe. 39.— To Salzmank.* [Sesenheim, May, 1771.] For the honour of God, I am not going to leave the place at present : and as I shall not see you for bo long, I think it will be well for you to write how you are. I am now tolerably well ; the cough, by means of treatment and exercise, is pretty well reduced, and I hope it will soon depart. But things are not very bright round about me : .the little onef continues sadly poorly, and that makes everything look out of joint — to say nothing ofconscia mens, and not, alfis ! recti, that follows me about. Yet, after all, it is country. Ah ! if all were as it should bo, you would be here too. But write to me on Friday. And if you would have a box with two pounds of nice sweetmeats (you know better than I what girls like to eat) packed and sent to me, you would give occasion for sweeter faces than we have been accustomed to see for some time. Just send it with my address, to the arcade, care of the carrier Scholl, early on Friday : he will see to it. * Dr. Salzraanii, a man at this time of more than sixty years of age, held the post of actuary vd., i/rec^iji/ds avrjp, fjLvptav aperav areXel voio^jeverai, oviror aTpeKe'C Kare/ia ■troSl, /laSovTEs, &c.t These words have pierced my soul like swords. You know now how things are looking with me, and what your letter has been to me in this Philoktetio condition. Since I last heard from you, the Greeks have become my only study. At first I confined myself to Homer, and then, through Xenophon and Plato, I sought out Sokrates. * Goetlie went to Wetzlar in the eiiring of this year to study the procedure of the Imperial Chamber of Justice there located. t Pindar, Nem. Od. iii. 92 EAIILT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. Then, at last, my eyes were opened to my own wortUess- ness. I fell in with Theokritus and Anakreon ; something, at last, drew me towards Pindar, and there I still remain. Otherwise I have done nothing at all, and in everything else I am still horribly confused, and the good spirit has at last revealed to me the cause of this wood-peokerish condition. It came across me at Pindar's words, i-iriKpaTelv Syvaurdai. "When you stand boldly in, the chariot, while four fresh horses, wild beyond measure, rear against your reins, you guide their strength, you pull up the impetuous and lash down the rearing one; you gallop on, you guide, you. turn, and whip, and stop, and again speed along, until- aU sixteen feet in simultaneous tread attain the goal — that is mastery, iiriKpaTtlv, artistic skill! But if I have been walking about everywhere, I have only peeped in every- where : * I have nowhere grasped anything. To grasp, to seize, is the essence of all mastery. You have vindicated this in the case of sculpture, and I find that every artist is nothing as long as his hands do not work plastically. " Everything is so much a look with you," you used often to say to me. Now I understand it ; shut the eyes, and work in the dark. It must either succeed or break down. Look, what sort of a musician is he who keeps looking at his instrument ? Xetpcs aa-KToi, rfrop oXkijiov, that is all ; and yet that all must Ije one, and not /uipiav aperav dreXet voa •yeuW. I might indeed pray, like Moses in the Koran: " Make me room, Lord, in my narrow breast ! " No day passes without my communing with you, and I often think, " If one could but live with him ! " It will come, it will come ! The youth in his coat of mail wanted to follow too soon, and you ride too fast. Enough, I shall not be idle in following my path and performing my own task. Should we meet again, then there are wider paths. For the last fortnight I have been reading your " frag- ments " for the first time ; I need not tell you what they are to me. That I grasped you best when you speak of the Greeks, delighted me ; yet nothing has descended upon mo more like a divine revelation, nothing has animated my heart and soiil through and through with warmer, holier ' I can write, but not cut pens, so I cannot get a good hand; I can play the violoncello, but not tune it, etc. 1772.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 93 presence, than that, how thoii,ght and feeling form the ex- pression. How thoroughly I enjoyed this ! Pray let us try whether we cannot meet more frequently. You may feel how you would embrace him who could be to you what you are to me. Let us not, like weaklings, be deterred from this by the apprehension that we must of necessity often clash with one another; and, should our passions come into a collision, can we not endure a blow? It is more my matter than yours. Enough : if you have aught - against me, say so outright, seriously, angrily, snarlingly, just as it happens. Thus will I too tell you that I last felt indignant about your answer on the ' Felsweihe,' and that I taxed you with being an intolerant parson. The " Goetz-priests " * and " with a profane hand forcing out. the name," wore not right. If I were wrong in striking up a dirge before your maiden, why should you therefore charge with fire and sword into the midst of it ? I know, indeed, that this is your style : you will not let it alone. Be it so. Only, in the case of extreme Walter Shandyish distress, do not make such long pauses. As concerns the point, no interference shall in future be made with your right to make the hours melancholy for your maiden, and thus would I have this too off my mind. I tell you nothing about our commiinion of saints. I am vco^vTos, and, as a matter of fact, have up to this time only gone with others ; with Merck I am firmly allied, but it is more from a common need than a common aim. Just one word about ' Berlichingen.' Your letter was a letter of comfort ; I rated it far lower even than you. The proposition " that Shakespeare has quite spoilt you," I recognized at once in its full force. Enough about it j it must be smelted, purified from all slang, mixed with new and nobler materials and recast ; then it shall appear before you aigain. It is all only a piece of thinking ; that vexes me enough. ' Emilia Galotti ' is also only thought-out, and neither accident nor caprice ever play the least part in it. With half a brain, one can find out the wherefore of every scene — of every word, I might say. Therefore I am not partial to that piece, masterpiece as it otherwise is ; and just as little to my own. If it were not that in the depths of my soul there was still . * See below, p. 139, note." 94 EARLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. so much that foretold — ofteia only flitting witliin it — that I might hope, " if beauty and greatness interweave them- selves more in thy feeling, thou wilt do what is good and beautiful, speaking and writing without knowing why thou doest it." Farewell. I have just received No. 64 of the Franhfort Journal, 56.— To Kestner.* ]/ [Wetzlar, 8 August, 1772.] To-MOREOW, about 5, 1 expect you ; and to-day — :you could guess it, so well must you know me already; — to-day I have been at Atspach. And to-morrow we go there' together ;' then I hope to find friendlier faces. In the meantime I have been there, and I have to t6ll you that Lotte enjoyed herself intensely this evening in the moonlit - valley, and wished to bid you good-night. I wanted to say this to you myself, and haye been at your house ;. but there was no light in your room, so I would not make a noise. Early to-morrow we drink coffee under the tree in Garbenheim, where I supped in the moonlight to-night. Alone — yet not alone. $leep w^lL May it be fine to- morrow. 57.-r-To Kestnee. . [6 Septemter, 1772.] <* . r"- Testeedat I grumbled the whole afternoon because Lotte had not gone to Atspach, and early to-day I continued doing so. The morning is sos splendid, and iny soul so peaceful, that I cannot remain In the town : I shall go to Garbenheim. Lotte said yesterday, she should walk rather farther to-day than usual — not that I expect you out there, ♦ Johann Christian Kestner, who was at this time twenty-six years old, was secretary of legation to the Hanoverian embassy at Wetzlar, whither Goethe had now gone to gain experience in the Imperial Chamber of Justice, of which Wetzlar was the seat, and ut which a " Visitation " was now being held. Kestner was betrothed informally to Charlotte Buff, to whom Goethe also became attached. The main details of this story are familiar through the romance of Werther, the tragic sequel of which is, however, founded upon another episode altogether disconnected with Goethe's own history, as will be seen fioQi later letters. See Autobiog., bk. xii. 1772.] LET^TEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 95 — ^but wish ? With my whole heart, and I hope — somewhat less, indeed, hut just so much that it balances midway the uncertainty of the wish. In the uncertainty, then, I will spend _my day, and hope and hope ; and if I must return alone in the evening— you know what is becoming in a wise man, and how wise I am. 58. — To Kestnee.* [10 September, 1772.] '^ He is gone, Kestner ; when you get this letter, ho is gone. Give Lottchen the enclosed note. I was very composed, but your conversation has torn me to pieces. At present I can say nothing to you but farewell. Had I remained with you a moment longer, I could not have restrained myself. Now I am alone, and to-morrow I go. Oh, my poor head ! 69.t — To Chaelotte BuFF.f I HOPE, indeed, to come back again, but God knows when. Lotte, what did my heart feel whilst you were talking, for I knew that it was the last time that I should see you. Not the last time, and yet to-morrow I go away. He is gone. "What spirit led you to that conversation ? When I was forced to say all I felt, ah, my thoughts were of this life, of your hand, which I kissed for the last time ; the room which I shall not enter again, and the dear father who accompanied me for the last time. I am now alone, and may weep. I leave you happy, and shall remain in your hearts. I shall see you again, but not to-morrow is never. Tell my boys he is gone. I can say no more. * This and the following two letters were written immediately before Goethe left Wetzlar, a step which his attachment to Charlotte Buff impelled him to take somewhat suddenly. t Enclosed in the preceding letter. X The eldest daughter of Herr Buff, a bailiff (Amtmann) of the ancient military corporation of DeiUeehe Sitter or Teutonic knights. He had ohdrge of an official residence which was inhabited by Holrath Brandt and his family, called the Deutsche or Teutsche Maus, 96 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. 60.* — To Charlotte Bufk. [11 September, 1 1772.] EvEEYTHiNcj is packed up, Lotte, and day lireaks ; one more quarter of an hour, and I am off. The pictures which I have forgotten, and which you will divide among the children, must he my excuse, Lotte, for writing when I have nothing to write. For you know all : you know how happy I have been during these days. And I go to the dearest, hest of men, J hut wherefore from you ? But it is so, and my fate, which I cannot alter to-day nor to-morrow, nor the next iday— what I have often declared in jest. Be ever happy in mind, dear Lotte — you are luckier than a hundred othters^only not indifferent ; and I, dear Lotte, am happy, hecause I read in your eyes, that you think I shall nevei:^ change. Adieu, a thousand times adieu ! GOKTHE. 61. — To Kestnee, \ [Prank&it.] God hless you for all your goodness, and a thousand- fold joy to you for the remembrance of me. Greet the dear girls for me. I met Schweizer yesterday, and joked him about his Wetzlar life. " Where were you most intimate then ?" " At the Tewtsche Haus," said I. " But not at Brand's ?" said he. " Yes, indeed, at Brand's," said I ; " why not ?" " Then you know the bailiff's too?" — "Yes, indeed." "Lotte is a very pleasant girl." — " Tolerably so," said I, &c. &c. This was consoling and pleasing to me. If I only can speak of her, if even it is the contrary of what I, think. At Coblenz I have no acquaintance, and on this side of the valley you know how it is. I pity your honest fellow. Make inquiries by all means ; if it has not gone altogether too far, save the poor boy. A girl has nothing so difficult in this way with a child, as an honourable fellow with a woman. Adieu. * Enclosed with the preceding. t From a passage in Kcstner's diary, we learn that Goethe left Wetzlar at seven o'clock on this day. From this point the romance of Werther ceases to coincide with his own experiences. (See Goefhe und Werther, von A. Keetner, pp. 13-1 G."* 1 Viz., M'erck. See p. lOi. 1772.3 LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 97 C2.— To Kestnee. God bless you, dear Kestner. Tell Lotte that I sometimes , imagine I could forget her, hut then a relapse overwhelms me, and it is worse with me than ever. 63. — To JoHANN Gottfried Eoderer,* Strasboces. [Frankfort], 21 September, 177[2]. Here Hafner will tell you how I am, and I hardly need assure you how pleasant it is to me to see written evidence that your love, your confidence in me, has rather heen increased than diminished by distance, since it is well known tg you how much I must sympathize wherever I feel spirit and activity. It was not our lot to become more intimately acquainted, and mutually to assist one another by intercourse ; and yet we may perhaps be more closely allied than many youth- ful friends. It is not a question here of any claims of time ; a single glance causes us to acknowledge a mutual interest, and a single stroke in the dark is often worth more than a walk in the broad sunshine. I am glad that my talk amongst you has been anointed with " iiovtria," and that the spirit of all that lives has converted my words into a fertilizing rain, to renovate the life and elasticity of languishing plants. The opportunity which you jfind of applying yourself practically to architecture is excellent. If the artist is not at the same time a workman, he is nothing ; but the misfortune is that most of our artists are only workmen. So long as it is only a question of everyday struct-ares it is all very well ; but as soon as a palace or monument has to be revised, then their magic-wand is too weak, and for that the architect specially is wanted. Every peasant giyes the carpenter the idea for the erection of his mud * This correspondent is not mentioned in the Autobiography. He was possibly a son of Joh. Georg Eoderer, a celebrated physician of Strasbourg who died in 1763. H 98 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. hovel. Who is to build up to the clouds Jupiter's dwelling ? Who but a Vulcan, a god like himself? ' Indeed the artist must have a soul as great as that of the king for whom he vaults his halls ; a man like Erwin,. like Bramante.* That greatest masterpiece of German architecture, which you have daily before your eyes, which in inspired hours you may think of with the Muse, will tell you more emphatically than I, that the great mind differs from the little one chiefly in this, that its work is independent; that, irrespective of what others have done, it seems to have coexisted with its designation from all eternity till now, whilst the little head, by its ill-applied imitation, at once manifests its poverty and its narrowness. Viewed from this point, how often do the largest buildings dwindle down into small ones, like the citizens' houses seen from the Minster. r'arewell. On the Minster think of me too ; and if you see my name on one of the corner-pillars,- then imagine from yourself what I was in those old times when we did not yet know one another; and may you feel all the bliss which I myself felt. In those times I wished for many men and for myself to be as I know you now. Farewell, Goethe. If as a theologian you can bring yourself to do it, do not deny me your voice when I apply to the Club through Hrn. Jung for a day of celebration for the noble Shake- speare. 64. — To Kestnee, "T^ ' [Frankfort,] Friiiay, [25 September, 1772.]' LoTiB has not dreamt of nie. I take that very much amiss, and it is my will that she shall dream of me this night, and shall not tell you anything about it. The passage vexed me in your letter, when I read it over again. Not dreamt of me once ! an honour we confer on the most indifferent things which surround us during the day. And — have I not been with her, body and soul, and dreamt of her day and night ? * Erwin k, SteinbacL, llie arohiteot of Strasbourg Cathedral. Lazzaro Bramanto d'Urbino was tlie first desigunr of 8. PetSf's at Eome. 1772.] LETTEES OF J, W. GOETHE. 99 By God ! I am a fool when I am most wise, and piy Genius is an evil Genius, when it posted me to Wolperta- hausen ;* and yet it is a good Genius. I could not have spent my days better in ^[etzlar], and yet the gods give me no more such days ; they understand punishing and Tanta- lus. Good night. I have just said that to Lotto's likeness. Saturday Evening, after supper. This was formerly the time at which I went to you, the hour at which I met you, and now I have plenty of time to write. Would that you could see how diligent I am. To leave everything so suddenly, everything in which my four months' happiness lay. I do not fear that you will forget me, and yet I think about our meeting again. Here everything may go as it can, and I will not see Lotte again until I am able to confide to her that I am in love, right seriously in love. What are my dear boys doing V what is Ernst doing ? It were better that I should not write to you, and leave my imagination in peace ; but there hangs the silhouette, that is worse than all. Farewell. 65. — To Kestneu. [3 October, 1772.] I HAVE already said, if the stuff pleases Lotte as well as it becomes her, our taste will be commended. I shall not send it yet, for I have to object to the decision in favour of the blue, that it is too hard and quite unbecoming. Either the green herewith enclosed, or straw-colour — and I should like the last best, because I have already prophesied that one day Lotte will like yellow as much as she now likes red ; and it would be so pleasant to me to have introduced it. Write me the decision. Only, no blue. If she can think of me also amidst tender farewell tears, tell her I am with her a hundred times. Dorothy Brandt^ has been much talked of. Even Merck's J wife has already heard * Goethe mnde Lotte's acquaintance at a ball at WolpertBhauFTO. {Goethe und Werther, von A. Keeiner.') t The Brandts or Brands also inhabited the Teutsche Boms; sea Letter Gl. t See Letter 7G. H 2 100 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. about it. You must soon come to Priedberg, or I shall come to Wetzlar. Greet the blabk-eyed one for me. For the rest, . Wetzlar is quite dead to me. Many greetings to my dear boys. Much happiness' to Hans, and speedy recovery to Ernst. Eemember me to the Bailiff. Goethe. 66.— To Kestneu. [Frankfort], Tuesday, [6 October, 1772]. To-MOEEOW, early, the calico goes off, ai,n.^th.e Literary Journal* and pictures for the boys, that everyone may have something. Our rows with the parsons daily increase. They expose theinselves more and more, and we give them back as good as they send. Would that I were sitting again at Lotte's feet, and had the boys scrambling around me. How goes it in the Teutsche Saus? Is there peace and unity BtUl amongst all? Is Dorothy as much alive as ever? If I were in Wetzlar, I should have something to confide to Lotte, of which you must know nothing. Adieu, dear Kestner. Greet Dorothy for me — and good Kielmann- seggef too. Is it true that you are going to remain a hundred years longer in Wetzlar ? They say in public that the Visitation had soon another meeting and finished with i the [cases] suspensis : whereupon the second class marched \ in ; and Hanover is still there ! It is not the Empire which troubles me. Give Bom the four florins for the newspapers. He is to keep them until further orders. GOETIIE. 67. — To Charlotte Boff. [8 October, 1772.] Thanks to your good spirit, golden Lotte, which impelled you to give me an unexpected joy, and though he were as black as fate, thank him. To-day, before^ I went to dinner, I kissed your picture warmly ; and at table — I wondered at the unusual letter, broke it open and put it aside. 0, dear Lotte, since I saw you for the first time, * The Franlifurter Gelehrten Anieigen, edited by Schlosss/and con- fribiitod to by Goethe. f t Count von Kiebiiumiseggc. See AutoMog., bk. xii. (traps, i. 462). 1772.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 101 how everytMng is changed : there is still the blood-red odour on the ribbon, but it seems to me paler than it was in the carriage, which is natural. Thanks to your hfiart that you can stUl make me such a present, but I will in the darkest depths of my grief No, Lotte, you remain to me : therefore may the All-wealthy in heaven give you of his fairest fruits ; and to whom He denies them on earth, to him may He, above in Paradise, where cool brooks flow between palm-trees, and fruits hang above like gold But I wish I could be with you for an hour. Something more before I go to bed ; our two lovers * are on the pinnacle of happiness. The father is satisfied, under very favourable conditions, and it depends now on secondary considerations. The same to you, dear Lotte ! Good night. 68. — To Kestnee, Saturday, [10 October, 1772.] Write to me immediately whether the news about Gou6 is confirmed.t I honour such a deed, and pity man- kind, and leave — all Philistine fellows to make their tobacco- pipe reflexions over it, and say, I told you so. I hope never to afflict my friends with such news. Our calico (since that, too, belongs to the great wheel of things) has not yet arrived. That surprises me. It went from here yesterday week, or Tuesday week. It is a roll of calico, pictures, and newspapers. My servant has just been to the post, to ask whether it can have been left behind here. There was yet another mischance. In the aforesaid roll there are only two ells; the third you will receive through Bom. How many hundred times do I think and dream of past scenes. Lotte, — my boys. We are now only twelve leagues apart. , • Goethe's sister and J. G. Schlcsser. — K. t A false report had been spread that Gou^ had shot himself. — K. Von Gone, an attache of the Hanoverian legation, mentioned as an ' epi- curean philosopher,' and a ' great genius,' by Kestner (K. p. 36) is referred to in Autobiog., bk. xii. (trans, i. 462). 102 EAELT AND MISOEtLAltEOUS [1772. They assure me here, at the post-house, that the roll went off to Wetzlar yesterday (Friday) week. Be so good as to make inquiries about it. It will arrive at Kradhbein. 69.— To Kestxer. [Frankfort, 21 October.] Here are a few sheets worth their weight in gold. Qreet Kielmannsegge forme; they will please him. Young Falck was with me yesterday ; a lively young fellow, such as I like. To-day J am going for a walk with him, and to introduce him to Schlosser. And Lotte — when I come to the Triedberg Gate, I feel as if I must come to you. It lies heavy on my heart that I went away cross with Sophie : I hope she has for- gotten and forgiven it ; if not, I beg her to do so. Write and tell me how I stand with her. And how is Emily? I beg you to give closer and more distinct information about Gottor. Your remark about him is too mysterious. These few splendid days we have celebrated Autumn,, and I have thought more of Lotte than she ha;s of me in a quarter of a year. Yet I hope in time to be free of this trouble. 70. — To Kestner. [27 October, 1772.] Here is another newspaper. Thank you for all your good tidings. And Lotte or you, whichever goes first to Atspach, will wish the dear people happiness in my name. If you could know how often I am with you, and how stm Sometimes doubt rises up in me, and I remember Lotte era panier, as they all are — but soon she- appears to me again in her blue-striped dressing-jacket, and her innocent goodness, which she alone has ; and then I hope not to be lost in her mind, amongst the great insignificant multitude. I have not seen Falck again. The whirl of society has swallowed him up. Greet Kielmanpsegge warmly for me. I should like to visit him on his sick-bed. The third judge is one of those wretched beings who are condemned to drag out- their lives in the 1772.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 103 darkness of their own conceit. Adieu. Your commission shall be attended to. Gotter is a changeable man. Pshaw, for the passage in his letter. It is a crooked, paltry equivocation. His good heart — good hearts, in- deed ! I know the scamp. Y Unhappy Jerusalem ! * The news was shocking and unexpected to me; it was horrible to have this news as an accompaniment to the pleasantest gift of lovei The un- fortunate man ! But the devils, who are the infamous men who enjoy nothing but the chaff of vanity, and have the lust of vanity in their hearts, and preach idolatry, and cramp healthy nature, and overstrain and ruin the faculties, are guilty of this misery — of our misery. May the devil, their brother, take them ! If the cursed parson is not guilty, God forgive me ; but I wish that he may break his neck, like Eli. Poor lad ! When I returned froni a walk, and he met me yonder in the moonlight, I said, " He is in love." Lotte must still remember that I laughed about it. God knows loneliness has undermined his heart, and For seven years \ his form has been familiar to me ; I have talked little with him. At my departure I took with me a book of his ; I will keep that and the memory of him as long as I live. Thank all your children ; it is healing, precious comfort when I see your keepsake and your joy. It was well it all came so together, life and death, sorrow and joy. How different, how different from the report that Gone had shot himself. Farewell. Greet Lotte a thousand times. How happy you are.J ♦ Goethe had now heard that it was he, and not Von Gone, who had shot himself. Jerusalem was the son of the Protestant Abhot of Eid- dagshausen, and an attache of the Brunswick Legation. He was a man of some capacity, and enjoyed the friendship of Lesaing, who was then Librarian to the Duke of Brunswick at Wolfenbiittel. t Jerusalem was at Leipsio with Goethe in 1765-7. j Before the date of the next letter, Goethe paid a visit with Schlosser to Wetzkr. where he stayed from November 5tk to the 10th. I'We Kestner's diary, quoted K., p. (i7. 104 EAKLT AND MISCKLLANEOUS [1772. 72. —To Kestner. [Friedberg, 10 November, 1772.] I AM a nice fellow. Being sent out on a local commis- ion, I li ve in fancy over the past and in the future. Yester- day evening I was still with you ; and now I sit in disagree- able Friedberg, awaiting a stonemason, with whom I wish to come to terms about the repair of my cursed castle. You can think how short the way hither was to me, and how I drove up to-day from the Crown-Prince, and saw the walls of the Teutsche Haus, and the road along which I had been so many hundred times, and then turned to the right into the Schmidtgasse. I wished I had taken formal leave yesterday evening ; but it was too much, and I lost one kiss, which you would not have been able to refuse. I nearly went away from here early this morning. S. de- tained me, therefore I shall shortly play him a trick, for I will not be the only one to suffer. Certainly, Kestner, it was time for me to go. Yesterday evening I had quite vile thoughts on the sofa, for which I deserve to be hanged. The stonemason has been, and I am no further than before ; and a packet has come from my father, for which I have sent, which may contain edifying matter. In the meantime I have been with you again, and my soul is still with you and with my little ones. Would that men were bom to enjoy pure delight. My father's letter is here. Good God ! when I am old, shall I be like this also ? Shall my soul no longer care for that which is loveable and good ? Strange that one should think the older a man becomes, the freer he will be from what is worldly and small. He becomes more and more worldly and more petty. You see I am finely in train to rave, but God knows it is only for the sake of occupying myself with you, of forgetting who, where, and what I am. Schlosser has just returned from an embassy. Love suggests to him the protocol ; he inquisitioned into the deepest corner of hell: however, everything remains as.it is, and we effect so much with running and hurrying, that '^-xe will not yield the precedence to an important Visitation-deputation. 1772.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 105 And when I think again how I return from Wetzlar, haviag been received with a love so far above my hopes, I am quite at rest. I confess to you I was somewhat anxious about it, for misfortune has so often befallen me already. I came with a very full, warm heart, dear Kestner ; and it is a hell-pain when one is not received as one comes. But then — God give you a whole life such as those two days were to me. Supper is coming. Good night. Once more, good night. Eemember me to the old father and to my boys. Eemind Lotte of me at the concert, and Dorothy too. One thing more. Lotte has an article which is too big for her. I have begged her to allow me to exchange it for a smaller one ; send it me -Hell packed up by the post.* 73. — To Kestner. [Frankfort, 13 November, 1772.] Here is ' German Architecture 'f for Kielmannsegge and you. Did you think of me at the concert ? and how are you ? Have you received the edifying letter from Friedberg yet ? I ■^ote' it to occupy my mind, which would other- wise have been quite unruly. Prom thence I went to Homburg ; and have won back again the love of Ufe, since the appearance of such a wretched being as myself can give satisfaction to such excellent people. Adieu ! I am resting here. On Monday I go to Darm- stadt, on Wednesday to Mannheim, where I am looking forward to the pleasure of chatting about Lotte with Fraulein Baschle. 74. — To Kestnek. [U November, 1772.] To-DAY I have received your kind letter, full of * He means a comb, of which mention is made in Letters 81 and 84. t A~ small treatise which Goethe had written entitled ' On Geriuan Architecture, i.m. Ervini a Steinbacih.' See AutolHog., bk. xii., where however it is mentioned before tlie Wi-tzlar visit. 106 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772 reinemTDrances, and must at least tell you in return how much it delights me and ho-w much I love you. Lotte knows well that she can say what she likes. I, poor devil, am ever at the greatest disadvantage. She is Lotte notwithstanding, and everything remains as it was. Here is a copy of the ' Architecture ' for Palk. How goes it with my head ?* Do hurry it on. "Would you kindly tell "Wandrer, I have inquired after Zwiefel : for the amateurs have assured me that it is too late : one must look after them in September ; the good ones have all heen selected. Notwithstanding, I have sent to the Italian ; who sends me word however there are no more to be had,, for by this time they are busy 75. — To TrAU von LAHOCHE.t [15 Kovember, 1772.J] Why even one word about your letter not following immediately on mine ? -Do I not know your heart, and do I not know that it continues unchangeable in aifection and friendship ? Since the first priceless moments which brought me to you, since those scenes of deepest emotion, how often has my soul been with you, and -thence into the glory of homely motherly bliss, adored by such angels, seeing you,, and what is more, living with you ! My poverty of words, my incapacity to rejoice aloud, have only enabled me to express to myself what I felt, and you — you know best what your heart says for me. * This paragraph refers to some silhcnettes. — K. t Sophie von Laroche, the wife of a privy-councillor of the Electorate of Treves : and the author of several romances. One of these, ' The History of the Praul. von Sternheim,' was reviewed by Goethe in the Franhf. Gelehrt. Anzeigen in 1772. Goethe made her acquaintance, through Merck, in this year, and was a guest in her house at Bhren- breitstein on his way from Wetzlar, as related in the Autobiography, bk. xiii. Frau von Laroche was at this time forty-one years of age, and had two daughters, Maximiliane and Louise. This and other letters to the same correspondent are from Schhsser's Nachlass, ed. Frese. . % The date, added by Schlosser, is 5th Nov., but it must have been later than the 10th, when he ended bis visit to Wetzlar, referred to in the letter, as we know from Kestner's diary. See note, p. 103 above. 1772.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 107 Tou complain of loneliness. Alas that it is the fate of the noblest soul to sigh vainly for a reflexion of itself ! You will not be so always, and even now with what perfect feeling do you see your two daughters growing under your eyes,' who if they are ijot everything to you, are yet aU that the good Godhead can give tomortals of bliss. But that also is the fate of man, that the rich man does not vividly feel his wealth. Believe your friends, how over- well the Dis- penser of all things has dealt with you ; we only know what you have, for we do not feel what is lacking to you ! — A hundred times we rejoice again in spirit over the moments which we enjoyed in the ^presence of the most beautiful nature, in the most blissful circle. Mad. Merck felt the full warmth of your letter and greets you heartily through me ; she also longingly awaits a letter from Madlle. Max. ,y Merck tells us that you wish to know some of the cir- ,,,, cumstances of Jerusalem's death. We wandered about near each other for 4 months in Wetzlar, and even a week after his death I was there : Baron Kielmannsegge,* one of the few with whom he made himself intimate, said to me : " That which but few will believe, which I may tell you ; the anxious striving after truth and moral goodness has so undermined his heart, that unsuccessful trials of life and passion have urged him to the tragic resolution." A noble heart and a penetrating head, how easily do they pass from extraordinary feelings to such resolutions, and life — of what use is that which I can tell you of it ; to me it is satisfaction enough to have raised a monument in your heart to the departed unfortunate, whose deed will be so unfeelingly torn to pieces by the world. I hope Madlle. Max will allow me sometimes to write ; I will not abuse her goodness. Farewell, and if you could feel how much interest I take in all that comes from you, you would many a time feel called to write me a letter, and Madlle. Max would linger longer over her precious postscripts. Goethe. * See note, p. 100. He is called a " Stoic pliiloEopher " by Kestne* (K. p. 3G). 108 ■ EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS , [1772 70. — To Kestsee. [Darmstadt, 20 November, 1772.] I AM in Darmstadt : I shall not go to Mannheim. Jnst as wo wanted to start, a hindrance detained Merck :* whoever holds an office must unfortunately wait on it. It gives us so much pleasure, and does us so much good to he once more together, that I don't like to go on alone. Address your letter to me direct here, and send me the information about Jerusalem's death. Doubtless you have already written to me at Frankfort, but it will be so long beftire I receive that. Early to-day I was talking a great deal with the Flachslandjf of Lotte and you, and my dear boys. Merck and his wife and Henry greet you. I greet you all ; my soul is often with you. Adieu. Goethe. 77. — To Kestner. [Darmstadt, 29 November, 1772.] Thank you, dear Kestner, for the account of poor Jerusalem's death ; it interested us deeply. You shall have it back when it is copied. Merck and his wife greet you : the latter is always declaring that you must be a very good man. Henry goes to the theatre every evening and does not trouble himself about the world. Your greeting to the Flachsland has gained me a kiss ; pray send greeting oftener, and I will gladly be porter. I am to tell you that she wishes you a thousandfold happiness in your love, and everybody- would like to know Lotte. I take care to talk a great deal about her, for then people smile and suspect she * Jobann Heinrioh Merck was born in Darmstadt in 1741 and was tbns eight years older than Goethe. He was the sou of an apothecary, but had raised himself by his abilities to a high social position and was now Kriegsrath (war-councillor) to the Landgrave of Heose- Darmetadt. " Henry " mentioned below was his son. t Caroline Flachsland was Herdei-'s betrothed. See Autohiog., bk. xiL (trans, i. 440> 1772.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 109 raiglit te my sweetheart, until Merck assures them aside that I am quite innocent. Greet Dorothy and Caroline and all my boys for me. Yesterday it occurred to me to ■vprite to Lotte. But I thought her only answer would be, We will not have any more of that, and I should not like to shoot myself for the present. I have just written to Gotter, and sent him an ' Architecture.' Goethe. 78.— To Hekder. [Darmstadt, 5 December, 1772.] Ought not I also to append to the Messepger of Love just a little note from myself ? No, Herder, we are not indeed so poor as that ; God knows how we love you, and you would have a ream of paper of the conversations with you this time. I thank you for your letter and for the blessing transferred from Ossian. We are the ancients, here and there a little modified ; but that is not to tho purpose. And if you come in spring, it will be glorious indeed. My father sends you greeting ; you are to enter beneath his roof with hospitality of course ; I have now relieved my conscience in respect of him. My sister Caroline* is an angel, and how she loves you ! I am going to fetch you to her, about which we have already dreamt many heavenly dreams. In the meantime fare- well, and may goodness and love be poured forth from your heart towards us. Even the Paul-like gift with which at times thou smitest us, Dean,! is to us more precious than myrrh, and does us good as the strigil and the hair-cloth does him who leaves the bath. I am now quite a draughtsman ; I ha,ve courage and good fortune ; I was heartily glad at the sympathy which you showed about Erwin. Merck writes verses and prints.f We * He refers to Mile, Flachaland. t Herder was nicknamed amongst his friends " The Dean " in allusion to his admiration for. Dean Swift. See Autdbiog., bk. xii. (trans, i. 448). % Merck had a printinsr-press at Laugen, near Darmstadt. He after- wards printed the firot edition of Goetz von Berlichingen. See Autdbiog., bk. xiii. (trans, i. 498). 110 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. reflect ourselves in one another, support one another, and share weal and woe together on this life's path. And you, do not delay to come. Goethe. 79. — To Kestnee. [Darmstadt] 6 [December, 1772.] 1 AM still in Darmstadt, and — just as I always am. God hless you, and all love and good-will on earth. My stay here has infused a great deal of good throughout my limbs, hut on the whole I am not better. Fiat voluntas. That you are happy, and not suicidal, as no one can he who goes up the three stone steps to the house of the lord — Bailiff Buff — I have seen in your letters, and please God he so in saecula saeculorum. Lotte's rejection of my considerate non-letter- writing disposition has vexed me somewhat, that is to say, very much, but not for long, as in all her naughty ways of treating people, for whieh Dorothy Brandt, whom God soon provide with a worthy husband, has often laughed at me. When there are peas and veal cutlets, etc. All here wish you much good, and are well and good after the manner of people, neither more nor less than after the manner of right good people. Adieu. Cease not, as long as you love me, to bring me often to your minds ; it is a matter of a bit of paper and pen-scratching which anyhow you must often flourish for the sake of the pitiful needs of the Empire. Prom now, dear friend, [send] your letters to Frankfort. 80. — To Kestner. [Frankfort, 12 December, 1772.] That is capital ; I just wanted to ask you if Lenchen* were there, and you write to me that she is. If I were only over there, I would annihilate your argument, and make Schneider's life a burden to him. I thuik I would rather have her than Lotte. According to the portrait she is an amiable girl, much better than Lotto, if * 1.6. Helene, a younger sister of Cliarlotte'a. 1772.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE; 111 not just exactly the And I am free, and thirsting for lovo. I must see about coming, but that would be no good. I am again in Frankfort, going about with new plans and fancies, all of which I should not be doing if I had a sweetheart. Adieu ; write to me soon. Here you have three ' Archi- tectures.' Give the others to good people, Schneider for examjple, and greet him. 81.— To Kestner. [15 December, 1772.] Yesterday evening, dear Kestner, I entertained my- self for an hour with Lotte and you in the twilight ; then it becarne dark, I was trying to grope my way to the door, and went a step too far to the right, fumbled against the paper — it was Lotte's likeness, it was a pleasant sensation. I wished her a very good-night and went. It just occurs to me that she is to send me that thing. Now, dear Kestner, take care for me that she gives it to you, and pack it well for me in a box, and let her cut a little paper of the size it is to be ; give her no rest, I shall not write a syllable until I have the comb. For we are poor creatures of the senses ; I would gladly have something of hers, something from her in my hands again, an outward and visible sign, whereby the inward and spiritual grace, &c., as it runs in the catechism. Your letter makes me glad, dear Kestner; send me a larrge silhouette of Lenchen,,! love her very much. Don't spoil the girl for me. Since I am here again from Darm- stadt I am in a tolerable humour, and working bravely. Adventurous as ever, let come of it what may. N.B. At the end of this year we cease one and all to ■write in the journal,* then there will be a right brave bit of work. Make that known so far as your friends take an interest in us. That Lotte likes any one better than me except your- self, tell her would be all the same to me ; the second or the * The Franlefurter Gelelirten Anzeigen. See end of Letter 83, and 84. 112 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. twentieth is all one. The first ajwjiys has ninety-nine parts of the whole, and then whether one has the hundredth part alone, or shares with twenty, is much the same thing, and that I love her so much has always heen a disinterested matter. Greet Caroline warmly for me. I have not seen Klinker, but have heard a great deal more good of it than the Frankfort reviewer says of it. Your letters are not going to be burnt. I have already thought of it. But you are not going to have them back either. When I die I will bequeath them to you. "When Lotte is in a very good humour, greet her for me, who love you heartily. Goethe. The copy of the 'Lettre Bur I'Homme' cost thirty kreuzers. 82.— To Kestnee. [December, 1772.] Dear Kestnee, Your letter reached me just as I had sealed up a roll which you will receive by to-morrow morning's post. It is tammy for my two little boys for jackets and trousers, otherwise called matelot. Let it be given to them on Christmas Eve, as is befitting. Place a little wax candle on it for them, and kiss them for me, and Lotte the angel. Adieu, dear Kestner, your letter has given me heavenly joy. I have also had one to-day from Versailles, from brother Lerse.* Greet them all for mo, and love me. Adieu. i 83.— To Kestnee. [Frankfort, 25 December, 1772.] Cheistmas-day early. It is still night, dear Kestner. I have risen in order to write again by the morning light, which recalls to me pleasant remembrances of past days. I have had some coifee made to honour the festival, and will • Franz Lerse, bis fellow-stude-jt at Strasbourg. 1772.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 113 write to you nntil it is day. The watchman has already sounded his tune ; I woke up at it. Praised be thou, Jesu Christ. I very much like this time of year, the songs one sings; and the cold which has set in makes me quite happy. Yesterday I had a magnificent day. I was afraid for to-day, but it has begun well and so I am not anxious about its end. Even yesterday night I promised my two dear likenesses to write to you ; they hover over my bed like angels of God. I had pinned up Lotte's silhouette imm.ediately on my arrival ; whilst I was in Darmstadt they- put my bed in here, and behold Lotte's picture hung at its head, which rejoiced me greatly. Lenchen is now on the other side; thank you, Kestner, for the dear picture, it accords far more with what you write to me of her than anything I had imagined ; thus it is always with those who guess, imagine and foretell. The watchman has turned himself to me again, the north wind brings his melody to me as if he were blowing before my window. Yesterday, dear Kestner, I was in the country with a few good fellows ; our merriment was very noisy, and shouts and laughter from beginning to end. But that has nothing to do with the coming hour, for what cannot the blessed gods effect when it pleases them ; they gave me a joyful evening. I had drunk no wine, my eye was quite unprejudiced beyond Nature. A beautiful evening had become night when we returned. Now I must tell you there is even a sympathy in my soul when the sun has long gone down, and night spreads from the east towards the north and south, and only a faint circle still shines out from the west. See, Kestner, where the country is so flat there is the most splendid view ; I have looked long at him thus in younger and warmer times, setting on my wander- ings. On the bridge I stood still. The dark town on either side, the still shining horizon, the reflexion in the stream, made a delicious impression on my soul, which I clasped with both my arms. I ran to the Gerocks,* made them give me a pencil and paper, and drew, to my great joy, the whole picture glowing warm as it stood in my eoul. They all had pleasure in it with me, felt all that I * See below. Letter 86. I 114 EAELT AND MISCELLANKOUS [1772. had done, and then only was I certain of it. I begged them to oast lots for it ; they refused, and want me to send it to Merck. Now it harp's on my wall, and makes me glad to^ day as yesterday. We had a beautiful evening together, like people on whom fortune has bestowed a great gift,, and I fell asleep thanking the saints in heaven that they are willing to bestow on us childlike joy as a Christmas gift. As I went across the market-place and saw the many lights and playthings, I thought of you and my boys, how you would go to. them, for the moment a heavenly messenger with the blue testament, and how when opened out the book will edify them. Could I have been with you I would have liked to light up such a festival of wax-candles, it might have shone as a reflexion of the splendour of heaven in the little heads. The gate-keepers are coming from the burgo- master, and rattle the keys. The first gray of, day comes to me over the neighbour's house,' and the bells caU together a .Christian congregation^ I am much edified up here in my room, which for a long time I have not liked as much as I do now. It is a,domed with the happiest pictures, which wish me a friendly, good-morning. Seven heads after Eaphael, inspired by the living spiritj one o| which I have copied, and with which I am satisfied, al- though not over-pleased. But my dear girls.. Lotte is also there, and Lenchen too. Tell Lenchen I wished so ardently to come and kjss her hands, like the; monsieur who writes such loving letters. He is, indeed, a poor gentleman ! I would line and stuff a coverlet for my daughter with such billets doux, and she ought to sleep under it as^ peacefully as a babe. -, My. sister laughed heartily ; she too has had the like from her youth up. To a girl of good feeling such, things must be as repugnant as a rotten egg. The comb is exchanged, not so beautiful in colour and shape as the fiirst, but I hope more useful. Lotte has a little head, but it is a head. The day is coming on in strength ; if happiness were as quick in advancing, we should soon celebrate a wedding. I must write one more page ; I will act so far as ifl did not see the daylight. Greet Eielmannsegge for me. He must keep me in kindly thought. 1772.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 115 The . . . fellow in Giessen who has troubled himself about us as much as the goodwife in the gospel about the lost sixpence, and who lights candles and sweeps after us everywhere, whose name must soil no letter in which Lotto's name and yours stand. The fellow is angry that we do not look ait him, and tries to spite us because we remember him. He has written and asked about my Archi- tecture in such a hurry that one sees it is food ready made for his teeth ; he also spluttered a ireview straight off in the Frankfort Journal about which 1 have been told. Like a true ass he eats the thistles which grow round my garden, gnaws at the hedge which protects it from such beasts, and brays his critical " Hee-haw " as if he wished to signify to the master in his arbour. Here am I, too. Now adieu, it is broad daylight ; God be with you as I am with you. The day has begun festively. Unfortu- nately I must now spoil the beautiful hours with review- ing, but I do it with good-Avill as it is for the last number. Farewell and think of me, the strange cross between the rich man and poor Lazarus. Greet all the dear ones for me. And let me hear from you. 84. — To Kestneu. [Frankfort, December, 1772.] There is the end of our critical course. In an epilogue I have befooled the public and. the publisher, but take no notice of it. They may take it for balsam.* If you will try it the next half-year, it is a venture of two guldens. Write to me about it. Greet dear Lotte and Lenchen, and adieu. The comb has gone, and the missing appendices, except No. 6, which you still have to get. ■/ 85. — To Kestner. / '. Friday morning. Last night I dreamt of Lotte, and as I awoke I sat np in bed and thought of all our existence, ,from the first * He alludes to his and his friends' connexion ■with the Gehhrten Anzeigen. I 2 IIG EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1772. meeting at Garbenlieim, to the moonlight midnight^ conversation against the wall,* and further. It was a beautiful life, upon which I look back quite cheerfully. And how do you live with the angel ? I am now quite a draughtsman, and especially happy in portraits. The girls say to me : "Would that you had only pursued that in Wetzlar, and had brought us Lotte. Then I say that I should like to go over as soon as possible and draw you all. Then they think that would be no special consola- tion. But suppose the people over there, too, were glad at my coming. It will be a singular spring. I do not see how all that we have spun will unravel ; however, hopes are welcome to us, and the rest lies in the lap of the gods. Here is a comic publication. A copy to Kielmannsegge, and greet him heartily, the other, perhaps, to Schneider. Will you not take a Teutsche MerJcur,'\ of which I send a prospectus. J ' 86. — To Kestnee. '^ [(?) December, 1772.] I CANNOT refrain from sending a few lines by to- day's post to your highnesses. Especially as we delighted our minds to-day with red cabbage and liver sausage. Will yoTi forgive the odd-sized paper, | when the same attests that it has been prepared on the spot in the room of the virtuous Mile. Gerock.§ Let it serve for the friendly news that, by reason of our immoderate manner of drinking wine yesterday evening, the peace of Christmas night was broken and destroyed by divers adventures as singular as they were annoying. We were, to wit, transported by a good spirit first to Wetzlar to the " Crown-Prince," amidst talkative company, whom the detestable devil had led to discuss still niore detestable philosophy, and had entangled me in his snares; soon after that it fell heavily on, my heart that I had not * "15th -Aug: 1772. I went with Goethe for a walk in the street at night until 12 o'clock ; remarkable conTeraation, in which he was full of sadhess and 'aIl*^sorts of fancies, at which at last we laughed, lean- ing against a viAl^ in the moonlight." — Kestner's Diary. See K., p. 119. t The Gfrman -Mercury, a literary paper edited by VVieland. j Tl e size of the letter is large folio. § Antoinette Gerock, a connexion of Sch'i isser's. 1772.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 117 seen Lotte yet ; I hastened to my room to fetch, my hat, which, however, I could not find, but was in a most incredible and wonderful manner driven, with an anxious heart, through chambers, halls, gardens, wildernesses, woods, picture-galleries, bams, bedrooms, reception-rooms, l)ig-stivis, until at last a good spirit, in' the form of the Crown-Prince Caspar, met me at a trinket shop and led me to my room over three granaries and corn-lofts, where unfortunately there was no key to be found, so that I resolved to mount up to the window over a roof and gutter. Danger and giddiness and falling and what not followed. Enough. I did not succeed in seeing Lotte. Also, that it was only towards morning that I fell into a sweet sleep, and only left my bed at about ^ past 8. But now, however, I suppose your highnesses are scraping away many a quill in the cause of the purifi- cation of justice in the Holy Eoman Empire,* and re- covering yourselves from the scratching and scribbling in the sanctuary of the German Order,| while my boys scramble over one another like young cats : perhaps Albert is editing the continuatioii of the Christian in solitude: and George versifying like Gotter:| and the big ones are happily engaged in testing and analyzing themselves at Physios. When his pipe the father smokes, • The Doctor Hofrath § hatches jokes. Which for love he sells to Carrie ; Whilst Lotte up and down does hurry ; And Lenchen, glad of heart and true. Into the wide world takes a view. With dirty hands and honey-bread — In German style — with plastered, head The boys hullo — a noisy crew — In-doors and out, the courtyard through. And you. yourself, with light-blue eye. Look on it as composedly * In reference to the occasion of the visitation of the Imperial CJcmmission at Wetzlar. See Autdbiog., bk. xii. f I.e. the Teutsche Haui. X Mentioned several times above and in Autdbiog., bk. xii., as one ol the Wetzlar circle. § Procurator and Hofrath von Braindt. 118 EAELT AND MISGELLAINEOUS [1773. As thongh. a toy of china-ware, Yet really a true man you are. An ardent friend, a lover firm. Then foes of state and Christendom, And Buss and Pruss and Belial, , May share as spoil this earthly ball. If lout the well-loved Teutsche roof I Prom this great sharing be aloof, And hence to you the way remain. Like Jacob's ladder, safe and plain. And stiU. our stomachs well digest ; With heart and mouth so be ye blest. All praise to God on highj My wife alone to me. Thus He and also I Contented well may be,, 87. — To Kestnek. [Frankfort, 18 January, 1773.] Before I go to bed I must say a good night to you and to the sweet Lotte, to whom, no doubt, many " good days " and " good evenings "' have been said already to-day. Perhaps you are now sitting together, it is not much past 10. Perhaps you are dancing. Wherever you are you are happy and beloved of me more than of any one else here below. And I also am happy, am well in myself, for outwardly nothing is wanting to me. Adieu, dear ones. Write to me often, Kestner, I am very much of an artist now, and artists, you know, do not like writing. You shall have another drawing again to see. 88. — To Feau von La Eoche. Frankfort, 19 January, 1773. Many thousand thanks for the dear packet. It has transferred me sb completely to those bright, happy days, to yourself and your dearest ones, and has revived agaia all our conversations. Yet your punctuality has also put me to shame. 1773.] lETTEES OF J. W. GOETnE. 119 ' Pygmalion '* is an excellent work ; so much truth and kindliness of feeling, such genuineness in expression. May I venture to keep it for a while ? It must be read to all those whose feeling I respect. Our Cwabian Merck is a gentleman. I have not met our Darmstadt friend since your last letter ; ho is cheerful, works at all sorts of things, and just now has Leysering.| Perhaps, how- ever, the term of your silence has expired, and you know all that and more besides. Concerning Jerusalem's death, I only wrote the prag- matic result of my own reflexions ; and that, indeed, was not much. I was waiting for a detailed and authentic information, which I am now able to send you. It has 80 often moved me deeply as I read it, and the conscien- tious detail quite carries me away. Your story-teller is a dear youth, whom God preserve ; I wish that his heart may always have many good things to tell, for he will always tell us them well. The Duke of W[eimar], in the style of his expenditure, remains the same as ever, All success to the young hero ;{ we are exercising our imagination as to how his uniform suits him. And I trust that my memory has not as yet departed from your dwelling. In my imagination I shall never forget the moment, when I was compelled to separate myself from you and from your accomplished daughter, and with a heart full at parting, gave the last hand-kiss and said, Forget me not. My sister wishes and hopes to make your acquaintance. We live happily together ; her character has formed itself wonderfully quickly. How I wish that she were nearer to you. For one day, at least, of your life's journey, you would have, in truth, a dear qompanion. Farewell ; and when you see the water flowing past your windows, then also remember us. We never see it flowing away without blessing it, and wishing that we were going with it. Goethe. Could you not advise Wieland, in good part, to issue * By Wieland. t Leuchsenring, a prominent member of the Larocho circle. See Autobiog., bk. xiii; J Freae supposes this to refer to young Fritz von Laioclie the eldest eon, who was being trained by Wieland at Weimur. , .120 EAELT AKD MISCELLANEOUS [1773. the Deutsche Merlcur monthly ; writing of that kind awakens no appetite in the form of volumes. 89. — To Kestner. [Frankfort, 19 January, 1773.] We have just risen from table, and it occurs to me to wish you a good meal, and to send you a newspaper,* that you may see what it has become. The public here think the tone has not altered much. Adieu, dear friend, greet dear Lotte, Lenchen and the boys for me ; I am ever yours. Ask Lotte if she will accept my portrait ; it is not indeed done yet, but if it were. Adieu. Greet Dorothy, too. Herewith you have your Jerusalem.'!' 90. — To Eestnee. [Frankfort, 26 January, 1773.] God bless you, dear Kestner, when you think of me, for my sake. I am so used to have le;tters from you that it seems to me quite unfriendly when I rise from table and there is no letter. Tell Lotte, a certain girl here, whom I love heartily, and whom I should certainly fix upon before all others if I had to marry, was also bom on 11th January.| Such a couple of pairs would be very pretty. Who knows what is the will of God ? Certainly she ought to read philosophy ; tell her. By God she will become quite another more splendid creature; error, prejudices, etc., will fall froni' her eyes like scales. And she will be as one of the divine gods. Tell her that and give her the book, and if she reads down one page of it I will — carte blanche for the most horrible ragout the devil can invent — I will devour it. I think Lotte takes you and me for fools. She — in mid- » Probably the Gelelirten Anzeigen. See Letters 81, 84. t The account of his death which Kestner had sent to Goethe. j Charlotte Buft's birthday. The otlier is supposed by Viehoff to be Antoinette Gerook (but Diintzer identities herwitli Susanna M. Mii]ioh). In the next sentence he refers to tlie coincidence that he and Kestner wee also born on one day, 28 August, 1749. 1773.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. .121 carnival and philosophy. Let her make herself a domino at once, and let her leaVe such whims of this Eeuters alone — ^who, God knows, though she had all gifts, as St, Paul' says, and spoke with the, tongues and the wisdom of angels and men, yet she has not charity and is as a sounding hrass and a tinkling cymhal. Tell the golden Lotte I would remember it against her if she played us such a trick. Now adieu. ; Th^ report of the visitation affair is not given in our newspaper. The publisher is afraid the devil might lurk behind it ; here are the title and index. And also a number. Destroy it and the others too : I do not want it. 91.— ToKestn?e, Y Thursday morning [28 January, 1773]. That was a wonderful 24 hours. Yesterday evening I adorned my fair friends for the ball, although I did not go with them myself. For one I put together, out of the fulness of her wealth, an aigrette of jewels and feathers, and ornamented her splendidly. And once it occurred to me : if you were but with Lotte and were decking her out like this. Then I went with Antoinette and Nanny upon the bridge for an evening walk. The water is very . high, and it rushed loudly, the vessels were all crowded together, and the dear sad moon was greeted kindly, and Antoinette found everything as beautiful as Paradise, and everybody so happy who lives on the land, in the ships, and under God's heaven. I gladly left her the dear dreams, and would add still more to them if I could. We went home, and I translated Homer to them, which is now generally our favourite reading. The others had driven to the dance. Last night a terrible storm awoke me at midnight. It raged and howled so that I thought of the ships and Antoinette, and thought myself well off in my civilized bed. Scarcely had I fallen asleep when the beat of the drum, the alarm and cry of fire awakens me ; I spring to the window, and see the glow, bright but distant. I dress myself and am off. A large spacious house, the roof in full 122 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. flame. And the glowing teams and rafters, the flying sparks, and the storm in fire and clouds. It was tremendous. It burnt on, downwards and round about. I ran to our grandmother who lives over there. She was "removing the plate. We brought away all the valuables in safety, and now awaited the will of fate. It lasted from 10 o'clock until broad daylight. The houses with wings and out- buildings, and also the neighbour's workshops lie in ruins. The fire is stified, not extinguished. They are now a match for it, it will not break out again. _ And so I wish you a good meal : with exhausted faculties, rather as if I had danced, and other ideas in my imagination. How will my dancers have got home ? Adieu, dear Lotte, dear Kestner. 92, — To Kestnee. [5 February, 1773.] Then no news is good news, dear Kestner. Your per- rukes are obstinate pates even until the water is over their head.* For now there's too much visitation ; and may the good spirit of those gentlemen preach diligently to them on Ecclesiastea vii. 17.f Then all will be well : Now prepare yourself, Kestner. 1 am not coming to the wedding, but afterwards life will have some fun for me. I and aU ■ who know him through me are heartily glad that Kiel- mannsegge was so fortunate ; wish him happiness for- me. With your letter I heard from Merck that he is coming. He wiU. arrive early to-day Friday, and Leuschenring with him, and besides aU. that there is splendid skating ground where yesterday I honoured the sun rising and setting with circle-dances. And yet other subjects for joy which I cannot tell you. About which make yourself easy, that I am almost as happy as people who love each other like you, that there is just as much hope in me as in lovers, that I have since even felt a few poems, and so on. My sister greets you. My maidens greet you, my gods greet you. Namely the beautiful Paris here on the right.J the golden * Probably referring to the judges of the Imperial commission. f Possibly an error for v. 16, which would seem to have more point Here ; " Bo not rishteaus over much ; neither make thyself over wise.". * Casts from the antique with which his room was ornamented. 17730 LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. l23 Venus there, and the messenger Mercury, -who has pleasure in the swift, and who yesterday bound under my feet his god-like sandals, beautiful, golden, which carry him over the unfruitful sea and the limitless earth, with the breath of the wind. And so all the dear things in heaven bless you. 93. — To Kestnek. [6 February, 1773.] Merck is here, dear Kestner, and greets you and Lotte. He has brought with him the enclosed novum, which I send you. Get me the numbers of the Giessen weekly paper, they contain the letter of Zimmermann about his interview with the king. They will be the tirst of this year. Great Lenchen and my boys. 94. — To Kestnek. [11 February, 1773.] After so long a pause your letter was indeed a delight to me, and it is well that everything is as it is. I am sorry for the Eeuters and Lotte too. Merck has gone and has arranged a new paper under Lotte's face, as beautiful a blue as shines down from heaven. I had a long conversation with my father about her yesterday ; which ended thus : Whether Kestner would not bring her over here soon, that they might get to know her too. I am now preparing a grand piece of work for the press ; when it is ready I shall come, to read it to you. In the course of a few days I shall send you again quite a romantic novum. The maiden greets Lotte ; in character she has much of Lenchen, and looks like her, my sister says, according to the silhouette. If we loved each other as much as you two — in the meantime I call her my dear little wife, for lately, at a party, where they- were throwing dice for us bachelors, I fell to her. She had to beat 17, and had already given up all hope, when luckily she threw all sixes.* Adieu, old fellow. Eemember me carefully to everybody. * Possibly the young lady referred to later in Autohiog., bit. xv. Mr. (>. H. Lewes identifies both \rith Antoinette Geruck, but, sea Letter 90. .124 EAKLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. 95. — To Kestneb. [22 Febniary, 1773.] Ton are going to dance. May you enjoy it. Everything is dancing around me. The JDarmstadters, here, everywhere, and I sit in my watch-tower. Eemind Lotte of me at the hall. If not she shall do so to you as a punishment. Do not he lukewarm and lazy in writing. To Kielmannsegge everything good. Adieu. g: 96.^To Kestxer. [25 February, 1773.] You were advised to .write that I had accused you to Lotte ; it has occupied my head even in my watch- tower. For a few days I have been in a bad way. It is the devil's work when one has to settle everything oneself, and self fails at last, but I am cheerful and work on. Of your destiny and your departure I cannot think : you should not have said anything about it to me, it pains me. Fiat voluntas. Greet the angel, and God be with you. 97. — To Salzmann. 6 March, 1773. Your observations concerning revenge have given me great pleasure. They are so like yourself, your mode of thought and style. My father thinks them quite worth printing, and I advise you to continue to write down your thoughts on the most noteworthy objects of religion and morality, and give us them some day in 'a little volume. I felt as if I were talking with you yourself; and their clearness of expression must captivate every one. What I missed, and certainly expected, because it was so exactly in your line, was the reflexion, that the pardon of an offence must, as a benefit conferred, put the offender under an obligation; and thus direct 1773.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 125 advantage at once accrues, by " heaping coals of fire on the head," as Christ expresses it. Do not work at anything of this sort, without our having consulted together. As regards the comedies, everything is going on as one could wish. An author who accepts advice is a rare phenomenon ; and the gentlemen are generally not wrong, every one wants to fashion them according to his own style. Thus, dear friend, it is not a question of criticism here, hut only of the side from which I look at it. . Our stage, since " Hanswurst " has been banished, has not yet been able to emancipate itself from Gottschedianism.* We are moral and tedious. We have no sense for the " jeux d' esprit," which amongst the French have taken the place of indecency and buffoonery; our society and national character afford no patterns for them. Hence we are generally bored, and every one will be welcome who brings any liveliness, any stir, upon the stage. And I trust that from this point of view these comedies will be very popular. Only, you know that .to be introduced into a deceat company there is need of a dress cut accord- ing to the taste of the public to which I. wish to present myself. Let us accordingly consult together about this coat. First of all, no singularity without purpose. That is what tells against the adoption of Latin names. Leander, Leonora, are creatures with whom we have long been acquainted ; we see them as worthy old friends appearing on the boards again. Especially when the costume is modern, moreover, the king appears on the stage in Prussia, and the devil. Talking of the devil, I must give my ideas in reference to cursing and swearing in the drama. When ordipary people quarrel, the application of justice is generally very short ; it passes into curses, vituperations and blows, and the curtain falls. Moral people will, at most, break out into an oath, in a fit of passion, and these are the two sorts that I, would allow to the drama, yet only as a kind of spice, and in such a way that they must necessarily remain, and that no one could eject them without damaging the expression. But the~ species of asseveration- curse I would altogether, banish from the stage. La; • See above, pp. 5-8. Cf. AutoUog., bk. vi. (trans, i. 214). 126 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. ordinary life they are annoying enough, and give evidence of an empty soul, as do all conventional expressions, and in the drama it may easily be regarded as a want of the faculty of dialogistic connexion. The translator * has, moreover, so often made insertions where Plautus has nothing. And I cannot but regard the " hercle " as nothing but our " in truth." You will find these remarks very strange indeed, when in my ' Berlichingen ' you oome upon many a vituperation and curse, of which at p "esent I cannot give my justification. You will, perhaps, all the rather agree with me, when you see that it is not noble feeling, but only a relative anxiety about the reception of these pieces. Thus, as you see, this would be to treat second-rate questions in a very general way, and to say next to nothing at all. I want at present only to moot the pre- liininaries of our future consultations. For as regards the more particular execution, how I should wish him in some passages to draw nearer again to Plautus, and in others to deviate still from him, or how the language, the ex- pression, the whole structure of the scenes might be im- proved in finish, about this I would not enter into any detail. The author must feel that himself, and if he likes to communicate his ideas about the whole %o me, I will willingly tell him mine, too ; for otherwise I should write in vain. Whatever so pleases him in my method of "representation, that he is able to amalgamate it with Ids own feeling, and whether after any newly evoked feeling he has the courage again to go over his work here and there — this the event will show. I hate all specific critipism of passages and words. The head from which it issued, as such, is a whole, and self consistent, if only the author is in any way original. I can endure my friends condemning a work of mine to the fire, to be recast or burnt ; but they shall not remove a single word or alter a letter. Only we must bear in mind, that this time we have to deal with the public, and especially to employ every means to make the thing acceptable and pleasing to the directors of the companies, which especially is effected * The translator was really Lenz, but he did not wish his name to be divulged. See Duntzer, p. 182. 1773.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 127 by an outwardly decent garb. For it is being acted that constitutes their success. But if one takes away the living ■voices, the stage effect, caricature, action, and show, they lose very much indeed. Even in the original, few scenes transport us into everyday life ; one sees everywhere the guy's masks with which they have been acted. And now, farewell, and answer soon ; we must strike the iron whilst it is hot, and when we have carried the matter through we will set about something fresh. If I could only spend half a day with you, we should effect more than with any number of epistles. At the same time it is also a blessing to greet one another at a distance, to love as I truly love you, and to be able to say so to one another. Goethe. 98. — To Kestnee, [15, March, 1773.] Thank you, dear Kestner, for your news and everything. Here is a letter enclosed to Hans, who must write to me from week to week how it fares with you in the " Teutsche Saw," for you are in a condition in which one gathers no flowers, yet I cannot do without them, and must contrive a connexion with the Teutsche Eaus, when you will have stolen the keystone out of the arch. For I shall love them all my whole life long, for her sake ; and their faces will all be to me like visions of the gods. Adieu ; as with you just now there is a crashing, after the fashion of a boat being brought ashore, so is there a storming and crashing in the fleet' in which I serve. Tor my own ship I care the least. Towards the spring and summer divers destinies hang over my dearest ones, and I am killing time, which after all is an art. Adieu. 99. — ^To Hans Buff, Much beloved Heke Hans, Your letter to my dear sister has so much delighted me, that I can no longer refrain from writing to you, and begging you to give me at least once a week news of yoUr house and household, and of what goes on therein. 128 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. I ask you this for the sake of our old friendship, which will continue steadfast in the future. You know how heartily dear to me is everything that comes from the Teutsche Haua ; ■ you have had me for a good while as familiar with you as a cousin, and perhaps more familiar. Therefore, as I say, dear Hans, be sure to write to me once a week what goes on, that I may know how my little ones behave themselves, and remember me to ■ Caroline and Lenchen, and Lotte, when she returns, many hundred times. Yours, ' Goethe. 100, — To Johanna Fahlmee,* at Frankfort. Frankfort, March, 1773. The kindly sun has already given you a morning greeting, which is far more valuable than mine. And yet that is jUot altogether to be despised. So I bid you good-morrow and send you words, and Wakeiield,t and — what is more, a dictionary, in which, at your own good pleasure, you can seek and find meaning and pronuncia- tion. And this comes to pass, because it would seem as if you were- to have a lazy teacher a few days longer. For I find myself in a state of agitation, in which, as they say, it is not good for our souls to leave this world. Yet withal, since it is unmixed, with any vexation or anxiety, - I am content. May you also be so, and by the side of the stream that flows on so sweetly, may you feel, not too vividly, how beautiful it would be if, favoured by spring's sun and sky, you were to sail down into the joy and bliss of the elect ; and may God in Ms mercy grant this to all of us. Amen. * Johanna Katharina Sibylla Fahlmer was the daughter of a Councillor of the Palatinate, by a second marriage. An elder half- sister had married a merchant named Jaoobi, and became the mother of the well-known poet, Johann Georg, and the philosopher Priedrich Heinrich, or Fritz Jaoobi. Johanna Fahlmer was therefore their aunt, and is addressed by Goethe in the same way. She afterwards married J. G. Sohlossor, whose first wife had been Goethe's sister. t Goldsmith's ' Vicar, of Waltefield.' Goethe was teaching her Englisli. 1773.] LETTEES OF J. \f. ooeth::. 123 101. — To Kestneu. p March, 1773.] It is very abomina'ble and unkind of you not to entrust to me the commission of the rings. As if it were not natural that I must undertake it. And, in spite of you, and the devil who prompted you to wrong me, I will' order them, and take care that they shall he as beautiful as crsown of the elect. And nothing ahout me to your angel. Hans is good ; thank him. Adieu. 102.— To Kestnee. [? March, 1773.] That you did not have the rings a week ago is not my fault ; here they are, and they ought to please you. I, at least, am satisfied with them. They are the second pair. A week ago the fellow sent me a pair so hotched and bungled Away ! he must make fresh ones ; and they are good, I think. Let them be the first links of the chain of bliss which shall bind you to earth as to a paradise ; I am yours, but from henceforth not at all curious to see you or Lotte. And on Easter-day, which will, it is to be hoped, be your wedding-day, her portrait shall be moved from my room, or perhaps even the day after to-morrow,, and it shall not hang there again until I hear that she is a mother ; then a new epoch begins, and I shall not love her any more, but her children, a little, indeed, for her sake, but that does not matter ; and if you ask me to be godfather, my spirit shall rest doubly on the boy, and he shall make a fool of himself for girls who are like his mother. God Hymen finds himself, by a happy chance, on the back of my letter.* Be happy, then, and go. I am glad you are not coming * On the back of the original there is a pencil-drawing by Goethe, probably from the antique, representing the god Hymen with torches. — K. K 130 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773, to Frankfort ; if you came I should go away. To Hanover, then, and good-bye. I have sealed np Lotte's ring, as you told me. Adieu. 103. — To Charlotte Boff.* Mat the remembrance of me be ever with you, like this ring, in your happiness. Dear Lotte,. after a long time we shall see each other again, you with the ring on your finger, and I ever yours. I know no name, nor surname. Tou know me well enough. [Address.] — To Charlotte Buff, formerly called dear Lotte, to be delivered in the Teutsche JSaus. 104.— ToHANsBuFF.t DrAi Herr Hans,f I thank you heartUy for remem- bering me ; do not become tired of writing to me. I am often veiy lonely, and such a dear little letter pleases me very much. God reward you, if I cannot do so properly, and make you fall and strong, and happy as you are good. CrOETHE. 105.— To KESTlfER.§ [?6 April, 1773.] God bless you, for you have surprised me. On Good Friday I was going to make a holy sepulchre, and bury Lotte's silhouette. So she hangs there still, and shall hang there, too, until I die. Farewell. Greet- your angel and Lenchen ; she must become Lotte the second, and everything will go as well with her. I wander in deserts where no water is, my hair is my shade, and my blood my well. And yet your ship, just in port, with * Enclosed in the preceding. t Some of these letters are differently placed both by A. Kestner and Hirzel. J Hans Buff was now sixteen years old. § This letter was probably written immediately after the marriage of Kestner and Charlotte Buff, which took place on Palm Sunday, i April, a week earlier than Guethe had anticipated. Gf. Letter 102. Sue IC, p. 23. 1773.] LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 131 gay flags and shouts, makes me glad. I am not going to , Switzerland. And . below and above God's heaven I am your friend and Lotte's. 106. — To JoHlNNA Fahlmee, in Feankfoet. [Good Friday, 9 April, 1773.] DoEiNG all this year we have never spent such a solemn and holy morning as this. As I sprang to my window, and heard the little birds, and saw the budding almond-trees, and the hedges all green under the glorious sky, I could no longer, dear aunt, dear niece,* withhold from you the good spring feelings of warm youth; for therewith I trust you will be more edified by holy Life than by the Holy Sepulchre. May you forgive your- self for not going out with me yesterday. God grant no more such days, and preserve us from hoop-petticoats, tredille, reversino,t and all chattering of jaws. Addio. 107. — To Kestnee. [? 10 April, 1773.] Tou do well indeed, Kestner, to take me at my word ! O the excellent man ! " You wish then to know nothing more of us." Very fine ! I certainly wished to know nothing of you, because I knew you would not care to write to me. Formerly, fine sir, the day was for your Prince, the evening for your Lotte, and the night for me and my brother Sleep. The night flows away now in the evening, and poor Goethe puts up with it as usual. It would suit you very well But that I will not say, I would rather give myself to the devil, than bring you to that. So tlerr Kestner, and Madame Kestner, good- night. 1 would have ended here if something better awaited miS in bed than my dear brother. But just look at my bed, it stands as sterile as a desert. And to-day I have * He refers to Chnrlotte Katbarina (Lotte) Jacobi, tbe younger half- sister of the brotliers Jacobi (see note, p. 128), who, wil;h her mint, Johanna Pahlmer, was now In Frankfort. See Urlichs {Br. v. Goethe an J. Fahlmer, p. 25). t Games of cards. K 2 132 EABLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. had a beautiful day, so beautiful that work and joy and' striving and enjoyment have flowed together, so that on this fair, high, starry evening my whole heart was full of the wonderful moment when I played with Lotte's trimming at your feet, and spoke, ah, with a heart which was no longer to enjoy that life beyond, and meant only the mountains and not the clouds.* To go away from Lotte ; I de not understand yet how it was possible. For only look ; be not a stock. Who, either now, or before, or afterwards said to you, go away from Lotte. Now what would you ? That is not the question. Now I am no stock either, and I went away ; and say you, is it an heroio deed or what ? I am satisfied with myself and I am not. It cost me little, and yet I do not understand hdw it was po&ible. There's where the shoe pinches /We talked of how it looked yonder beyond the clouds ; That I do not know indeed, but I do know our Lord God must be a very cold-blooded person if he leave you Lotte. When I die and have somewhat to say up there, I shall fetch her from you verily. Therefore pray nicely for Etiy life and health, calves and stomach, &c. ; and if I die, propitiate my soul with tears, sacrifiMis, and such Uke, otherwise, Kestner, it wiU look queer. ' I do not know why I am such a fcrol as to write thus, just about the time when you with your Lotte are certainly not thinking of me. But I content myself willingly according to the law of antipathy. For we avoid those who love us, and love those who avoid us. 108.— To KESTNEB.f [11 April. 1773.] I CLOSED the letter of yesterday evening at once ; so, as to your Pro Mem. 1. Use the supplement as you please. If you wish to have the journals bound why add the hog-wash of imperial affairs to them, it was expressly so arranged that they could be thrown away. Besides, the volume will be too thick. But I will ask about the numbers. * Oomp. Letter 59. t BKrzel does not give this letter. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 133 2. Does Herr von Hille want a Mercury for himself alone ? And how is Talk ; does he now take the copy alone which you wished to share with him ? 3. The plays are in my hands. To-day is so beautiful that I should like to go for a walk with you. Adieu. Greet Hans. 109.— To Hans Buff. Heeewith 1 send you, my dear Herr Hans, some- thing from the fair, which I hope will sejve for waistcoat and breeches ; if any is wanting, write and say so without ceremony. When you are wearing it, and are running about, going a-hunting, or are otherwise lively, think of me. Kiss Lotte's hand and Lenchen's from me, and the little ones many hundred times, from your friend, ■Goethe. 110. — To KESl'NEil. [14 April, 1773.] Wednesday. I missed Annchen yesterday, and am now going thither.* I half feared it might be you playing me a trick, for I go to-morrow to Darmstadt, and every body would have been sorry. Annchen takes your plays with her. Also a parcel to Hans. 1 still have the subscription ticket for the biblical engravings ; I will keep it, and when they come out you dispose of them. Annchen also brings you back 2 fl. 30 kr. out of the Carolines. The big one cost a ducat, the little one 3 fl. 30. Also your ring. ,1 will keep Lotte's garnet ring which 1 have seen on her finger and kissed on her finger so many thousand times ; it shall lie among my jewels until I have a maiden who shall wear it. Greet your angel and Lenchen lovingly for me and write about the Mercury to my sister, who greets you. Annchen is dear and good ; she has brought me Lotte's bridal nosegay well preserved, and to-day 1 have worn it. 1 hear that Lotte is still more beautiful, dearer and better than formerly ; and that you and she are not coming is in every way unkind. Greet Lenchen and her friend • Anna Sophie Brandt, who had come to the Euster Fair at Fraukfort. 134 EA.liLT AKD MISCELLANEOUS [1773. Dorothy for me. Anne has told me everything, how they sleep together, and share everything except lovers, how the quasi councillor continues to be an ass, &c. Everything was reported, and I was delighted to hear of you, as formerly I wished to gather currants and shate down plums to-day, to-morrow, the day after to-morrow, and my whole life long. Greet Schneider if he remembers me, and Kielmansegg. Pottocelli brought me a greeting from him yesterday at the fair. We have a circus-rider here, and plays and Chinese shadows and puppet shows. You may tell LotteS that I would have shown her all this if she had come, but now — if even it were good Shadows, puppets ! ? 111. — To Kestseb. \ "N. [15 April, 1773.] Now I^ want no more, dear Kestner ; that was what I wished, what I would not claim (for the freewill gives all the worth to gifts of love) from the lap of your happiness, beside your Lotte, whom I gladly give up to you before a thousand others, like all the good which the gods deny tp me. But that you, because luck has shuffled the cards for you, play the ace of spades and make a scornful face at me, and go to your wife, I think unkind ; you must accuse yourself of it to Lotte, and she can decide. To call her envious and quarredsome and such like, all that is only since you have been married. My whims may count for nothing. I went with Annchen to the play. It is well that I am going to Darmstadt to-morrow, I am really falling in love with her. Her presence has made every memory of you surge up again within me — all my life amongst you. I should have liked to relate every- thing, even to the clothes and attitudes, so vividly ; she may tell you what she can. Kestner, when have I grudged you Lotte in a human sense ; for not to grudge you her in a holy sense, I must be ah angel without lungs and liver. But I must disclose to you a secret, that you may understand and look. When I attached myself to Lotte — and that I did as you know from the bottom of my hearts Born spoke to me about it, as people do speak : " If I were 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOKTHE. 135/ K. I should not like it. What can come of it ? "you quite loosen his hold on her," and such like. Then,! said to him, with these words, in his room ; it was "in the morning : " I am now fool enough to consid,6r the girl as exceptional ; if she is deceiving me and is ordinary enough to be using K. as capital in her business in order to dis- play her charms more profitably, the first moment which disclosed that to me, the first which brought her nearer to me, would be the last of our acquaintance,"' and that I protested and swore. And between oursel'ves, without boasting, I understand something of the girl ; and you know how I have remained, and do remain for you and for all that she has seen, touched, and wherever she has been, until the end of the world. And now look how far I am envious and must be so. For either I am a fool, which is hard to believe, or she the most artful deceiver, or then — Lotte, the very Lotte of whom I speak I go to-morrow on foot to Darmstadt, and have in my hat the remains of her bridal nosegay. Adieu. It pains me to go away from Annchen ; what would it be from you ? It is better so, only it vexes me that I have not taken her portrait. But it is living in heart and mind. Adieu. I have nothing but a heart full of wishes. Good night, Lotte. Annchen said td-day I had always uttered the name Lotte so beautifully. " Uttered ! " thought I ! 112.— To Kestner. Darmstadt [21 April, 1773]. Thank you, Kestner, for your two dear letters, dear like everything which comes from you, and especially now. The death of a dearly beloved friend still troubles me.* To-day early she was buried, and I am ever at her grave waiting to give up there the bret-.th and warmth of my life, and be a voice out of the stone to the future. But alas, it is even forbidden me to set up a stone to her memory, and it angers me that I may not fight against twaddle and gossip. Dear Kestner, rejoice in God that you have for ypur life * He refers to the death of Fr'aulein von Eousillon, an attendant of the Duchess of Pfalz-Zweibriieken, and an intimate friend of Merck's, by whom she was called Urauia. See Duatzer, Leben, p. 185. 136 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. a horn of plenty in your hand. My poor existence is freez- ing into a barren rock. This summer, all is departing — • Merck to Berlin with the court, hi? wife to Switzerland, my sister, Fraulein Flachsland, you, everybody. And I am alone. If I take no wife, nor hang myself, then say that I like life very well, or something which does me more honour, if you will. Adiou. A thousand greetings to your angel. 113. — To Kestner. Darmstadt, Sundajr. [28 April, 17-73.] Deae Kestner, you know my life does not permit of detail, and to-day perhaps less than ever. There was con- fusion to-day, quite a mad and wonderful experience. Sun- day ! How quietly you will have been sitting beside Lotte. In a fortnight we are all separated, and it all happens in such a hurry that I do not know where my head is, nor what hope and fear are. God forgive the gods who play with us so. At the grave — I will know nothing about it, will forget everything. Do you forget every- thing in Lotte's arms, and then work your- daily work, enjoy the sun, and let my love for you be present with you in the hours of rest. I have recevied Hans' letter and your postscript. Tell him he must go more into details. He thinks he must only write remarkable events. Is not everything over there remarkable ? 114. — 'To Kestner. [3 May, 1773.] ^ Dear Kestner, I am again in Frankfort, and, God be praised, we have had wonderful scenes, and soon all the gaieties will be over. How are you, and how long do you still remain ? The Flachsland is married to Herder, Have you heard any- thing of it already ? The day before yesterday I was present at the wedding, and yesterday I came over here. I send you the Mercury in duplicate ; take care that I receive the money. The two come to exactly 9 fl. Adieu, dear friend; kiss Lotte, one for my sake too. Adieu. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. XT. GOETHE. 137 115. — To Kestnee. Merck has gone, and I expect, Herder ; and you are going too. Adieu, dear ones all. Wieland is a better scribbler than agent.- I have no Mercurys yet, which makes me cursedly angry. Talk's manuscript, the missing appendix, and all, you shall have. Will you kindly take a little packet for me to Boie, even if you are not going through Gottingen ? God guide you. My good spirit has given me a heart to bear everything — I am calmer than formerly. 116. — To Kesther. [May, 1773.] I SENT to most of the inns immediately after your news that Kielmansegge was here, but could not find him out. Now Pottozelli tells me he has gone again, having heard I was not here. Tell him he should not have gone away so ; I was back here on Monday and he went away on Wednesday. I had been thinking of him at the very time, and wishing to be with him. Tell him that, of our edition of Ossian, the first part, consisting of Fingal, is ready, and costs 36 kreuzers ; if he wants it I will send it him with the remainder and beg for my Ossian back. I do not know whether I have already asked you in a previous letter to take something to Boie; tell me the exact date when you are going. How is your angel ? I have great doings with her. Her silhouette is fastened with pins to the wall, and I miss nearly all my pins ; and when I want one at my toilette I generally borrow one from Lotte, and first ask leave, &o. Something annoys me. In Wetzlar I composed a poem that by rights nobody ought to understand better than you. I should like so much to send it to you, but have no copy of it left. Boie has one though Merck, and I believe it will come out in the Mmen-Almanach.* It is entitled " The Wanderer," and begins : " God bless thee, thou young wife."f You would have recognised it at once without that. So far then, dear Kestner, Lotte knows how much I love her. Adieu. G. • See Lettv;r 157, and note. t Keprinted in his poems. 138 EARLY AND MISCELLAKE0U3 [1773. 117. — To Kestner. I HAVE tried in all sorts of ways, but Mez* remains stiff and firm about it. At last lie struck off the kreuzers. Here are the accounts. The Mercmy comes on Friday, and the little packet for Boie. May all good spirits bless your journey. I am busy enough and contented. My solitude suits me well, as long as it lasts. Adieu, dear Lotte ; now for once in good earnest, adieu. 118. — To Tbau von Laroche. Fr[ankfort,] 12 May, 1773. I AM writing to you this time only about the delivery of goods, for the firm Merck & Co. Here are twelve copies of Ossian ; one of the bound ones he begs you to accept. Leysering will tell you wonderful stories, and I also havemuoh to say to j'ou ; as soon as all is quiet around me it will be every consolation to me to be able to write to you, how I am feeding myself on the hope of seeing you again this summer, for I am alone, and daily become more so. And yet • I wish to endure it ; that souls which are created for one another, so seldom find each other, and are generally divided, but that in the moments of happiest union least recognize each other ! that is a sad riddle. Eenew the remembrance of me amidst your dear ones, with whom you live so happily, and in the heart. of your dear absent one.f '' Goethe. 119.— ^To Assessor C. G. Hermann,^ Leipsic. This letter may convince you, dear Assessor, that your memory is still on the same footing with me as at * Metz was a stationer in Frankfort. t Probably Herr yon Laroche. i See Letter 20, p. 58. 1773.] lettehs op j. w. GOEinE. 139 tlicr time when, after a few days' impromptu absence, I ■walked again into your room and bid you good-day. So I bid you now good-day, and put before you the matter -which is on my mind. The publisher of the journal of this place — ^the GelehHeti of course — has had a quarrel on account of a Gotzlan review,* not so much with Gotz as with the Council of this town : he was sentenced to a fine of 20 thalers and claiined transmiss. in vim rev. Perhaps you know of the afiair already from the printed reports which must be known in Leipsic. He now finds that the matter has reached the Leipsic faculty and that they are disposed to augment the fine. He has asked me urgently whether I do not know some- one who has influence. I know no one but you, and now the question is whether you stand in such relation with the members of the faculty that you can, and further whether you haVe so much general kindliness that you will. You see the decision lies in mero arhitrio, and also in the manner in which it presents itself to the judge. There is no question of right : as you could easily see if you could just read the reports. So, my friend, one good word to save a poor devil a hundred thalers, or if you are- not able to intercede, perhaps you know a way and will be so good as to show it to us. In a few weeks you will get a piece of work from me, which, God willing, ought to please you. A thousand remembrances to dear Oeser. I hope that Merck, a friend of mine from Leipsic, has seen him.f Just ask him about it. Love me and write to me soon. Written at Frankfort, 15 May, 1773. Goethe. 120. — To Kestner. I HAVE forgotten, dear K., to send the appendices in the last package. No. 6 by an oversight has never been * He refers to Peinet, (he publisher (and now editor) of the Fr. Gelehr. Anzeigen. In the 58tli number (31 July, 1772) a work by Pastor G iitz, of Hani burgh, was criticized with keen humour — in all probability by Goethe. — See O. J., p. 247. Was this Gotz Lessing'a antagoaist Goeze ? t Merckwent through Leipsic on his wav to tjt. Petersburg: Nicolai saw him there for a few hours (Brief e an Merck, iii. 63). — 0. J. 140 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. printed. Farewell, and love me, and write to me ho-V.it fares with yon and your angel on the way. Adieu. Falk's manuscript I send after you ; so forgive me. 121.— To Hans Buff. LoTTE is gone now, and I take as much interest in her being away as one of the household. But notwith- standing this, dear Hans, we will not cease to write to one another. You always hear the soonest anything about our Lotte, and you must tell it faithfully to me. Greet dear Lenchen for me, and tell her that now Lotte is away and she is a second Lotte for you, she must he so for me also, and I am longing to see her ; if it is possible I will come in the summer. Adieu, dear Hans. Eemember me to Papa, and greet the young ones for me. If sister Caroline remembers me, kiss her hand, and to Sophy and Amalie one or two kisses from me. .G. 122.— To Kestner.* [Frankfort, 16 June, 3773.] Your letter delighted me ; I had already heard a good deal about you from Hans. Last night I dreamt wonderfully of Lotte. I led her arm-in-arm through the avenue and all the people stood still and looked at her. I can' still name a few who remained standing and looking at us. Suddenly she drew on a hood, and the people were very much surprised. (That comes from Hans' letter that told me the Minden story.) I begged her to throw it off, and she did so, and looked at me with her eyes (you know very well how one feels when she looks at one). We walked quickly. The people looke^d as before. " Oh, Lotte," I said to her, " Lotte, may they only not hear that you are the wife of another." We came to a dancing-place, &c., &c. • Kestner had now returned with his wife to his home in Hanover, ■where he was appointed secretary of tlie Koyal Archives. See K., p. . 224. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 141 ' And BO I dream and wander through life, carry on dirty law-suits, write plays and novels, and such like, drag, push, and drive it as quickly as it will go. And you are blessed like the man who fears the Lord., People say of me, that the curse of Cain lies upon me./ I have slain no brother ! And I think people are foo/s. Here you have a piece of work,* dear Kestner ; read it aloud to your little wife when you are together with God and yourselves, and have locked the doors. N.B. The Fran Atchivariusj (I hope that is the right title) has not, it is to be hoped, left off from pitiful pride her blue-striped dressing-jacket, or bestowed it on a little sister ; it would annoy me very much, for I seem to love it almost more than herself; at least, the little jacket often appears to me when her features cannot be made out in the haze of the imagination. 123.— To Hans Buff. I HAVE several matters, dear Hans, on which 1 must write to you. First, to ask how you all are. I have heard notliing from the Teutsche Haus for so long. And afterwards, commissions which, if you execute properly, you shall some day become agent for electors, princes, and the estates of the empire. First, forward the letter to Kestner like the former one. 2ndly, kindly go to Herr Hofrath Sachs, and say, " Here is a letter for Herr von Kielmansegge. Wil^ you be so good as to forward it to him." The Baron wrote to me that I should address. my letters to the Hofrath. Thirdly, ask Herr von Hille whether he has received through Herr Kestner a first volume of the Teutsche Merhur, if so I shall be obliged to him for the half louis d'or, and will immediately send him the second volume by the post-cart to Wetzlar. Fourthly, ask Papa if he has read a new play, ' Gotz von Berlichingen.' * A copy of Gotz von Berlichingen, which was published this summer. t See note, preceding page. 142 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [IZTS, fifthly, greet everybody for me in the " Tentsche Hans,'" Lenchen, ^nd Caroline, and Dorothy, and Annchen, and ask thejn -^hether they still rememher me in respect and love. Al^d greet all the little ones for me, and write to me soon. ' Goethe. ' 124.-tA. Iff. DEMAhs,* Lieutenant 1 Xeuf-Beisao. Avec un jiacket. j;Frai)kfort, Summer, 1773.] It iff summer, dear friend, and that is not a season of intimacy and social intercourse. One runs away here, the other there, and thus our pleasant society is broken up, i^nd with great difficulty I keep together the pitiful remnant thereof."f . . . When will you come back, benefipent winter, to bind fast the waters, that we may aga,Jn begin our skating-dances I When will you drive out girls indoors again. . . . And then, dear Deniars, you too shall hear how matters go on, or have changed, and must also write to me. I herewith send you a drama | of mine. It ought to make its fortune amongst soldiers, whether amongst French I do not know. Adieu. Goethe. 125. — To Feau von Laroche. [Frankfort, 11 July, 1773.] I WILL willingly stay this month in Frkf., and another, too, in the hope of seeing you ; for so I explain to myself the dark passages of your letter. Leave me still iu doubtfulness, then the joy will be all the greater to me, even if such a sweet sympathy as yours over my Gbtz astonishes me. I have wished for it, that I willingly confess, in part also hoped ; but you know how it is with one. You would do Merck a favour, for he is publisher here * This correspondent, a French officer, is not mentioned in the Auto'iiog,. t Compare Letters 113, 115. J See note (*), last page. 1773.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 143 also,* if you let the enclosed copies be made 24 instead of 48 kr. the piece. I do not know whether I have already thanked yon in the name of the painter for the remittance. My Jahrmarkt t I propose to read to you myself and to tell you much. And so a hundred greetings to your dear ones. Goethe. 126.— To Eestner. [Frankfort, 19 July, 1773.] YoTT shall hear constantly how it fares with me, dear Kestner. For in the course of my life niy hope will ever be in you and your wife, whom God bless and give to her as much joy as she is good. Preferment cannot fail you. You are of the race of men who thrive and increase on earth, one of the righteous people who fear the iiord, therefore he has even given you a virtuous wife, on whose account live long ! I am very diligent, and if fortune is good you will soon receive something in a different style. I wish Lotte was not indifferent about my drama. I have already various little wreaths of approbation of divers leaves and flowers, even Italian flowers, which I have tried on alternately, and have laughed at myself before the glass. The gods have sent me a sculptor, and if he finds work here as we hope, I shall then forget much. Holy muses reach to me, out of your vessels, iheaurum potahile, the elixir vitae for which I languish. How much it costs to dig wells aud to build a hut in the desert. And my parrots, which I have brought up, which chatter with me, like myself, are ill and let their wings hang. A year ago to-day it was quite different, I could swear at this hour a year ago I was sitting with Lotte. I am working up mj' situation into a drama in defiance of God and. men.| I know what Lotte will say when she comes to see it, • See note (t), p. 109. t The Jahrmarktsfeet (Fair) zu Flundersweilern, a comic piece, written about this time. X This evidently refers to the composition of Werther. 144 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. and I know wliat you will answer her. Listen ; if you would sell some copies of Gotz for me you would do me, and perhaps many other people, a favour. Boie has some ; write to him how many you would like. I have written to him to make over to you as many as you want. Then disposei of them for 12 good groschens and make a note of the postage they cost you. The publication belongs to Merck,* who is however in S. Petersburg.- I cannot reconcile myself to a bookseller. I fear it would remain at a standstill. For probably in the course of half a year you will get no copy in any other way. VVrite to me however where I am to send the two second parts of the Mercury, and when I shall get the money. If sundry matters go according to my mind, Lotte will soon receive a little box from me, in which there are no bons-bons, no ornaments, no books, tut May you be happy ; your contentment and your pro- spects delight me. And if you care to hear from me, let me hear often from you. Adieu. 127.— To Hah9 Buff. Dear Hans, will you take Herr von Hille the second part of the Mercury. Kestner has taken the first by an oversight with him to Hanover. Herr von Falk will bring it back again to Herr von Hille. And then I shall be glad of the payment. Give the enclosed play to Papa, and when he has read it, and perhaps the sisters also have read it, give ■ it to Annchen and Dorothy, and _ greet them all from me. I am ever the old Doctor Goethe ; and wish you the many prizes which you deserve. V. 128.— To Kestnee. ^MuCH good luck for 'everything you undertake, and to your good wife all the joys of life. ♦ Mer'.'k had printed ft at his press, but the paper had been supplied by Goethe, 1773.] , LETTEBS OP J. W. GOETHE. 145 I cannot blame you that you live in the world, and make acquaintance with people of rank and position. Intercourse with great people is always advantageous to him who knows how to make use of them in moderation. Even so I respect the gunpowder whose force brings me down a bird from the air, were it nothing more than that. But even they know how to value magnanimity and use- fulness, and a young man like you must hope, must aspire to the best place. Good i heavens! you might do it only for your wife's sake. As far as domestic joys are con- cerned, these the Chancellor has, it seems to me, as well as the Secretary ; and I would be prince and not let them be taken from me. Therefore go on in God's narhe, accord- ing to your own heart, and do not trouble yourself about opinions, and close your heart against the censurer as against the flatterer. I would like to listen to them both until they weary me. Mad. La Eoche has been here ; she made a week happy for us. It is a delight to live with such creatures. Kestner, how fortunate I am, for if I have not them with me, yet they stand ever before me, the dear ones all. The circle of noble-minded people is the most precious of all I that have won. And now for my dear Gotz ! I rely upon his good dis- position, he will go on and last. He is a child of man, with many faults, and yet withal one of the best. Many will take offence at the external gait and a few rough corners, but I have already so much approbation that I am astonished. I do not think that I shall so soon do any- thing that will please the public again. Nevertheless I go on working in case the whirlpool of affairs may please to use me for something better. 21st August: This has been a long time written, un^il at last the time to seal it up comes. For I have nothing more to say to you than go on loving me always, and Lotte is to hold me dear, and happy shall she be. Adieu. 14G EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. 129. — To FiiAU VON Lauoche. [? September,* 1773.] I HAVE said about your Letters, not what 'I wished, but what I was obliged. Thus it was from heart to heart, and therefore not a word is lost, for in point of fact there are no words. You ask me whether you should recommend the Iris f to my sister ? "What does your conscience tell you ? and if it said yes, why do you ask me ? I have written my opinion to her ; it seemed to me that she oitght to speak for herself, and ought not to call on her friends to contri- iDute for the sake of a stranger with whom she has never "had, nor can have, anything in common, and whose boldness is unpardonable in begging for the sender's commission in addition to his own ; and after that she may now do as she pleases. I have written thus, and now do what you can, and my sister may do what she likes ; on this occasion again the imallness of men has come home most remarkably to me, and my case is the same as the Dom i)echant's,% who carries the follies of his opponents, like a string of pearls, roimd his neck. I wish Jacobi many half-pistoles, and in this respect 1 have forgiven him the other : that they further the rascal's usury with their name is good indeed, only let them leave me and mine unfleeced, for, methinks also they might be convinced that we will have nothing to do with them. Now I have finished, dear Mama, it occurs to me that I am unjust to the Jacobis ; have not I then also insin- * This letter must have been written when his sister was staying at Darmstadt. Vide Letter 133, to Kestner. t A paper edited by Fritz Jacobi. See note (*). p. 128. Goethe, though intimate with their iemale relatives, was at this time much prejudiced against the brothers Jacobi. } i.e. Cathedrsl Deaii. He refers to the Froiherr von Hohenfeld, a friend of llerr von I.arilf'he. 1773.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 147 uated myself among their wives, aunts, and sisters, which gives them, accoi-ding to the strictest compensation, a right over my Cornelie. Oho ! My parents and Friiul. v. Kliettenh. greet you heartily. I cannot do without your Max as long as I live', and I shall venture always to love her. 130, — To Fkau von Laeoche.; ' ' ' [? September 1773.] About the book, dear Mama, something definite. You want the little hook translated. Will you undertake the translation at your own expense and afterwards seek a publisher ? or, would it not be better to give the bookseller the little book as it is, and let him t-oe to it? You will get from the bookseller 500 copies at once instead of pash payment., He will see to the translation, and print, on the condition of 500 copies. Eut the price cannot be fixed until it is finished. How nmch could be laid out on it? In what style shall it be, what kind of paper would be required? Adieu, best Aiama. Good-day dear sister — * Greeting to Herr v. G. I wish you had seen my bargain, with the Apollo, a few days ago. ' G. 131.^-To Feai; vox Laeoche. [ ? September, 1773.]t, Thank you, dear Mama, for both the Letters ; they have expressed to me the whole true state of your mind, and I am certain th9,t if you continue to write, in your own strain, on subjects of predominant interest, the whole must have a very excellent eifect, only you must allow me to communicate my t good counsel on the binding and arrangement of the volumes. J * Probably Maximiliane von Larocbe. • t T^B order of these letters is doubtful,-and that adopted by Freae has been occasionally departed from. J The book referred to is Bosaliens Briefe (.Eosalie's letters) by Frau vou Laroche. — F. L 2 148 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. Por example, the apotheosis of Brechter* in the second letter is evidently premature. The altar must first be built, decorated and consecrated, before the relics are disposed therein, and I would have wished to see the whole situation transplanted farther on when the character and the mind of Eosalie had been more developed, as I should even have liked to see the whole seasoned with the sweet melancholy of mistaken feeling which fills the first letter ; and I beg you, if it does not lie too much beyond the limits of your design, to open the first letter with quite simple detail, in which feeling and spirit alone shine forth. That is all I have to say. The dear little wifef has written to you something about a work which I have begun since you have been away,J really begun, for I never had the idea of making a perfect whole out of the subject. You shall have it as soon as it is finished. I cannot and do not wish to go to Diisseldorf. Tou know that certain acquaintances are to me like certain countries, I could be a traveller for a hundred years without feeling any call thither. G. 132. — To Feau von Laeoche. Heeewith I send the Herder; the marks denote errors of printing, nothing more. Yesterday evening I read Eosalie's meeting with the poor Henrietta. It is splendidly touching, but the opening is positively grand. Will you allow me to add a few touches to the history of the good boy, which a short time ago in the coach you wove into the story and which we omitted in the paper ?§ To dear Max my heart's greetings. (D. L. M. m. H.. G.) || G. * The pastor at Heilbronn, by ■whose advice Frau von LarocHe turned her mental experiences to literary purposes. — F. t Helene Elizabeth, the wife of Kammerrath Friedrioh (Fritz) Jacobi, ■who ■was in Frankfort about this time. The relationships of this family, owing to second marriages, are puzzling, and Urlich's account, in his Briefe v, Goethe an Johanna Fahlmer, is somewhat confused. Of. See letter to Kestner, No. 133. i See next letter. i) This letter must have been written shortly after a visit to Frank- fort which Frau von Laroche made in August. See Frese, p. 145. II Der liehen Mast meine Eenensgriiise. 1773.] . LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHK. 149 133.— To Kestner. y [15 September, 1773,] This evening, 15 September, I have received your letter, and have mended myself a pen in order to write a great deal. I hope that my spirits reach to Lotte, even if she will not spend the small change of her feelings, to which the husband has no claim, on me, who love her so much. Not long ago I was much troubled in a dream about her. The danger was pressing, my plans all without hope. We were guarded, and I had every hope, if I could speak to the prince. I stood at the window, and thought about jumping down ; it was two iitoreys high. You will break your leg, T thought; then you will be caught again ; and, thought I, if only a good friend were passing by I should spring down, and if I broke a leg, he would be obliged to carry me on his shoulder to the prince. Yoii see I still remember it all down to the coloured cover of the table at which she sat and netted, with her little straw box beside her. I kissed her hand a thousand times. Her very hand ! the hand ! it is still so vividly before me ; and see how I still trouble myself with dreams. My sister and- Schlosser are on the same terms as before. Ho is still in Carlsruhe, where he is taken about, God knows how. I don't understand it. My sister is now in Darmstadt with her friends. I lose much in her — she understands and bears with my whims. I, my good man, let my father do just as he likes now, and he tries daily to involve me more in the civil affairs of the town, and I let it go on as long as my strength remains in meJ A rent ! and all the seven-fold fibre-cord^ are asunder. /\ am also much calmer, and see- that one finds human Mature everywhere great and little, beautiful ■and ugly. /Besides, I go on bravely working, and intend to push fo/ward all sorts of things this winter. I have sent a Gotz to the old Bailiff, who has had great pleasure in it ; it has even gone further (probably through the Brandts), and the chamberlains Eichtferl and von Folz l50 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. have begged for it— Hans, with whom I carry on much correspondence, writes this to me. Amidst all this, dear K., I am forgetting to tell you that at this moment in the reception-room below sits — the dear lady great-aunt Lange of Wetzlar with the dear girl her eldest niece. They have often before in their lives had to sit without me on Lotte's account, so this time too they may take care of themselves. Hannchen is not with them. They hav« said much that is loving and good of my Lotte. The devil thank them for it — of my Lotte ! I wrote that without thinking, and yet she is in a certain measure mine. Herein it is the same with me as with other honourable people ; I am sensible up to this point. So no more of this. Now to the Mercury to recover ourselves. I do not know whether much boasting does most harm to the affair, or the affair to the boasting. It is wind and idle talk, which is a shame. People have been generally dissatisfied, the second volume is somewhat better. Hans and the little Hansesj [i.e.] Wieland and the Jackalls* have just been selling themselves. Good luck to it ! They have not written for me moreover. Good-bye to them ! The minister Jacobi's wife has been here, a very dear nice woman ; I have been able to get on with her very well, have avoided all explanations, and have acted as if she had neither husband nor brother-in-law. She woiild have tried to reconcile us, but I do not like their friendship. They must compel me to esteem them as much as I now despise them, and then I will and must love them. Early to-day I received a letter from Talk vrith the first volume -of the Mvsen-Almanach. On page 15 you will find the " Wanderer," which I commend to Lotte's heart. It was written in my garden, on one of the best days, •ftrith Lotte in my heart; and in peaceful contentedness, with all your future bliss before my mind. If you look at it properly you will find more individuality in the thing than would appear : you will recognize Lotte and me under the allegory, and what I have so many thousand times felt beside her. But, betray it to no man. On that ♦ The brothers Jaoobi. See note f, p. 146. He refers, probably, to some revievrs, in his opinion, insincere. 1773.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 151 account it must even be Baored to you, and I always have you with me when I write anything. Now I am working at a novel,* but it goes on slowly. Also a drama for performance in order that the fellows may see that my only object is to observe rules and to represent morality and sensibility. Adieu. One more word in confidence a^ an author : my ideal grows daily in beauty and grandeur, and if my vivacity and my love do not desert me, there will yet be much for my loved ones, and the public too may take its share. And now good-night, dear Lotte. Inclosed are some verses which I was going to add to a portrait of myself for Lotte : as it has not been a. success, however, she has this in the meantime. So much for. the present. 134.-J" — To Charlotte Kestneh. "When of some worthy, lately dead, Pastor or councillor, the head His widow has on copper etch'd, And underneath some doggrel scratch'd. It runs : — In head and ears ye see A man of worth and good degree ; Ye see his features and his brow ; But not the clever brain below. Such merits in the public weal His nose cannot to you rsveal. So is it now, dear Lotte, too. My likeness here I send to you. You'll see the long nose easily. The flowing hair, the glancing eye The horrid face it well may be ; But all my love you cannot see.| ♦ Probably WerOier. See note at end of Letter 171 helovi. t Enclosed in the preceding. X Keitner {Goeth^ v. Werther, p. 184) gives a facsimile of the silhouette, whieh displays a very fine profile of Goethe at the age of twenty-four. 152 EAEI^T AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. 135. — To Kbstneb. [October, 1773.] Dear Max de la Eoche is to be married to a re- spectable merchant here.* Fine ! very fine. Your Hans constantly writes to me how things go on in the " Teutsche Hans," thus I have a complete chronicle since yonr departure of all bruises, boils and quarrels of any importance. Is it true that Dorothy is to be married"? There is an unprecedented star in our town : we have had full twenty marriages of' importance in the last six months. Our two next-door neighbours gave themselves away almost in the same week as my sister. The watchman is blowing his horn, the bells ring, the drum sounds, and over yonder day is beginning to break. I have lately been busy, and working at many little things, and a comedy with songsf will soon be ready ; also I have laid the foundation of several important pieces which will now be studied more. The foregoing comedy has been worked up without great outlay of mind and feeling within the" horizon of our actors and our stage. And yet the people say there are passages in it which they would not act. But I cannot help that now. You shall have it in MS. Has Lotte seen and talked to Chancellor Jacobi. He has noticed her particularly, I remark. Is he still there ? Falk is an excellent young man ; I am glad that he is fond of me ; he writes to me often. Merck and I have had a wonderful scene over a silhouette which Lavater sent me, and which very much resembles Lotte. I can- not tell you how it was. It was the evening of his arrival, and I thereby perceived that he still likes Lotte much. For whoever knows Lotte, and does not love her dearly, him do I not love. Adieu, my children, it is daylight ! * Namely Peter Brentano, a widower with five children. t Probably Erwin und Elmire. The more important pieces referred to may be the drama of Mahomet, which he never carried out, and Fault, which he had commenced at Strasbourg. 1773.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETUE. 153 Do yovL already know that Hopfner has married Madlle Thoma. Write to me soon, and rejoice in the remembrance of me, even as I rejoice in yours. G. 136. — To Feau von Laeochr. [12 October, 1773.] We have heard nothing from you for so long. However, I must tell you in all haste that Schlosser has arrived, and to-morrow there will be a joyful betrothal. I rejoice in their happiness although I lose mostly there- by. They will remain here a few weeks longer, and then to their destination.* Farewell, best friend, greet your dear ones, and do not forget us. / Goethe. 137.— To Hans Buff, I congratulate you, dear Hans, on your happy recovery, and hope that my letter may find you all well again. Give the enclosed letter to Herr Krafft of the Bremen council, who will be so good as to deliver it to Herr Kestner. Eemember me to your dear father and sister Caroline. Many greetings to MesUes Lenchen, Dorothy and Annchen ; and the other girls and boys must be good, and they shall have almonds and pictures when I come. G. Tell Lenchen she must send Lotte the pieces of the blue striped dressing jacket, which she has forgotten, to be darned, they will be found I dare say. Or rather let Lenchen give you them and send me them by post-cart ; I will send them to Lotte, but nobody must write anything about it to her. * His sister and SoUosser were to go to Emmendiugen after their marriage. ■154 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. 138.— To Hans Buff. I AM glad, dear Hans, that you are so good and do not let the prize be taken from you. If everything in the house is straight again I hope it may continue so. Thank you for the pieces, only let nohody write to Lotte aboiit it.. Let me know as soon as possible when the carrier is going to Hanover ; I have a little box, but you must caution the man well that it contains breakable goods, that it may be dealt with gently. ' Good-bye, dear Hans ; enjoy the fruit thoroughly, and greet Papa and. all the dear creatures in the " Teutsche Haus." AclitMi. G. 139. To Salzmann. [October, 1773.] It is long since you have heard anything from my- self, but surely you must have heard from Lenz and other friends here and there. I am pushing on con- tinually, for Plautian. comedies are beginning to develope themselves. Lenz, however, must write to me. I have something on my heart for him. If you still have the copy of Berlichingen send it to Sessenheim addressed to Mile. without Christian name. Poor Friederike will find herself to some extent consoled if the faithless one is poisoned. If the copy has gone, perhaps you will get another. I should like to hear once more how you are, what the Fire-side * is doing, etc. My sister is to be married at Carlsruhe.f •140. — To JoHASNA Fahlmeu. [18 October, 1773.] We know, pretty well, dear aunt, how to interpret your silence, since we ourselves have before now been * Probably tbe nnme of a club. t Cornolie Goethe was married on November 1, 1773. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 155 guilty of tte same sins. Yet a sin it will ever remain, and it shall be forgiven you in consideration of future improvement. I hoped to hear- about the arrival of the new little girl ;* it takes its time, as I see. The most remarkable thing I can inform you about io Schlosser's arrival. The young couple have already been asked in church; they will be married in a fortnight, and then go at once to Carlsruhe. My sister-bride salutes you. She is now quite in the midst of her packing, and I am looking forward to mortal solitude. You know what I possessed in my sister; yet what of that: a fellow of the right sort must accustom himself to everything. Just now a few excellent people from out of the wide world have come to me, particularly one, and have given me many good days. Our small circle looks rather queer. My sister makes a great gap, and I— Bettyf knows what I mean. I should like just once to manage a ride with you from the G alien thor through the Terminei as far as All-Saints. In the meanwhile my skates will make me happy for the winter. I told you beforehand that you would have to love Jung, only that I wish you could also love people who are not like him. Greet the dear wife a hundred times. Lbttef will receive my letter. My authorship is in a windy condition. I have worked, biit I have accomplished nothing. You shall receive the ^ Jahrmarkt" on condition that you do not let it go out of your hand, nor — ^but, I need no conditions with you. The Gottingen Mmen-Almanach is very good this year. You will find much that is true and warm. Also a few things, which if not from me, still I have read to you.§ What you wrote about the Mercury seems intended to prepare me for an unfavourable verdict. |{ It does not * The expected addition to Jacobi'e family turned out to be a boy. t Helcne Elizabeth Jaeobi. See note (f). P- 148. j The half-aister of the brothers Jaeobi. See Letter 106. § As a matter of fact it contained several poems by Goethe, amongst them • The Wanderer,' referred to above. Letter 116. II Unfavourable notices of Goetz appeared in the September and December numbers. — U. 156 EAKLT AND MISCELT.ANEOUS [1773. matter : I am accustomed to Buch things. It depends upon whether the reviewer be a honest fellow ; he may praise or blame me, and what I think of him I shall tell you. As yet we have not got him. You know the winged haste of the messenger of the gods.* A beautiful new plan has developed itself in my mind into a grand drama.f I only want first to see whether 1 can learn anything from the praise and blame of the public. And my successful drama, and Wieland's verdict. May this not be impending as long as a judgment in Wezlar.J I have won, dear aunt, won unconditionally; only surrender before you are prevented by sentence and execution. Bead the passages over and over again, and congratulate yourself on your change of mind, the conversion of at least your own eyes. Adieu, dear aunt, and let us sometimes see a visible token of your remembrance. You know that we are sensitive people. Goethe. 141. — To Charlotte Kestnee. [Frankfort, 31 October, 1773.] I DO not know, dear Lotte, if there is ground for my conjecture that you will soon be wanting a dressing-gown ; at any rate, I fancy you will. And as I thought over this weighty point, I said to myself : She likes white ; all muslin is banished in winter, unless quilted ; and then she would look too old-womanish in it, &c. Hereat the prudent goddess of fashion came to me and gave me the accompany- ing material, which has every quality except endurance. It is muslin, so it has all its merits ; the satin stripes fit it for winter wear. Short and sharp, to the tailor with it, but let him deal very carefully with it. N. B. it is to be ■ lined with no other colour than white ; those which I have seen had white linen underneath. The piece is just enough for a dressing-gown besides pockets. * A satirical allusion to the unpunctuality of the Mercury. See . above to Kestner. t He probably refers to Mdliomet, of which, however, only fragments were written. J He refers to the proceedings of the Imperial Chambor 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 157 At the same time I send the pieces of the hlue and ■white dressing jacket left behind, and beg you in the newly arrived distinguished friend not to forget the true old one. Adieu, dear Lotte. Greet your husband for me. Eemem- ber the old times as I do. Frankfort, 31 October, 1773, on the day that Wolfgang Goethe. 142. — To Johanna Fahlmer. In order that our expedition may pass off quickly to our mutual satisfaction, here follows the comic piece,* and the pattern-scraps. For the rest, all goes well here, running to and fro, and packing. And I am, as always, in changeable moods, and have let myself be induced to do something, for which you will heartily me.f In the meantime, adieu, and keep some affection for us, for you will have -to come here again. Goethe. Of the patterns herewith sent, one 'cost 17 fl., and the other 10 fl., the piece, as is marked within. But they ask to have all patterns returned as soon as possible, with those that have been selected, marked. Still an- other thing. Herr Andra sends you herewith a copy of the rop/ej-,f and hopes to see a civil and if possible a commendatory notice in the Mercury. The man has staked wife, children, and money upon it. Only in view of that, and even if the thing did not possess any real musical or other merit — one ought not to refuse him this service of love. These gentlemen do it on other occasions, will they also do it on the present one ? He * The Jahrmarklsfest. t He refers to the farce, Goiter, Helden, und Wieland, which FrS,uI, Fahlmer, who, with the Jacobis, waa closely allied with Wieland, could hardly be expected to admire. In publishing it Goethe acted some- what against his better judgment, on Lenz's advice. Had Merck, who was then in St. Petersburgh, been consulted, Ke would hardly have printed it. However Wieland took it in good part. t Tlie Potter, an opera by Johann Andrd, a silk-weaver of Offenbach, Autobiog , bk. xvii. The opera was brought out with great success. 158 EAEL-T AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. does his best to recommend himself, though indeed I know nothing more pitiful than an author who recom- mends himself. Yet this is only the man of business. For the thing will not go of its own accord, as indeed I should like to have tpld him before. Many greetings to the dear wife, and to Lotte. G. The 31 October, 1773. N.B. The note has been left behind, and must now go by the post-cart. 143. — To Helena Elizabkth Jacobi.* [Frankfort, October, 1773.] I CANNOT get you the story, and have nothing but this thing, ;which will perhaps not interest you. lu the meantime pne looks, at a peep-show, if one cannot have an opera. Give it to Mad. La Eoche, and with all my heart farewell. However short the time.- for which I have seen j-ou, for such a short time I have ever an impression, so entirely sweet, of your presence, and that you still like me a little. Goethe. 144. — To J. G. EODEEER-t [177.'!.] "Well as I know, dear friend, ihat silence is better than much speaking, still I willingly confess to you that I have not interpreted your protracted silence altogether favourably to myself. Hr. Wunschold can tell you that your letter has surprised me. I thank you for the acquaintance of this kind person. I had no doubt that you would persevere in your eager efforts, and I relied on your heart, that in ecclesia pressct, you contj!nue to study the Greeks; still I have always wished to hear how and. what. It would cheer me up, and I should cease to be as entirely lonely as I am here.' If ther& were four of you here, or only three — and I should be * See note (f), p. 148. She is the " wife " referred to in the last letter and others to Johanna Fahlmer. t See Letter 63. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 159 willing to stipulato for even less — it would be very difforeiit. For thus to look forth like a Deukalion. over the fertile soil of the endless earth, and still to lack fellow-creatuves — if in such a case the genius dii not awaken children from stones and trees, one would not care for life. In the neighbourhood I have a worthy friend, and the dirtiju.et;8eiv of our activity preserves us both. <^' The plastic arts. occupy me almost entirely. What -i read and do, I do for their sake, and daily learn more : of how much greater importance it is in everything to lay one's hand even to the smallest, and work it out one- self, rather than to render a critical account of the most perfect mastery of another. In my Architecture and else- where I have said so with all my heart, and I know that the word will take hold upon j'oung, warm souls, that are not yet lost in the mire of theories and literatures. I am heartily glad that you take interest in this. How often in writing have I been thinking of you all, for in my rapture I was qvdi e in and about the minster again. Herewith I send you four copies of the biblical questions ; they are not to be had here, and also one Architecture.^ And now I have been circumstantial enough respecting myself, in order to induce you and your friends to do the same. Greet them all from me.* Yours, Goethe. 145. — To Trau Jacobi. [Frankfort, 3 November, 1773.] Herewith I send little mother a selection of books ; if not the best it is at all events the newest, and as good as I have. Put aside the sheet of the comedies, and I will send you the remainder by and bye. Also a couple of wedding poems, and with them many greetings from us all. Is the dear little fellow well ? f And what is his name ? For the rest, Aunt and Lolo will have told all about us and our household, which by no » The foregoing letter is placed here in accordance with Hirzel'a arrangement, but the inlernal evidence points to a rather earlier date. Cf. Letters 115. 117, 118. t See note (,*), p. 155. 160 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. means admits of a description in words ; it is more motley and monotonous than a Chinese one. So now for my wager, then, dear lady ! my wager I Does everything happen according to justice ? I have already said half, and I promise you besides two more epigrams. The Potter* has been given here with great applause, hut in order that no joy may he unqualified, the sale of its score will not take place. Now good-bye for a while, and assure Aunty and Lotte that I am still as of old. Goethe. 146.— To Feau Jacobl 7 November, 1773. I SHOULD prefer not to write to yoii, dearest lady, in the humor in which I am, and still I should like to tell you at once how much pleasure your letter has given me. Your voice and your person became living about me, and you must feel how dear your presence is to me. For the last hour I have been standing here and reflecting myself in your letter, and am at your bedside ; but, good- night, dearest lady. If I cannot speak to you from my heart, better be silent. 16 November. Two days ago Schl[osser] and my sister went away.f So much for the present. Yours entirely, Goethe. 147. — To Johanna Fahlmek. Deak Adnt. [16 November, 1773.] That my agency proceeds so slowly is the fault of the hurry-skurry, which for the last week has been buzzing around me. The day before yesterday my sister went — and I am cock of the walk. The ass has no more two pieces from Franzlein, and the second piece is already to be cut off from everything only semi-beautiful. I have therefore not cared to send the patterns. About the PMcr in my next. I am, in all confusion, yours, G. * Andrea Tlipfer, Pee Letter 142. + They wire married on the Ut iiist. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 161 148. — To JonANisrA Fahlmeu. [Frankfort, 23 November, 1773.] This time, dear Aunt, about the ' Potter.' I thank you for wishinig that my opinion regarding it should transpire. The piece is there for the sake of the music, testifies to the benevolent soul of the author, and is equal to the requirements of our theatre, so that both actor and spectator are able to follow him. Here and there is a good sally, and yet without music its uniformity could not bo preserved. The music itself, too, is com- posed with much knowledge of the actual resources of our theatre. The author has endeavoured to combine a correct declamation with a light, flowing melody, and no greater art is needed to sing his little airs than is required for the favourite compositions of H. Hiller and Wolf. In order not to leave the ear empty, he has turned all his industry towards accompaniment, which' he has tried to render as full-toned and harmonious as was feasible without disadvantage to the melody. To this end he has often employed wind-instruments, and sometimes used one of the latter in unison with the voice, whereby it is strengthened and improved ; as is the case, for instance, in the first duet with one flute. He cannot be taxed with either copying or stealing; and we may always hope for more from him. In a few airs, the da capo might have been shorter, as for instance in the air : " How many a rude young rustic," p. 78. I approve of his having had the whole score engraved ; if more did the same, it would please the connoisseur and the amateur. It would also be to the benfefit of the foreign and private theatre. Something like this, "more or less," Mercury might say without degrading itself. I am blotting this with being in such a hurry. Pardon it, dear aunty. Greet the dear wife and Lotte. I am as always now sometimes tolerably, some- times intolerable. I have had headache for some days, and have been in a very benevolent (? perhaps malevolent) ' 162 EABLT AND MISOELLANEOUS [1773. humour. Let us soon hear from you. Boiling* is returned from his journey. He would soon have visited the Bashaw at Weimar. What about our het? Adieu, aunty ; my sister has arrived safely, and will soon be settled. Goethe. Address : To Mamsell Mamsell Fahlmer, at H. Hof- kammerrath Jakobi's, Franck-Cijln, in Diisseldorf. 149.— To Johanna Fahlmer. [29 November, 1773.] If we only agree beforehand that each go his way, without wisiing to take along the other, all will be well. We shall at all events meet 'again, although we may deviate -here, and there! Only perhaps we were both too much accustomed to walking hand in hand, and who is. not, so etc. etc etc. My sister plays her part well. Her migration, settling, and all, she manages well. They still remember "the insult and reproaches between Bomheim and Frankfort.,, ■ NoW; she is wad.ing along to her heart's content, ap.d begs to salute you all. When the spirit of invention sweeps' over me, I intend to ask him for some such article a Vimitaiipn, otherwise he will not like to do it. But, seriously, if- it is not a joke, I am glad that tke Moral Wordshopf has again sold itself. I should like, to propose A.pot-pourri, or any such as you like, with moral emblems and proverbs. ; , I thank you for the ballad, and beg 'for some more.| On the other hand, a^l those wHoh I brought from Alsace are at your service, • J. C. Boiling was a mei-ohant aud a friend of the. Jacobi family. He managed the commercial affairs of the Deutsche Merkur. Tlie Bashaw js Wieland, t Supposed by Urliohs to refer to Wieland, -vyho edited the German Mercury. X This refers to popiilnr Iinl'sds (Voll!B]ipdpr\ of which Goethe was milking a oolleolion. Cf. letter lo Herder, No. iH. 1773 J LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 163 I will inquirfe about the little violin, and tell yon as soon as possible. In tbe packet there is a notice from the paper here about the ' Mercury, in which they lick the dust from Wiel[and's] feet; I have done, my beSt to set Deineft against Wielarid. I have- represented to him, how it was a shame that the Mercury should jjave said : " The Frfter. Zeitung disappeared with the end of 72," while in reality it still exists " en toutes lettres." Never- theless, I had to admire frorh my soul the politeness and pious lamb-like friendliness of. page 773 sqq. Adieu, dear Aunt ; I thank you in Andre's soul.f Also for the communication of the opinions about me. They are always interesting, however little influence they may or can have over and within me. Addio. Goethe. 160. — To Feau Jacobi. Excuse my rubbish, dearest lady. A shake of the- hand is always better than any compliment. Therefore it always comes from the heart when I write, and if I had first to reflect, to' study, or to correct: — whatf you would for all eternity receive no letter. By the post-cart you will at all events have one, and therein the following sheets of the * VSterchen' (little father), the father about, which, to the comfort of Jung's Christian soul, you can say, that it is not mine. I h,avo not done it. Mama, but a youth, whom 1 love as my soul, and who is an ex- cellent youth. But why judge according to works ! It is indeed written: By their fruits ye shall know them. But are these our /mte,, with which we besmear the paper, written or printed? Thus much, dear lady, because I wished you to remain well-disposed to the author of the ' Vaterchen,' and at the same time to know that it is not I. You have the honest Jung again with you ; perhaps his Kristelchen has already wanted him back again, and I hope that your last boy is well arid' lively, since you write * Editor of the Frankfurter Gelehrt. Anzeigen after Schlossev's retirement. t See Letter 142, recommending Andre's opera for favourable notice. It had no effect, for an unfavourable review appeared in the December number of the D. Merhur, M 2 164 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS. [1773. nothing about him. I cannot picture you to myself with- out the boy. And then I should not like, dear lady, to coinplain of my present circumstances, that, if I had not lately become more biting again, I should never get on, I have no time at all to collect my wits, and have besides begun a piece of work, stride for you, and for all dear souls like you, not for their nourishment, but still I hope for their enjoyment. By Shrove-Tuesday it might arrive, if the stars are not altogether too adverse. Greet Lottchen* from me. About my sister, who greets you, you will read in aunty's letter ; and the Gerocks hold you in hearty affection, but are in a poor way. Kathchen is ill ; Antoinette has more desires than can be satisfied this time. And I avoid her, because I have not the power to effect anything better. This is the reason that you have not yet received a portrait. Adieu. 151. — To Johanna Tahlmer, [December, 1773.] I HAVE found a little violin ; I will have it put to rights and with a bow send it well- packed by the post- cart. Herr Friz or Herr George will receive it from me as a trifling Christmas present. I only wish that the gentleman who at present is going to try his fortune on it may learn as much as the dear creature who had it beneath her chin before hiip, and then he may become a virtuoso or at least learn to feel like one. Herewith I send the little poem, upon the specified conditions. I greet heartily the dear wife and LoUo, who indeed might as well pour out her anxiety on me in a little letter. ti ." i ; In the country and the town • Nsught one has but labours ; The little that we make our own ■ "We fight for with our neighbours. Bound about on God's wide earth Naught but envy, woe, and dearth. Would that one could quit it. * One of her daughters. 1773.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 165 Earthly ills are void of dread Save to the weak and ailing ; Toil will earn you daily bread, Bed and board and dwelling Where'er God's sun his rays does send Thoul't find a maiden, find a friend. Let us ever stay there.* 152. — To THE Kestxers. [Early on Christmas Day, after 6 in the morning, 1773]. It is a year ago that T wrote to you at this very hour, my dear ones ; how much has altered since that time. 1 have not written to. you for long, which means that I have been very unsettled. I thank you, dear Lotte, that in exchange for my cob- web.f you have presented me with a letter. If I had hoped for that my present would have been sellish. I have kissed it certainly a hundred times. There are moments in which one first remarks how dearly one loves one's friends. I cannot describe to j^ou the joy I had in seeing Merck J again, he came a week sooner than I expected, and was sitting with my father in the room. I came home without knowing anything, entered, and heard his voice before I saw him. You know me Lotte. The passage in your letter which' contained a hint of a possible approach to you went through my soul. Ah, that has been my dream, ever so long since you went away. But it will probably remain a dream. My father would not indeed have anything against it if I went into foreign service, and neither love nor the hope of an appointment keeps me here, and so it seems as if I could venture a trial, once more, of the prospect over there. But, Kestner, the talents and powers which I have, I need too much for myself. I have been hitherto * This song was reprinted with a trifling alteration in Enoin und Llmire, which was written about this time. See lietter 135. t See Letter 141. X He liad just returned from St. Petersburg; whither liQ had gone torn Berlin. See Letter 112. 166 EARLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [If 73. accustomed to act only according to my instinct, and there- fore could be subject to no prince. And then until I learnt political, subordination — — They are a cursed people the Frankforters, the President Moser used to say, their obstinate heads can be used for no purpose. And if even it were not so, amongst all my talents my jurisprudence is the smallest one. The little bit of theory and common sense are not sufficient. Here my law practice goes, hand in hand with my knowledge ; I learn every day, and make a hack-horse of myself. But in a commission of law — I have .hitherto guarded myself from playing a game in which I was the most inexperienced at the table. Moreover — but I should like to know if your words were anything more than desire and fancy. My sister is good, she' is learning to live ! And only in complicated critical cases do men find out what is within them. She is well, and Schlosser is the best husband, as lie was the tcnderest and most constant of lovers. 153.— To Hans Buff. . Here is a good friend of mine, I would gladly have come with him, dear Hans, but that could not be. If you continue to love me, I hope to live to see you again once more. Whatever you do.for Herr Plitt I will accept as to niyself. Take him to the BrandtSy and introduce him to the sisters, whom the young man will, please without ■ my recommendation. My boys must continue to love me. I send them something from the fair. Sophie and Annel have not forgotten me I hope. Always be good. Do not buy the ' Frajnkfort News,' it can be of no use to you, , If I find a good book for you^ I will send it you. Good-bye, and don't forget to write. GoEruE, 154.— To Hans Cuff. Dear Hans, beg Annchen to pardon- me for not having executed her commission, Herr Schmidt cangive 1773.1 LSTTEHS OF J. VT. GOETHE. 167 no patterns, but lie will send a few pieces. Now Annchen muBt be so good ns write what colour and kind they require, and I will see to it. . . One more commission : at Herr Falk's, I have 9 fl. to my credit ; get them, and send me them by the. post- cart. Greet the whole household, Miss Dorothy you know well enough,T-and Lenchen. And I should like to hear what Lotte writes and sends. G. 155.— To Fkait Jacobi. 1773, the last day of the year. EouND, Round, Eound and here it is round again now. Take kindly to what is coming, and reckon me as belonging to your world, as I do you in mine, and so, vice versa, we shall remain in the old — which I am heartily fond of, provided that no one perceive that the Past has everywhere a finger in the pie. For the new year my prospects have decked themselves up in regular raree-show style. Max. La Eoohe is to be married from here. Her intended Seems to be a man with whom one can live, and so hurrah ! Again is the number of the good creatures increased that are nothing less than intellectual, as indeed you might surmise. For, -between ourselves, while it is always a critical business on earth with acquaintances, friends and sweethearts, so that often, whilst one thinks that one has it by all four comers — plop! comes the devil and tears a big hole in the middle, and upsets- everything. As has just lately happened to me, and vexed me very much. And so to return to my point, I am far more active than formerly in seeking where anything dear, friendly and good may be hidden ; and I am in such a good humour, because I find all kinds of unlocked things, etc., that sometimes I have been on the point of falling in love. From which, however, God keep me. But, at all events, little mother shall be in- formed af once of any such mishaps having occurred. How beautifully I have been drawing of late I do not like to say, because I still remain in considerable arrears. 1(J8 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1773. And then the draughtsman who drew the Hanover Lotte* is one who understands the matter. It is like from hpad to foot ;"f only that I would not have been able to put it • down so much in detail, the reason being that I was so enamoured with the whole, and God has willed that a lover shall be a bad observer. As to the review I am as innocent as a babe, and this time you have seen ghosts because you looked for them. I sent it, in point of fact, that you might laugh at me. I had written to aunt how I had bullied Deinet,J and, really, I hoped that he would stultify himself, and lo ! there he is as civil as a little dog. Upon my word, there is on my part no milk and gall-drops in it. May God requite Captain Dobel for helping you to get through this da,rkness and time of affliction.. Yet he has his reward to come hereafter. We abide by Shrove- , Tuesday whatever comes to pass. And so adieu. Does the little one thrive? Alas, dear lady, in. the last three- quarters of a year I, have married three or four couples, and as yet not one gives any happy promise. Goethe. Many greetings to the aunt. I was going to write to her, but I cannot form any idea of her, dull, heavy, lazy and snuffling with cold as she is, in Dusseldorf, so my dramatic genius leaves me aground. 156.— To Hans Buff. I SEN'D you herewith, dear Hans, a praemium virtutis et diligentiae for the new year. And also a new Heller § that you may see what sort. of people we Trankforters are. Greet all the dear people for me, and hold me dear. II G. * Charlotte Kestner. t This probably refers to a description of Charlotte Kestner by Jacohi referred to in Letter 165, helow, q. v. X See p. 163, above. ' § A small copper coin. II Four more short notes to Hans Buff, -with comiiissions or small presents, abolit this date, are omitted. 1774.] LETTEBS OP J. W. GOETHE. 169 167. — To Heineich Christian Boie,* Frankfort, 8th Januai-y, 1774. With the return of friend Merck from Petersburg I have myself undertaken the publication of Goz, and I beg you to belp me on with it a little, for I am adapted for nothing less than for a business-man. You have received 150 copies in two lots ; Herr ^Dietrich has sold them, as he himself writes me, and thus it seems fair that I should receive an equivalent for them. If it is not practicable to get the whole or a part in cash, be so good . at least as to procure me paper ; for that purpose 1 beg you for a catalogue of Dietrich's publications and for an explanation from him how he will have it done. I some- times laugh to think how well the thing took, how quickly it was sold and printed, whilst I have not yet had back the costs of printing. , , Tor your collection' I have nothing but a few epigrams from a friend. Farewell. Goethe. 168. — To FeAU von LAROCHE.f [Frankfort, (?) Jan. 1774.] If you knew what passed within me before I avoided the house, you would not think of enticing me back again, dear Mama. In those terrible moments J suffered for aU the future ; I am quiet, and let me have peace. ' That I should not like' to see you there,' ' What would people say,' &c., all that I have overcome. And God preserve him from the only case in which I would cross the threshold. * Born at Meldorp in 1744. Hia life and poems were published in 1868, by Prof. Karl Weinhold of Halle. In 1773 he was at Gottingen, ■where, with Gotter he founded tlie Muien-almanaoh, to which Goethe occasionally contributed. He and several other young writers, Voss, Holty, Hahn, &o., formed the nucleus of the so-called Sturm und Drang, or young German party, in the literature of this period. t Evidently written during a visit if Frau von Larnche to Frankfort, probably soon after the marriage of Maximiliane, wUicli took place at JElirenbreitsteii on January 9t .. 170 EARLY AND MISCELIiANEOUS [1774. Here, dear Mama, are prints after my designs. To- morrow my mother will fetch, you and th6 little oneSj^ You will not repent it. , ~G. 159. — ^To Feau von Laeoche. [? Jan. 1774.] , I HAVE an opportunity of letting you see a grand sight, if you will grant me to-morrow afternoon ; I bpg one syllable in answer ; this evening I shall see you at the concert. However, if you could, I should like to know at once, and; then to-morrow, after dessert at one o'clock, the carriage shall be waiting at your door. My mother will be there; and we will take the little fellows with us. Greet dear Max. G. IGO. — To Johanna Fahlmer. pEnd of January, 1774.] To-day there was an ice-high-day ! It was forced to give, it cracked and bent, and leaked, and finally broke, and the fine gentlemen paddled out like swine. Here is a ballad.* And greeting to Betsy, my sweetheart, and the enclosed to- Lolo, ' " It is well for me ' that all are well, Amen," and so on, &o., Ac. ■ ..... Yesterday we ate venison pasty and savoury-jelly, and drank a great deal of wine, and Bat between houris till one o'clock at night, and fed ourselves with spoons. ' From Herr Beuss, for the second time burgomeister, where I had announced the New Year in scarlet and gold — whither ? "Coachman, to the Ehine." I ascend the steps, where the bell-pull still hangs in the comer. I ring ! — little Katef comes! "Do you still know me?" " Oh, my goodness !" * Urlichs (p. 41) prints a ballad which lie supposes to be the one referred to. ' t The Jacobis' servant. This make-believe visit was of eouiso to their house at Dusseldorf. 1774;] LETTEBS OF J. W. GOETHE. 171 The lattice was opened, I Seize her familiarly by the. head . and pull oflf her hood. And inside there is the H. 6. Scho . . .* Good ! I present myself. Mama is pouring ' out coffee, and does not see me at her very elbow until I stand before her— and then — 161.— To Fratj Jacobi. [February, 1774.] I AM very well, dear lady, and thank you for your double and threefold letter. For the last ten days there has been great revelling here, and now we are as content and happy as one can be. We, I say, for since the 1 5th of January, no branch of my existence, has been solitary. And Fate, with which I have so' often wrangled, is now courteously entitled beautiful, wise Fate, for certainly that is the first gift, since she took my sister from me, that has the appearance of an equivalent. Max is ever the same angel, who with the simplest and most precious , qualities draws all hearts to her ; and the feeling I have for her, in which her husband will find a cause for jealousy, HOW makes the happiness of my life. Brentano is a worthy man, -an open strong character, with much acuteness of mind, and as well qualified as possible for his business. His children are merry, simple and good. Now add the dear Dumeixf and a lady friend and you have the whole group of us. Our Mama la Eoche left us on the last day of January, and my tranquil friendship has again seen itself rewarded. I feel that I am far more to her, and she far more to me, than two years ago, nay, than six months ago. So true is it that true unions need time, like trees, and roots to grow, to form blossoms and to bring forth fruit. If you knew, dear lady, with what heart and with what words we have often spoken of you, you would have longed yourself over to us, and would not have been deprived of a seat at our tabic. Thanks for the interest in Andre's fate. He is bitter, but does not let me notice any * Probably a joliing allusion to Fritz Jacobi, to whom Goetho apparently was now beginning to be reconciled. ■ t Otiitrwise Dumeitz, Dean of the collegiate foundation St. Leunard's in Frankfurt. ■172 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. ' thing ; it seems he does not trust me, and thinlcs I have never sent you anything. Enough, we have done our part. What vexes him most is that his production^ has been classed amongst imitations. Tirelireli ! What is that to an author ? A mighty cold pierces through the window to my heart, to my thousand-fold delight. A large meadow out there is flooded and frozen over. About ten days ago our ladies drove over to look on at our pantomimic dance.f Then we excelled out selves. Immediately afterwards it thawed, and now again frost. Halleluja ! Amen ! My thanks and greeting to Lotte and the Aunt. 1G2.— To Frau Jacobi. The violin will soon come,| little Mama, like an actress in a rehearsal, in flannel bodice, with motley ribbons in her cap. Think, whenever it occurs to you to write me a letter, that it is a good spirit, at least my good spirit, and feel how welcome your letters are to me, for I am so ■ lonely. But yet certainly happier than formerly, and surrounded by hearty,- loving creatures. ■ You have now done for one copy of the 'Little Father.'§ Still, I send you the following sheets. But to bum them, I think, was not economical. Your boys are dear to me, because they are your boys, and the last one is dearest to me. Whether- they believe I in Christ, or Goz or Hamlet, it is all the same, only let J them believe in something. He who believes in nothing despairs of himself. Has nobody seen my Hanoverian Lotte ?|| Nobody sees her with vty eyes, but other people also have eyes, &e. The Pot pourri, in a strict sense, is a very insignificant piece of furnit-ure ; it makes a suspicion of fragrance in a room, just as many people have a shadow of taste. But ♦ See above. Letter 142. t i.e. the skating ; comp. Autohing., hk. xvi. (trans., vol. ii., p. 70). X Intended for one of her sons. See Letter 151. § The book referred to above. Letter 150. II i.e. Charlotte Buff, with -whom Jacobi's sister Lotte, frequently mentioned, must not be coiifouiideJ. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 173 the "Pot," which is called by custom "pourri," and which" is even properly so called, deserves far rather to be made emblematically and apothegmatically useful to the soul also. I have a few good ideas thereupon ; but the whole ! — an epic is not rhymed in a day. I have omijited the bow of the little violin ; it was only in the way, and you can get one anywhere. 163. — To Gottfried August Burger.* Frankfort, February 12, 1774. I SEND -you the second edition of my Goz. I have been wishing for a long time to write to you, and the few hours which I have been spending with your friend Destorp f have decided me to do so. I rather pride myself that I am the one to break down the paper partition wall between us. Our voices have often met, and our hearts also. Is not life short and barren enough ? Should not they whose ways lie together take hold of each other? Whenever you are working at anything, send it to me. I will do the same. That gives one courage. You show it only to the friend of your heart, which I will also do. And I promise never to copy anything. Destorp has been with me on the ice ; my heart has gone out over the kind soul. Farewell. Goethe. 164. — To Johanna Fahlmee. [End of February, 1774.] Now what the devil does this mean, aunty ? Accor- ding to Lotte, you are coming here at the end of SUarch, and yet not to write to the Majordomo, no orders for the upholsterer, steward, &c ! Perhaps you rely upon yourself- in that you have the Irisf for a douceur, and think that now everything ought to go swimmingly ; Nani. A pretty chambermaid always has so many opportunities of her own * The well-known author of Leonore. He was one year older than Goethe, t Baths-seoretar Tesdorpf of Liibeok. j The Iris began to appear in the course of this year. 174 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. that, &c. Now, if you were quite well-'behaved, you would send me a beautiful evenly written epistle, wherein your strange up-gushing longings after the holy church steeple, ' the acacia tree and the fishing ground would be painted - with poetical colours for the mental food of those natures that are rather glad to reflect themselves in others ; . . . So then this is just what lay at my heart, and so no more for this time than a warm greeting to the dear wife, and also a kind of somersault of friendship to Lotte, and finally the true monogrammatic signature of your devoted servant.* 1 65. — To Kestner. piareh, 1774.] To HAVE a letter of the first days of Christmas answered only on the 13th of February is not fair. For the future, Kestner, send me your letters by post. And write bftener : otherwise I shall address myself to Lotte, that she may write to me. Max La Eoohe is here, married, which makes life still tolerable, if anything can be made tolerable in it indeed. Howoften I am with you, that is to say in past : times, a document ■Which you will perhaps receive soon will show. And take care to write oftener, if it is only house- hold details. You know that I am interested in them" to the utmost. Jacobi has done Lotte justice so far. He has given a very favourable description of her ; and as it was reported to me, I really did not know that all that was in her, for I have always loved her much too dearly to observe her so closely. The Iris' is a childish undertaking, and must be forgiven him because he hopes to make money ' by it. 4 In point of fact the Jackals are undermining the Mercury since they have fallen out with Wieland. "What the fellows think of me is all one to me. Formerly they abused me as a puppy, and now they must feel that one can be an honest fellow without exactly being able to * In the original the letter is finished up with two pen^and4nk sketches of a church, buildings and trees, on a river-bank, presumably ' meant to represent Frankfort. Goethe was at this time giving his attention to drawing. See fac-simile, Urlichs, pp. 50, 51. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 175, tolerate them. It suits Lotto's face well tci be in the list of patronesses. I cannot speak of my wishes and hopes to come fo you. My case is like yours, and therefore we will me^'Utime let things rest as they are. It is a pity, however, that you did not see Herder more nearly; Was he alone then? or was his wife with him? I am very diligent, and my way of living is the same as ever. When 1 sometimes look at your old lettevs, lam astonished that I am still the same after so many changes. And would that I might hear that of you ! Therefore write to me oftener, or beg Lotte only sometimes to write me a little word when she has heart for it. She might very well do that. Greet Mme. Pestel for me ; she must be indeed a good woman. The Kunckel has given the magistrate great annoyance. She was in Strasbourg. The magistrate there would not give her up, and when the Elector applied to the King she thereupon went to Switzerland. This is the latest, and, up to the present, secret news. It is no wonder that we are very imperial, for we are the Emperor's. Adieu. Let me hear something of you soon. I am, as of old, for ever and ever. Amen. 166. — To Chablotte Kestneb. Dbae Lotte, It occurs to me this moment- that I have long had a letter from you which I have not answered. That has caused you to be with me in, cum, et sub all this time, more perhaps than ever Clet your gracious lord explain this to you). I will have it printed for you very soon. It will be good, my best one. For I am not happy when I think of you. I am ever the same as of old, and your silhouette is still pinned up in my room, and I borrow pins from it as before. That I am a fool you will not doubt, and I am ashanifed to say more. For if you do not feel that I love you, why do I love you ? — GOETUIi. 176 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. 167. — To Johanna Fahlmer. ■ [March, 1774.] I MUST inform you, good Aunt, that a certain sliame- ful and mischievous article, " Gods, Heroes, and Wieland," has a short time ago heen made known by open publication. I wished to be the first to inform you of it, so that, in case you might wish to break with the author, you could do it de honne grace, and, without further grumbling and snapping, might give him a kick from behind and say, " Go and cheat the devil; I'll have nothing more to do with you." For the rest, life jogs on here, and my drawing is the best thing I have. Tell the little Mama that the- promised carnival scrap* shall not be left out. I have been industrious, but there is nothing yet producible, and a little earlier or later is of no matter in the world, where the " nothing at all " has so often to be pocketed. Adieu. Is it true that you will bring Lotte with you again ? I eometinies wish to chat with her. You know very well how it is when I begin to talk prophetic nonsense. Adieu. If you are v(rilling to have me as I am, then I am ever the same as of old. 168. — To Feau von Laeoche. [? March, 1774.] YouE Letters returned with hearty thanks. You know that material of this kind is made use of by me. Here also are the other things ;, perhaps you are surprised to see the farcef printed, and so — like that mill-stone, which fell from Heaven — Farewell. I have not seen your dear ones for some time. -I had spoilt my heart. No, dear Mama, you have my hand upon it I will be good. G. The other copy of Wieland is for Trosso.J Goethe's Pater Brey, which appeared ia a publication called- t GStter, Belden, und Wieland. He had sent the farce in MS. to Lenz, who had had it printed without Goethe's knowledge, at Kehl, near Strasburg. X Probably Bauirapecldar Trosson, v. Geiger's GoM, Jahrhuch. 1774], LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 177 169. — To" Feau von Laeoche. [? April, 1774.] I DO not understand mankind, I am so often forced etill to -wonder at them, and thereby I/detect that I am yonng. Formerly, wh^n I heard of a great mind, my imagination gave to the man strength, nohle conception, and other appurtenances ; and now, as I learn to know the gentlemen, they are no better than a narrow-minded girl whose soul gushes out everywhere, and whose vanity is wounded with a puff of wind. I thought. Wieland would not behave himself so foolishly, for what is there in the whole affair? I have burnt the little summer-house of his papor reputation, devastated his little Desert-parterre of wax : is he beside himself about this ? How will he rage against fate which with unpre- cedented impertinence lays in ashes the Seshinian palace, with so many works of art and treasures, the work of so many hundred human souls, in the space of four-and-twenty hours ? I was obliged to send my ' Werther ' * hastily to be printed, and I did not think that you were in a disposition to follow the imagination and whims of my sentiment. My sister is at present enduring the inconveniences of good hope ; indeed I have had no letter from her for two months.f I have seen dear Max seldom, but when she meets me it is always like a vision from Heaven. My Mother greets you heartily. When will you come and again convince yourself that you have perhaps better Eons and friends, but none truer than Your Goethe. 170. — To Fbau von Laroche. [? April, 1774.] Here, Mama, is what I promised. Is it right ? By the post-cart I will send some more, with gilt edges, * Werther was published at the Leipsio Fair, in October ; this must have been written a few months before. + Oomelie Sohlosser's elder daughter was bom on Oct. 2R. 178 EAELY AND MISCET.LANEOUS. [1774. also the dear girl's letters,* and an excellent girl she is, also journals from H. Deinet. Will you, then, write and let me know what I owe you for the tea? What you have spent on my account ? Then I will give it, with those two Carolines, to Dumeix, or to whom you wish. With the Anecht (?) Sill (?), I will wait then, but not long. Has Hohenf.f a Clavigo? I should like very much to see GroschL.J if it can be brought about with tolerably good grace. D'abord que Wieland est curieux de savoir ce que je ferojs de lui, si le hasard me I'amenpit — il est perdu — vous m'entendez bien.§ As soon as a Werther comes he shall be with you; Tierewith, too, I send back the testament which is not of €hrist. 171. — To F.:au von Laroche. [? April, 1774.] I HAVE read tKe passages which concern me in the coming Mercury. He treats the matter like a good fellow, who sits firmly in his saddle. || I have never had anything against him, and now I forgive him oven his blasphemies against my gods ! At SinglingenlT on the golden wedding, where, ah ! I danced out the birthday of your dear Max, I thought of you a good deal. Mama ! there were many lights then, and the Sohweizers' Wilhelmine seized my arm and asked, " Why do they light so many candles?" That was a question to shame the whole starry vault of heaven, not to speak of an illumination. I have been looking out for you, have given my arm to your Max for a few moments. * Probably a reference to Frau v. Laroche's " Rosalie's Letters," see above. Letter 131. + See note (J), p. 146, above. X HeiT V. Grosolilag, the ambassador from Mainz at Frankfort . § " Since Wieland is curious to know what I should do with him if chance brought him to me — he is lost — ^you understand me." II Wieland'a review of the farce against himself, which lie treated with good-humour. ^ Sindlingen on the Maine below Hochst, where the Frankfort family Alcssina-Schweizer had an estate. 1774]. LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. , 179 Even if there is nothing at your heart on which it can open itself, yet let me have a word from the heart. You will see what impetus you give my wheel, if you read my ' Werther.' I began it the day after you went away, and kept at it.* 172. — To LaVATER and PFENNINGER.f 26 April, 1774. Bkothee, why do you torment mo because of my " amusements ? " I wish I had a higher idea of myself and my destiny, then I should neither call my business " amusements," nor amuse myself instead of transacting business. Thus you have attained your end. To Pfenningee. Thank you, dear brother, for your warmth about your brother's salvation. Believe me there will come a lime when we shall understand each other. Dear friend, you speak to me as to an unbeliever, who wants to under- stand, who will have proofs, who has not learnt by experience. And of aU this jUst the contrary is in my heart. J Am I not more resigned in understanding and proving than you ? Have I not just the [samej experience as you ? Perhaps I am a fool that I do not do you the favour of expressing myself in your words, and that I do not once for all prove to you, by a simple experimental psychology of my inner, being, that I am a man, and therefore cannot feel otherwise than other men ; that all that which seems like contradiction between us is only * You will find much explanation in the MS. which I am soon sending you. t This gives an approximate date for tfie composition of Werther. Vr. von Laroolie was in Frankfort in January 1774. See Letters 1.58, 1.59, 161. But in Letter 133 (p. 151) Goetlie fells Kestner that he ia " working at a novel but it goes on slowly," so that it seems reasonable, on this, and other grounds, to assign its commencement to August 1773. J Heinrich Pfenninger, painter and engraver, was born at Zurich 1749. He engraved some of the plates in Lavatei-'s Phyeiognr/my. N 2 180 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. strife of words, which arises from this, that I feel things under different combinations, and therefore, whilst expres- sing their relativity, must call them differently. Which has been, and will remain everlastingly the source of all controversies. And you will for ever burden me with evidences ! To what purpose ? Do I want evidence that I am ? Evidence that I feel ? Only those evidences do I adore as precious and dear which show me how thousands, or one, before me, have felt just the same ; that encourages and strengthens me. ^ And so the word of man is to me the word of God, whether gathered by pastor or prostitute, enrolled in the canon or scattered as fragments abroad, and with inmost soul I fall as a brother on the neck of Moses ! Prophet t Evangelist ! Apostle ! Spinoza or Machiavelli, But to each one I must say. Dear friend, it is with you as it is with me. In details thou feelest thyself strong and grand; the perfect Ayhole would go into your head as little as into mine. / To Lavater. Your brother-in-law* brings you nothing, but 1 will have a MS. sent to you. For there is some time yet before printing. You will take great interest in the sorrows of the beloved youth whom I am depicting.f We were near to one another for six years without becoming intimate, J and now I have lent my emotions to his history, and it makes a wonderful whole. Herewith I send you a profile.§ The fellow (they say) was a pilot, has gone through much in slavery at Tunis, and now goes about the world to excite sympathy. I have drawn him from life. This is however only a hasty copy of it, the original expresses better the stubbornness in mis- fortunes and the suppression of a strong manhood. You * Steiner, mentioned below, who waa a bookseller. f Lavater, in fact, expressed a very high opinion of Werfher. See Diintzer, p. 224. J He refers, of course, to Jenjsalera. See above, p. 103. § Lavater was in the habit of obtaining portraits of striking faces from his friends for his work on Physiognomy 1774.] LETTEES OP J. W. GOETHE. 181 must have it too. The height of the forehead is exag- gerated, or rather, he sat at the time more for profile, that is why it is so strongly rounded. Adieu. Brother, I am not weary, so long as I am on the earth I at least surely conquer daily my stride of land ! Steiner has discovered that my portrait, which you have,* is not I. He is a very dear fellow. 173.— To Frankfort, 6 May, 1774. You are not the only one who complains about my laconic notes, and yet methinks a powerful text is more welcome than a made up sermon ; to me at least it is. The second edition of the Berlichingen is quite un- altered. It is my trial piece, and must remain as it is. If ever I make another German drama, which I very much doubt, true souls will then feel how much I have advanced. Otherwise I am very busy, not to say diligent, advocating briskly, and yet at the same time I compose many little bits of work of good spirit and feeling. At present nothing is ready for the press. Perhaps there will be shortly, when, I will inform you. Pay attention to a comedy which will come out at the Easter Fair : ' The Tutor ; or, the Advantages of Private Education.' You hear by the title that it is not by me.f It will amuse you. I enclose something for you to look at : don't tell any body where you got it. In mysterio voluptas. I suppose, too, you have not yet seen the ' Biblical Questions.' If it interests you I can sometimep send you something, the fellows in my circle are always having funny ideas. If you see Lessing, teU him that I should have reckoned on him, and I have not been accustomed to be deceived in my men. Greet Behrisch f from me, and from Horn, too. I know the lean devil will be glad to see, so unexpectedly, something from his former Jonathan. Perhaps something will come out by me at the Easter Fair, I do not know yet whether * Some one sent Lavater, in jest, a portrait of Dr. Bahrdt, of Giessen, as that of Goethe, whom he hadnot yet seen, but he was not deceived by it. See,Autobiog., bk. xiv. (tr. ii. 8.) t It was apparently by Lenz. See Letter 181, and of. Letter 97. i His Leipsic friend. See p. xx. above. 182 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. it win find a publisher ; it is rather mad. If it comes out you shall know it. Adieu, and write to me once more before you leave this world, Goethe. 174. — To Kestnee. \l [May 1774.] /y Another care is off my shoulders. Kiss the boy for me, and the immortal Lotte. Tell her I cannot picture her to myself as a new mother. It is impossible. I see her still as I left her (therefore neither do I know you as husband, nor in any other relation than the old one, and therefore, in respect to a certain event, I have worked up and developed unwonted passions, at which I warn you not to take offence). I beg you to leave the enclosed extravaganza until a further period, time will explain it. Love me, as I love you, and the world will have no more perfect friends. G. My horrid«tuff against Wieland makes more noise than I thought. He behaves himself well under it, as I hear, and so I am in the wrong. 175. — To Kestnee. [11 May, 1774.] J. It surprised me, I did not expect that. I had hoped ft, but as yotir letter said nothing of it, I made up my taind that the firstborn must belong to the family. But now — I hope that Lotte — for the boy is baptised whilst I am writing on the 11th May — that Lotte may have vehemently broken through all deliberation, and said : Sis name is "Wolfgang, and the boy shall be called so too ! You seem to incline to it, and I wish that he should bear that name because it is mine. If you have given him the other, I shall persevere in giving the name of Wolf- gang to the next, if even you take several other god- fathers — and I — well I should like to stand for all your 1774] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 1S3 children, for they are all as dear to me as you are. Write imniediately what has been done. I have foolish fore- bodings ahont it, which I do not say, but time wiU bring it about. Adieu you people whom I love so much (that I am even obliged to lend and adapt the fulness of my love to the dreaming representation of our friend's ill- fate*). The parenthesis remains sealed till something further. G. 176.t— To Latater. [From Frl. von Klettenberg and Goethe.] Frankfort, 20 May, 1774. He ! He who needs no other name, once assured me in a blessed hour that He was ever willing to give me much more than I could imagine, He has hitherto ful- filled His promise beyond expression. The brotherly relationship and acquaintance with Lavater is one of these gifts, and one still greater, which cannot fail to come, will be the nameless joy of hearing one day from this brother's mouth the declaration— not because you say it, but because I feel it — I believe that God is in Christ. He goeth forth with Lavater and with Goethe — I know Him by His gait, but their eyes are stopped that they recognise Him not. But — a something — a gentle impulse — an emotion which surpasses all other emotions, however vividly these two can otherwise feel — makes it impossible for them to separate themselves from the Unknown One. If He sometimes withdraws Himself, or rather, you withdraw yourselves from Him, immediately call Him back longingly, call Him in the bye-ways which are not quite the most beautiful ; He will come. He is not too tender to break through the hedges. To see you here, dear brother, will be exactly one of those gifts of His surpassing expectation. But punish- * Evidently an allusion to Jerusalem's death and Werther. t The first portion of this letter gives a good idea of tlie mystic and sentimental piety which characterised the Fraal. von Kle.tenberg. CoQip. Autohiog., bk. xiv. 184 EABLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. ment, plague, and sorrow, would every tender friendly relationship he for me, were not the certaintj bound up with it that it would last for ever. Yes, we shall behold Him, and ourselves with Him, eternally renewed, and then live and love much more vividly than now. Goetbe is superintending the silhouette portrait — three times I have been painted, three times drawn — and my likeness has never been caught. I shall gladly see, this summer, please God, what you will say of the sil- houette on comparispn with the original. Many hearty thanks for the printed pamphlet. May He, whose blood Golgotha drank, bless you with His best blessing. The ever new tender impression is in my heart, that He was man, died as man, is still man, and I shall be as certain of what and where He is, as He was of what and where I am. CORDATA. [In Goethe's handwriting on the same sheet. Here is the picture which I have made, and which is like her, as one sister to another. It is the family, her- self it is not. In the shadow likeness this heavenly soul is still less indicated. When you come, she will be more to you than I, although she is as much to me as to you ; I am, how- ever, in my fanatical unbelief the J, and, such as I am, your brother. Hercules chatter is really not my feeling. One has only to pluck the Jacks by the wig, and say things such as you say, and no one cares to have a word. 4 177. — To Feiedrich Theophilus Klopstock.* Frankfort, 28th May, 1774. ScHONBORN, in a letter from Algiers, which I re- ceived yesterday, writes to me. " Klopstock is going to * Klopstock was bom 2 July, 1724, and was now therefore nearly fifty years of a^e. He published his Messiah at the age of twenty- three. Eesppoting Goethe's early admiration for him, see Autobiog^ bk. ii. 774.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 185 beg you, through Boie, for some of your works." And why should I not write to Klopstock, and send to himself whatever it may be, and whatever he can take an interest in ! May I not speak to those living, to whose graves I should make a pilgrimage. Here you have a piece* which will, indeed, never be printed, but which 1 beg you to send me back. As soon as a few things of mine, which are lying ready, are printed, I will send you them, or at least toll you, and wish that you may feel with what true emo- tion my soul hangs on you. Goethe. 178. — To FrAD von LAEOCHE.t [Darmstadt (?), June, 1774.] I WAS just going to write to you, dear Mama, and to promise, conditionally, to fetch you, when I received a letter from Lavater, who is coming, and having already long promised him to go to him, I must therefore do it— and if it so happens (provided that you in the meantime have made no other arrangement) that, at the time when the carriage is to leave here, I can do it with due regard to the above, I will certainly come ; if I cannot I shall see you here ! where you will — one only place excepted. I am ever your Goethe. 179. — To Frau ton Laeoche. 16 June, 1774. On the 20th, which will be next Monday, Lavater will be here. I have quite a new pleasure in expecting the man. He is going to a bathing-place. I certainly would have wished that you had at least shaken hands with him, but perhaps it will still come to pass. The * A farce called ' The judgment of the Jaoobis,' Diintzer. t This letter appears to have been written, like the next, from Darmstadt, immediately before the tour down the Lahn and Khine, whii-h he made in June and July, afterwards visiting the Jacobis at Pempelfort. For some part ot the time he was accompanied l.y Lnvater and the eccentric pljilosopher Busedow. Sue Autobiog., bk. xiv. 186 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774, world is really not so bad, it is only different from what we iiad represented it to ourselves. Believe me that the sacrifice that I make with regard to your Max, in not seeing her any more, is worth more than the constancy of the most fiery lover ; that, in truth, it is constancy stiU. I will in no way reckon what it has cost me, for it is a capital from which we both draw interest. Keep your heart open to me. Merck is again here * with bag and baggage ; that is, with wife and children ; as yet I have not heard from him. I have, from the fair,"three masterpieces. Herder's ' Oldest Eecords of the Human Eace,' Kfopstock's ' Kepublic of Learning,' f and by an unnamed CHeinse') ' Laidion.'| Goethe, . 180. — To Chaelotte Kkstnek, "« [Darmstadt], 16 June, 1774. I HAVK just come from Meyer's, dear Lotte, have had supper with them to-day and yesterday also. They have been at Darmstadt the whole of to-day. They are very good people I swear, they lovo me for I love them. We were so frank in the first quarter of an hour. Lotte, what a child I am ! How surprised I was when Mme. Meyer told, me that you still think of me. Do not Kestner's letters tell me that, does not my heart tell it me, and yet it was quite new to me when the dear little woman, with the true voice of sympathy, said that yuu still think of me. she felt what she was saying to me, she is a dear woman ! Even yesterday night I was going to write to you, but it was not possible. I walked up and down my room, and talked to your shadow, and even now it seems hard to me to scribble this to you ! Shall I then never again, never again hold your hand, Lotte ? I told Mme. Meyer a great deal about you, she was with me in the wood, and promised me to talk to "■ This seems to indicate that the letter was written from Darmstarlt, Merck had just returned from Switzerland, where he had been to fetch his family after his journey to St. Petersburg, t See Autdbiog., bk. xii. X See Letter 182, p. 192, helow. 1774.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 187 yoTi atout me in the Ellrie.* Indeed, Lotte, I have had no such pleasure for a long time. Her hushand is just one of the men who suit me; experience of life, fine arts and sciences without pedantry, and a good open heart. We got on well together. And with that, good night. They go early to-morrow, and I wUl send you something more. Adieu ! Adieu I And my godchild is well, and little Mama will soon he so too. I swear to you Lottej it is a torture to my sensitive hrain to think of you as little Mama, and of a boy who is yours, and who bears one of his names for my sake. I cannot yet reconcile to it, I cannot picture it to myself, and so I abide by this : Lotte, dear Lotte, it shall all be as it was, and is so, and Mme. Meyer says you have not altered. And so kiss and greet Papa Kestner, he is to write nicely to me, and you must also write nicely to me, when it is not troublesome to the little mother. Here is a letter from Mme. Meyer to your sister I think. Hans sent me one to her which I faithfully delivered. I hope she will pass through here again on her return from the baths, and then I will give her a shake of the hand and a greeting for you. Adieu, dear Lotte, i shall send you soon a friend who much resembles me, and hope you will receive him well, he is called Werther, and is and was — he may explain that to you himself. Goethe. 181.t— To . 22 June, 1774. I HAVE duly received the money sent, eight louis d'ors, and thank you for the interest which you have taken in our little business ; we will not be troublesome again. For the rest we will gladly take books ; also for the copies that remain in hand. Only tell us what kind of books we c^n ask for. But be sure to come very soon, one says more, and with more heart, in an hour than is written in years. * A small wood Bear the town of Hanover. t Evidently to the same correspondent as Letter 173. 188 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. To-morrow I expect Lavater, whom good fortune is bringing to me. "You have guessed right, ' The Tutor '* is by the editor of the Plautine comedies.f What I am having printed is : ' The Sorrows of the Young Werther,' a story, and ' Clavigo,' a tragedy. That they are nothing but titles is meanwhile enough for the demand. If you cannot get rid of the copies of ' Gotz,' bring them with you, or send them by some opportunity, and a few dozen of the ' Biblical Questions.' I would rather not pay much carriage. Goethe. 182.| — To Consul Sch6nborn,§ Algiers. I [Frankfort, 1 June-4 July, 1774.] On 25th May I received your letter; it gave us all a long-awaited joy. I immediately cut this new pen, in order to cram an equivalent sheet full to you, but can only begin to write to-day for the first time, 1st June. In the night, from the 28th to 29th, a fire || broke out in our Jews' quarter, which quickly and terribly gained the .upper hand ; I contributed my drop of water, and the most wonderful, deepest, and most manifold feelings rewarded me on the spot for my trouble. I have on this occasion again learnt to know the common people more inti- mately, and am again convinced that they are the best men. I thank you heartily for going so much into the details of your journey to me, in return, you shall hear everything from our region. I have written to Klopstock, and at the same time sent him something. Do we want a medium to communicate with each other ? • See Letter 173. t See Letter 97. } This letter, commenced before liis journey down the Bhine, must have been partly written in the course of it. § A native of Schlesvrig, and frieiid of KIopstock,'Gerstenberg, and Boie. He had been secretary to Graf Bernstorff, and ia October, 1773, had passed through Frankfort on his way to take the post of Secretary of ihe Danish Consulate at Algiers. He was twelve years older than Goethe. Probably the fire referred to in the Autdbiog., book xvi. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 189 I have compoBed a variety of new things. A story with the title : ' The Sorrows of the Young Werther,' wherein /li. represent a young man who, gifted with deep, pure feel- ing and true penetration, loses himself in enthusiastic dreams, undermines himself by speculation, until at last, distracted by the addition of unhappy passions, especially an aimless love, he puts a bullet through his head./ Then I have worked at a tragedy, ' Clavigo,' a modem anecdote dramatized with all possible simplicity and truth of heart ; /my hero an undecided, half-great, half-little man, the ' pendant to Weislingen in Gotz, rather Weislingen himself in the full rotundity of a chief personage ; here scenes are to be found which I could only indicate in Gotz in order not to weaken the chief interest. I have had a disgraceful article printed on Wieland, under the title: 'Gods, Heroes, and Wieland, a farce.' I cudgel him in a low way upon his faintheartedness in the representation of those giant forms of the vig;orous world of fable. I will also try little by little to dispatch the matter, when an opportunity occurs, to MarseUles; the post cannot take much across the sea. I have imagined a few other plans for great dramas, that is to say, I have found interesting details for such in Nature and in my heart. My ' Csesar,' which will not please you, seems also to be forming himself. I do not at all devote myself to criticism. I send little things to Claudius and Boie, of which I will add a few to this letter. I have not been out of Frankfort, but I have led such a dissipated life that I have lacked new sensations and new ideas. To-morrow about the cargo of the past Leipsic Fair. For to-day, Adieu. 8th June. I CONTINUE : Herder has published a work, ' The Oldest Eecords of the Human Kace.' I kept back my letter in order to send you your volume also across the sea, but I am not yet able to do it ; it is a whole of such mystic, widely rotating thought, a world living and revolving in the luxuriance of intertwined leafage, that neither can a representation on a diminished scale give any impression of the giant form, nor a faithful outline of isolated parts awaken melodiously sympathetic sound in the soul. He 190 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. has descended into the depths of his experience, and therein gathered np by its roots all the high, holy strength of simple Nature, and now leads her forth in Orphic song, here gloomy and lightning-flashing, there laughing in the friendliness of morn, from the beginning onwards over the whole world, after he has exterminated the vile brood of new spirits, Deists and Atheists, Philologists, Text-im- provers, Orientalists, &c., with fire and brimstone and raging flood. In especial is Michaelis slain by scorpions.- But I hear the master-people already cry : he is full of sweet wine, and the guardian of the land rocks himself on his chair and says : Thou ravest ! Otherwise I have got nothing at the fair worth speak- ing of between us. Klopstock's ' Eepublic ' has arrived. I have not got my copy yet.* I subscribed over and above. The pedlar Mercuriust continues bartering his, philosophical moral-poetical Bijouteries, Etoffes, Dentelles, &o., and no fewer Nurembnrg dolls and sugar-sweets, with women and children, and every day becomes more pedagoguishly impertinent towards his contributors, snubs them like boys in notes and epilogues, &c. Now, too, a rational word about life. My sister is ex- pecting a child, and sends you greeting, so does her husband. The Dean J was ill a short whUe, now we are busy in the garden sowing, making nosegays, weeding and eating. He wants to turn apathy to some account, but I, as I see it won't do, daily practise anakastasis.§ Amongst the others with whom yo'u are acquainted nothing remarkable has happened. Hopfner || is happy in his married state. Lavater, who loves me heartily, is coming here in a few weeks. If 1 can infuse in him a few drops of self-reliant feeling I shall be very glad. The good soul is so deeply pained at the fate of man, because a diseased body and a wandering mind have deprived him of collective strength, and thus robbed him of the best of joys, the abiding in oneself. It is incredible how weak he is, and how he, who still has the finest, subtlest human understanding I have * See Letter 179. t i-e. Wieland in the D. Merlmr. X Dumeix. § This seems to mean " making new resolutions." U Frofessor Hiipfuer had introduced Schonborn to Goethe. 1774] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 191 ever met, is spoken to as it were in riddles and mysteries, if he is spoken to from the living and, working heart. 10 June. Klopstock.'s magnificent work has poured new life into my veins. The only poetry of all times and nations, the only laws which are possible ! That is, history of feel- ing, as it confirms and declares itself little hy little and, as with him, creates expression and speech ; and the truisms of the honestest alderman out of what is noble and servile in the poet. All this written from the depths of the heart, the most individual experience, with a charming simplicity. But why do I say all this to you, who must already have read it ! He, among the youths whom ill-luck has led into the army of reviewers, and who, having read the work, does not throw away his pens, abjure all criticism and fault-finding, and sit himself down simply as a quietist to the contemplation of himself — of him will nothing be made. For here the holy springs of creative feeling flow pure from the throne of Nature. 4 July. Lavateu has been with me for five days,* and I have again learnt thereby that one ought to speak of nobody whom one has not personally seen. How entirely difierent does it all become. He so often says that he is weak, and I have known nobody who would have had finer forces than he. In his element he is unwearied, active, ready, decided, and a soul full of the heartiest love and innocence. I have never considered him a dreamer, and he has still less power of imagination than I supposed. But because his feelings impress upon his soul the truest relations of Nature, so much misunderstood he casts away all terminology, speaks and acts from a full heart, and seems to transplant his hearers into a strange world, whilst he leads them into the corners unknown to them of their own hearts : thus he cannot escape the reproach of a visionary. He is at the Ems-Bad, whither I accompanied him. The whole world is dissatisfied with Klopstook's ' Kepublicof Learning,' * Lavater came to Frankfort 23 June. Cf. Aulohiog., bk. xiv. 192 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. no one understands it. I saw in fact beforehand what a pitiful figure the magnificent book would make in the hands of aU the world. Lavater's ' Physiognomy ' is an ex- tensive work, with many engravings, it will contain great ■ contributions to plastic art, and be indispensable to the historical and portrait painter. Heinse, whom you will know through the translation of Petronius, has published a thing entitled : ' Laidion ; or, the Eleusinian Mysteries.' It is written with the most tiowery enthusiasm for the sensuous graces, and leaves Wieland and Jacobi far behind, although the tone and the style of its presentation through the ideal world in which it is localised coincide with theirs. At the end some stanzas are printed which exceed all that was ever painted in enamel. The last page I will fill up with rhymes. I have from time to time written several, but nothing is quite in shape. Write to me soon about your life. My parents, sister, and friends greet you. Farewell again and again, and hold me dear. G. 183. — To Feau von Laeoche.* Neuwied, 19 July, 1774. It has passed through my head more than once that it must be so; here at court f you are lovfed and honoured, and where is it not so ? Except only where you ought to be adored ? But how has it become so ? I have seen the dear little one at the I)ester's.| Good-bye, Mama, come over here! Lavater preaches here on Sundays. Eemember me to Frau v. Stein.f Goethe. * This imist;have been written, after leaving Coblenz, on the journey down the Rhine. t The Ducal Court of Nassau. % D'Ester, the name of a manufacturer at Vallendai near Ehren- breitstein. * § The Frau vom Stein of Nassau, the mother of the celebrated Prussian statesman. She is not to be confounded with the Frau von Stoin of Weimar, Goethe's later friend and correspondent, with whom she wos in no way connected. 1774.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 193 184. — To Feau von Laeoche. P Neuwied.] On Tuesday we will come to have dinner with you, to be together with real gladness, as far as the world grants it. My senses have not yet quite recovered from, seeing four boys drowned yesterday night, and not one was saved.* Only at such moments does man feel how small he is, and with burning arms, and sweat, and tears effects nothing. Good-bye, Mama. Send mo please a few bottles of wine, or rather I will take them with mo when I come ; they poison me with drink here. G. 185. — To FpwAU Jacobi. You do not expect a letter from me, at least dated Dusseldorf, 21 July, 1774, about 12 at mid-day, in the Prince of Orange Inn. Coming from the Gallery, which has softened the hardness of my heart, strengthened and, consequently, tempered it. Before eight this morning I ran to your house, in the new street, at the Flinger or Flinder gate (I go into so much detail for this reason, that you may convince your- self that I am here, which I myself scarcely believe). Catherine opened the door and her eyes too, gave a jump, recognised me, and seamed to be pleased. The house was empty ! The master and mistress were away, the youngest was asleep, the others in Pempelfort. I went on to Pem- pelfort. Lottchen, Lehnchen, Papa, Fritz, George, the little one, &c. That it causes me sorrow not to meet you, you feel — just at this time — at this very time. What further ? 'Tis in the hand of the gods. GOEtHE. * This incident ia introduced in an episode of Wilhelm Meister's Wanderjahre, bk. ii., eh. 18. 19 i EARLY AND MIECELLANE0U8 [1774. 186.— To Frau Jacobi. [? Ead July, 1774.J Tour Fritz, Betty, my Fritz ; * you triumph, Bettj-, and I had sworn never to name him to his dear- ones until I could call him what I thought I could call him, and now do call him. And so welcome, a thousand times welcome. The blockaded ship's course is open, commerce flourishes, and God he gracious to grudging neighbours. How fine, how grand that you were not in D., that I did what my simple heart bade me. Not introduced, marshalled in, excused ; just falling straight from Heaven before Fritz Jacobi ! And he and I, and I and he ! And we were already, before even a sisterly look had done the prelimi- naries therein, what we were to be and could be. Adieu, dear lady. Kiss the boys and girls for me. 187. — To Fritz Jacobi. [13th August, 1774J I DREAM of the moment, dear Fritz, have your letter, and hover round you. You have felt that it was rapture to me to be the object of your love — it is splendid that each one believes he receives more from the other than he gives ! Love, Love ! The poverty of wealth \ — and what strength it works in me, that in him I embrace all that is lacking to me, and give him in return what I have. Last night I was sitting on the mail-cart for a whim of Basedow's. It is again night. Believe me, we might from henceforward be dumb towards eacli other, and then, after a long time, meet again, and we should feel as if we had been walking hand-in-hand. We shall be at one over all which we have not discussed together. Good- night. I reel in the intoxication of frenzy, not in the billowy storm ; yet is it not all the same which of them * His first meeting with Fritz Jacobi, here referred to, marts the termination of the reserve which he had hitherto maintained towards tlie two brothers. In the Autobiograpliy Jie attributes this to Herder's iniiueuce. See bk. xiv. 177k] LETTERS 01' J. W. GOETHE. 195 dashes us on the rock ; — at any rate for those that weep. One word ! Do not let my letters be seen ! Do you under- stand ! Explanation thereof shortly if needed. 13th, at Night. ^ 14th. Evening. I HAVE seen Aunt and am glad that the barrier is gone which, besides her other unpleasant relation, over- flooded her heart with much other emotion. She can speak to me of her Fritz — to-day for the first time. Indeed ! Indeed ! If she had been able to do that all these years it would have been nothing. But now — and thus — her triumphant belief: They will love each other ! Wife, sisters, Brother Eost,* to all greeting, to each one after his kind. I thank the girls for their little letters. They must often write to me, even though I seem dead. There is inward action, however, and thus a letter awakens dormant powers ; they shall have dramas, songs, all sorts of things. Adieu my new ones— yet send Jung a ' Clavigo.' 188.— To P. Jacobi. 21 August, [1774.J After a frugal supper in my room, I write to you on the table-cloth, with- my glass of wine before me ; after a barren afternoon, your letter, and a hundred ideas in circulation. University is university, Bohlheim, Berlin, or Paris, where the well-filled gentlemen sit, picking their teeth, and not understanding why no cook can prepare anything to please them. You have treated them roughly,, and yet itj did you credit; and it is somewhat over- taxing an honest youth for the protection of the maiden who gave him all she had — for the vigorous youngster pleasure enough in the shape of fresh, warm young life. I have gone about with the story the whole week, as if it * The name adopted by Johann J. W. Heinse (b. 1746), the poft And misoellaneoiis writer, who \va.9 ^.t this time a private tutor at Hal- biiiitadt. He edited the Iris. See Urliohs, p. 63. t lie refers to Jacobi's Epistel on die Academisten. 2 196 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. were a vengeance on me, and tliat it lias bo befallen is excellent. As I thus resigned tlie honourable judgment, I set in my place a good fellow who would have written before the public elementarily, practically, prophetically, for the improvement of the heart, understanding and wit ; would have given himself up to it with body and soul, and for all thanks the gentlemen would have looked to the hope — hope in the fool whom, as is well known, our Lord God Himself cannot make thankful for anything. See, dear friend, what is the beginning and end of all writing, the reproduction of the world around me, through the inner world in which everything is held, bound up, remade, kneaded, and in peculiar form and manner again set forth ; which remains eternally secret, God be thanked, and neither will I reveal it to gapers and chatterers. I wish I could sit opposite to you,' and one other besides, I have such thousands of things in my heart. Meanwhile piecemeal writing is something. The ' Memoires of Beau- marchais,'* de cet aventurier francais, have pleased me, have awakened in me the romantic vigour of youth, amalgamated his character, his action, with characters and actions in myself, and so my ' Clavigo ' was made ; that is good-luck, for I have liad delight in it, and what is more, I challenge the most critical knife to separate the simply translated pas- sages from the whole without cutting it to pieces, without causing deadly injury, I do not say only to the story, but to the structure, the vital organization of the piece ! Then — why do I talk of my children, if they live, they will crawl on beneath this wide Heaven. But whoever made children for the public, without hearing que ce cul est tire en partie du Huron de Mr. de Voltaire. But I pray you leave to me those men who are stamped before my eyes, and who, like Mercury and Iris, can as little bear fruit as the bear on the writings of the Gottschedian oevum.'\ I often dwell with Jappach's spirit, J and I beg you to keep * The groundwork of Goethe's Clavigo. t This joke seems to refer to the Bear which was the trade-sign of the Breitkopf firm at Leipsio. See ngte, p. 52. t Everard Jabach was a rich, well-born, and cultivated merchant of Cologne in the 17th century. His house, with its old furniture, &o. was shown to strangers, and Goethe's visit to it with the Jacobis and Heinse was an occasion of some emotion. See Autobiog., bk. xiv. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 197 it hidden from me if the good crow woU-meaningly steals the holy treasure of his god pour le mettre aux pieds de Son Altesse. Werthes* is a very good youth, and the manner in ■which he makes himself at home amongst the Chinese and Sofas is so human. I could wish that Eost f would regale me with a little story, of which the matter was voluptuous without heing ohscene, and its expression free from Wie- landish mythology, i.e.* without Hippiases and Danaes, of which I am very tired, and without allusion to the old writers. If Eost would do that I should be very glad, yet tell him, if he, on the other hand, should fancy something in my poetic style and powers, he shall gladly see it from me. You will soon receive some little things from me, as I find them ; they are lying ahout here, there, and every- where. Jung is not the first who is douhtful if the piece is hy me. Ever onwards. I hope some fine day to do something more, and again with as little regard to whether it may damage my fame or help it forward, &c. The 28th is my hirthday, grant it a rememhrance. I am reading once more your ' Epistle to the Aoademists,' and open my little letter once more to say to you : That grand indeed is independent feeling, but that the corre- sponding feeling of effective power is eternally true, and BO thank your good spirit, and indeed our spirits, they are so much alike. Send me Eost's letter to Werthes about Jappach's garden. ^ G. 189. — To Charlotte Kestnbr. [27 Aug. 1774.] I BEGAN a letter to you yesterday,^ 26th; now here I sit in Langen, between Frankfort and Darmstadt, expect- ing Merck, whom I have appointed to meet here, and I have a mind to write to you. Two years ago to-day, I was sitting with you almost the whole day, we were » An obscure poet of Wieland's Bo'..ooI. t See p. lO.i. X Seo next letter. 198 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. slicing beans till midnigM, and the 28tli began festively with tea and friendly faces. Lotte ! and yon assure me with all the candour and cheerfulness of your disposi- tion, which were ever so dear to me in you, that you still love me, for look, it would be sad indeed if the course of time should gain the ascendancy over even us. I will send you as soon as possible a prayer-book, treasury of devotion, or whatever you call it, in order to strengthen, you morning and evening in the good memories of friend- ship and love. To-morrow * certainly you will think of me. To-morrow I shall be with you, and the dear; Mme. Meyer has promised to send her little spirit to fetch me away. It is a splendid morning, the first long-wished- for rain after a drought of four weeks, whiph refreshes me like the country, and would that I were really enjoyiug it in the country. The day before yesterday Gotter f was here, he goes with two sisters to Lyons to visit a sister there ; he is as good as ever, and very ill, but cheerful. Our old life was recapitulated, he heartily greeted your portrait, I chatted with him about all sorts of things, &c., and so he went away again. I am well off in this, that when my friends have journeyed halfway, they must come to me and pay toll in passing. j 190. — To Chaei-OTte Kestner. [26 and 31 August, 1774.] "Who has this moment gone out of my room ? Lotte, dear Lotte, you can't guess. You will guess a suc- cession of known and unknown people sooner than Frau^. Katrine Lisbet, my old stocking-washer at Wetzlar, the"" gossip whom you know, who loves you, like everybody who has been about you all your life ; she can no longer support herself in Wetzlar, and my mother hopes to find employment for her. I brought her up here with me to my room, she saw your silhouette and cried : " Ah, the dear-heart, Lottchen ! " with all her toothlessness full of * The 28th August was Kcetner's bii'thdny as will as Goethe's. Seu abiiDo, p. 117. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 199 genuine expression. In sheer delight she kissed my coat and hand as a welcome, and told me how naughty you were, and how you were a good child afterwards, and did not tell tales, how she had been beaten on your account, because she took you to Lieut. Meyer's, who was in love with your mother, and wanted to see you and make you a present, which, however, she did not allow, &c., &c., everything, everything. You can fancy how precious the woman was to me, and that I shall look after her. If the bones of the saints and lifeless rags which have touched the bodies of saints deserve adoration and keeping and care, •why not the human creature who used to touch you, who carried you in her arms as a child, who led you by the hand, that creature whom, perhaps, you have often begged for things ? "Vou, Lotte, begged — and that creature shall beg of me ! Angels from Heaven ! Dear Lotte, one thing more. This made me laugh. How you have often vexed her with your fisticuffs, such as you make even now. She imitated you, and it was as if your spirit hovered over me ; and about Caroline, Lenchen and all, what I have seen and have not seen, and the end of the end was still Lotte, and Lotte, and Lotte, and Lotte and Lotte, and without Lutte, naught and want, and sorrow and death. Adieu, Lotte, not another word to-day, 26 Aug. 31 Aug. Here belongs, my dear, the enclosed leaflet, which. I wrote in Langen last Saturday before Merck came. We spent a pleasant day ; the Sunday was unfortunately very hot. But in the night I dreamt of you ; how I had come again to you, and you had given m.e a hearty "Ess. Ever since I have been away from you, neither waking nor dreaming have I seen you so distinctly be- fore me. Of the enclosed silhouettes one is for you, one for the Meyers, one for Zimmermann. Kestner ought to write.to me again. Adieu, Lotte ; I thank you that you will perhaps road what I am writing and having printed, yet I love you, too. Kiss the boy for me, and if I can come, without much talking and writing, I shall stand again before you, as I once vanished from before you, therefore you are not to be frightened, nor to call me " a horrid face." 200 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. Greet the Meyers. I should like to see you with the boy on j-our arm. Adieu. Adieu.* 191.— To Hans Bcjff. 31 Aug. I774.t You have lost a dear brother, and I one of my dear boys. Be doubly and trebly good, that Papa and I may be comforted by you for this loss. Greet all for me. Write oftener to me what passes. Do you not believe then that all little details about you interest me ? I have, indeed, been gone a long time, but am ever with you. Adieu ; forward the letter to Lotte for me as soon as possible. G. 192. — To Feitz Jacobi. 31 Aug. • I AM very glad to see you out in the open world, partly on account of the present enjoyment of renovated body and mind, partly in hope of the favourable omen that yoti have bravely torn yourself away from the paper castle of speculation and literary autocracy. For that robs a man of all joy in himself. For he is led about by one and the other, here in a garden-plot, there in a nursery-grbund, in a maze, and in mazelets, and each one values him by his handiwork, and at last he looks in his hands, which God had filled with strength and skill of all kinds, and he is angry at the gaping and sponging on others' creative-joy, and he returns to his hpritage, sows, plants, waters, and enjoys himself and his own within heartily effective limits. Therefore may you be blessed where you stand and lie on God's earth, and so proceed that strong love may germinate in you out of her simplicity, whence mighty action blossoms forth. Farewell. * The lines given above, p. 151, were also enclosed in tbis letter ■with the silhouette, which they were written to accompany. The portrait gives an exceedingly fine profile of Goethe at the age of twenty-five. It is reproduced : K. p. 184; and in a reduced form in Diin-tzer's Life, p. 187. t Both this and the preceding letter are given as dated by A. Kestner, though it seems unlikely that they were written on the same occasion. 1774.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 201 Here is an ode for -wMoh only the wanderer in distress finds out melody and meaning. In exchange, I hope, for the continued diary of your travels, which Eost can go on with occasionally, so as to hring you both quite distinctly before me. Here are two Lav. for your brother and Bost, also one for Jung, G. 193. — To Johanna Fahlmee, Frankfort. [End of August, 1774:.] I MUST first look for the second volume.* Thanks especially for your kind sympathy in the high opinion I am adopting of the People.f Perhaps meantime a new Messiah will be born in the stable. You have made me laugh heartily ! Here is the French with the German. f To-day or to-morrow there will be some more ' Clavigos.' G. 194. — To Feau von Laeoche. 15 Sept. I SAW Max yesterday at the play ; she is not pleased with me. Good God ! indeed I myself am not. She has a headache. Let me ask you to give her your advice, and when you write to advise exercise. The poor child sticks at home so. You asked after Lenz ? I am sorry for Wieland that he is irritated against him, and irritated in a way that shows bad taste, whilst I am quiet. He is an unhappy man ; between you and me, I have begged my friends not to .mention his name to me any more. Lenz will not be reconciled to him, and Lenz is a dangerous enemy for him, * Of a tale entitled : The Spiritual Don Quixote ; or, G. Wild- gooee's Travels, by J. G. Gellius. See Urliohs, p. 57. The original of it was probably The Spiritual Quixote, by Bev. Eiohard Graves (London, 1773), a satire on illiterate and itinerant Methodist preachers. t i.e. The Jews; he refers to the composition of The Wandering Jew. — v. # t Beaumarchais' Memoire, on which Clavigo was founded, was translated by Jacobi in the D. Merkur. — U. 202 EARLY A'Ni) MISCELLANEOUS [1774. he lias more genius than Wieland, although less tone and influence, and still Yes, dear Mama, I must leave the world as it is — and like ISaint Sebastian, bound to my tree, the arrows in my sinews, laud and praise God. Hallelujah — Amen. G. 195. — To Teau von Laroche. 19(h Sept. 1774. ' Early on Thursday a copy of ' Werther ' goes to you. When you and yours have read it, send it on to Fritz ; I have only three copies, and so must let these circulate, Herr v. Groschlag * is here ; I introduced myself to him, and he received me in a very friendly way, presented me to his wife, spoke freely with me on many subjects, much of yoii, enjoined me to remember him to you, and repeatedly invited me to Dieburg, whither I accordingly think of going on some fine autumn day. And so again I have become by so much more your debtor, if a son would not be as much in debt by his mere sonship. That he can repay with nothing but his whole existence. You have now got your dear Max again ; for a while you will refresh her heart with all motherly love ! Good- bye, . and tell me exactly what H. v. Hohenfeld says of ' Werther,' and also your feelings about the second volume. G. 196.t — To Charlotte Kestxee. LoTTE, how dear the little book is to me you may feel in reading it, and this copy also is as precious to me as if it were the only one in the world. You are to have \t. I have kissed it a hundred times ; have locked it up out of the way that no one should touch it. Oh Lotte ! — And I beg you to let no one, except the Meyers, see it yet ; it comes' before the public only at the Leipsic Fair. I * See above, p. 178. Herr von Groschlag had a beautiful villa at Dieburg in the Obenwald. t Written to accompany a copy of Werther, but sent later with the next letter. 1774.] LETTEItS OF J. W. GOETHE. 203 ■wisli each of you to read it alone ; you alone, Kestner alone, and each, to write me a word or two. Lotte, adieu Lotte. 197.— To Kestner. 23 Sept. 1774. You have the book already ; sp yon will understand the accompanying little note. I forgot to enclose it in the hurlyburly in which I am now Uving. The fair blusters and shrieks, ray friends are here, and the past and the future float one into the other strangely. What will become of me ? Oh, you already made people, how much better off you are ! Is Mme. Meyer back again? I beg you not to let the book go farther ; and hold the living dear, and honour the dead. Now you will understand the dark passages of preceding letters. 198. — To Johanna Fahlmer. [End of September, 1774.] A' WORD as a sign that I am alive. What does Fritz write ? Has he got ' Werther ' ? I do not like to write to him, or send him anything, so as not to disturb him if he has it. Here is something, too, which will make you laugh, in that dress.* Adieu — a word or two in answer. G. 199.t — To THE Kestners. [Oct. 1774.] I MOST write to you at once, ' my dear ones — my angry ones — that it may come from the heart. It is done, it is published, forgive me if you can. I will hear nothing, I praj- you, I will hear nothing from you * According to Uriiolis, a copy of Neueroffnetes moraliseh-politisclies Puppenspid in a fancy binding. t Writtin ill reply to a letter from Kestner, remonstratiiis on the portraiturti of himself and Lis wife in Werther. He was especially 204 EAKLT AND MISCELLAKE0U3 [1774 Tintil the issue shall have proved that your apprehensions were overstrained, until even in the hook itself you shall have felt more clearly in your hearts the innocent mixture of truth and falsehood. You, dear Kestner, an advocate full of kindness, have exhausted everything, have cut away everything, which I might have said in my defence ; but I know not, — ^my heart has still more to say, although it cannot express itself. I am silent, only I must hold out to you the glad presentiment-^it pleases me to fancy and hope that eternal fate has allowed me to do this in order to bind us more firmly to one another. Yes, my best ones, I, who am so bound to you through love, must yet be for you and your children a defaulter for the evil hours which my — call it what you like — has brought upon you. Stay, I pray you, stay ! And as in your last letter I perfectly recognize you Kestner, perfectly recognize you Lotte, so I beg you wait ! wait through the whole affair, come what will God in Heaven, people say of Thee, Thou directest everything for the best. And, my dear ones, if displeasure overcomes you, think, only think that your old Goethe ever more and more, and now more than ever, is yours. 200. — To Feau vos La'!0che. 21 October, 1774. How precious to me is your last heartfelt [letter], how precious all that you can be to me. Hitherto I have lain stupified, absorbed in myself, and have been doubting in my soul again and again whether strength lay in me -to bear all that brazen Fate has destined for me and mine in the future ; whether I should find a rock whereon to build a fortress whither, in the last necessity, I could fly with my possessions. Dear Mama, I do not grudge you the hours of melancholy and sorrow ; it is a relief, like the outpourings in prayer ; but then, when you rise up from it, annoyed by the " miserable creature of an Albert," wlio occupies the same position as be himself diJ towards the rtal Charlotte. See K,, No. 106. 1774.] LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 205 allow yoTir heart a free outlook over all the happiness tlisit is ready fur you in what yon have left, and which perhaps is still potent over the unhappy angel. Parewell, and remember, in joy and sorrow, G. 201. — To Johanna Fahlmee. [Middle of October, 1774.] I DO not like to come to you, dear Aunt, I am in- tolerant and intolerable. Herewith is the ' Spiritual Don Quixote.' * What do you hear of Fritz ? I wonder when is he coming? Greet him heartily. I have something else good in all sorts of ways, but I am sitting over it again like a dragon. Fare ye right well. G. 202. — To Peofessoe Bockmann,! Caelseuhe. [15 Nov. 1774.] I AM returning from the ice, after having just got through a party and through a supper at table, at which you were present too. I am very tired; I have been some distance, returned with my people, discovered new Straits, etc. I have been on the ice, etc. 14th Nov. 1774. This is only written to you in haste, just as I might be saying it to you. Ten o'clock at night again. More to- morrow. On St. Martin's Eve — if (I kept the sheet last night for a letter, and will therefore continue it now) — on St. Martin's Eve we had the first ice, and from the Sunday to the Monday night it froze so hard that a small pond, which is very shallow, in fronj of the town, bore. Two [friends] discovered it next morning, told me of it, and at mid-day I forthwith went out, took possession of it, had the snow cleared away, the obstructing reeds cut down, * See Letter 193, and note . . J i.e. Nov. 10th. t Klopstock had visited Frankfort a month before, and Eirclienralh Bockmann had been sent thither from the Markarraf of Badep to invite him to Carlsmhe, and had so b.ooxe intimatj with Goethe. See Duntzor, Lelien, p. 221. 206 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS- [1774. broke through. Tiiibeaten ways, wliereTipon the others fol- lowed me with shovels and brooms, and I ifiy self lent a hand to no small extent ; and so, in a few hours, we had circum- scribed and traversed the pond. And what pain it gave us when unfriendly night forced us to leave it. The moon would not come out from behind the snow-clouds, and to- day it is all thawing away. All this I have to announce at once in satisfaction of my debt, and I hope for the same from you. Have you had my skates made ? I have not been able to find any one to whom I would hSive en- trusted the making. Please send me the ' Satyros.'* And keep me in loving remembrance. Goethe. 203. — To Johanna Faiilmkr. [15 Nov. 1774.] Yesterday, Auntie, I was on the ice, which is now continuously vanishing, from one o'clock till six. I went some distance, and came back with my friends. I am still constantly absorbed in all kinds of drawing, and have, besides, a heap of insignificant matters before me. The days are short, and art is long. Herewith goes a portfoli6 with all kinds of work, so that after some fashion I am coming to you. Keep it a few days, and then send it back to me. Adieu. The enclosed for Fritz.f 204.— To Frau von Lakociie. 20 Nov. 1774. I answer you immediately, dear Mama. I have spoken to your Max at the play, and her husband too ; he had all his friendliness packed together between his pointed nose and his pointed chin. There may come a time when 1 shall again enter the house, yet still I say the sea demands bodies, and I leave it alone. Lavater will pay the china factory, and at a quieter time we will settle ; to-day my heart is beating. * Goethe's drama, Satyros Oder dervergBtleiie WaWleufel. t viz. His first contributions to the ' Iris,' Kleine Blumen. Mayfett, Ver neue Amadis. They appeared iu January. — F. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 207 This afternoon I shall, for the first time, take the oil paint-brash in my hand ! With what humility, reverence, and hope, I cannot express. The fate of my life hangs very much on the moment ; it is a gloomy day ! We shall see each other again in the sunshine. Here is a short recipe for the worthy Baron v. Hohen- feld's Greek study : " If you have a Homer, good ; if you have not, buy yourself Ernesti's, for Clark's verbal transla- tion* is given with it ; then procure Schaufelberg's ' Clavis Homerica ' and if, together with these, you have a pack of white cards, then begin to read the ' Iliad.' Do not trouble about accent, but read as the melqdy of the hexS,meter flows on, and as it sounds beautiful to your soul, if you understand it, all is done ; but if you do not understand, look at the translation, read the translation and the original, and the original and the translation, some twenty or thirty verses, until a light shines to you over the con- struction, which, in Homer, is the simplest picture-making. Then seize your 'Clavis,' where you will find line for line analysed ; the present tense and the nominative write imme- diately on the cards, put them in your note-book, and then learn at home, and out abroad, as one whose heart rested entirely on Qod would pray, and so on, one set of thirty verses after another, and, having worked so through two or three books, I promise you you will stand gay and free before your Homer, and will understand him without translation, Sohaufelberg, and cards. Probatum est." Seri- ously, dear Mama, why is it thus and thus, and why, especially, must there be cards ? Don't be inquisitive, cries the doctor ! Why must it just be muslin in which the fowl is stufEed ? Tell the most worthy scholar for his encour- agement that Homer is the easiest author, but one that one must learn to understand from one's self. Eemember me to the Herr Geheimrath — I cannot come — and it is better for you have Fritz "f alone. Gladly, very gladly, would I speak to Herr v. Hohen- ffild, and in your house, and because I wish it it will no doubt come to pass. Great Lulu,| little Trosson,§ and Cordel. * Cf. Autdbiog., xii. (trans, vol. i., p. 408). t Jncobi. X The second daughter. § See letter 168. 208 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. Klopstock is a noMe, great man, on whom the peace of God rests I G. 205. — To Kestnee. 21 Nov. 1774. There, I have your letter, Kestner! at .a strange desk, in a painter's studio, for yesterday I hegan to paint in oils. I have your letter, and must return thanks to you ! Thanks, dear friend, you are always good ! Oh, that I could fall on your neclr, throve myself at Lotte's feet one, one minute, and all, all should be blotted out, explained, which I could never make clear through books and paper ! Oh, ye unbelievers ! would I cry, ye of little faith ! Could you feel the thousandth part of what ' "Werther ' is to a thousand hearts, you would not reckon the cost w-hich-it has been to you. Now read this note, and send it me sacredly back, as you have it here. You send me Hennin'g's letter; he does not accuse, he excuses me.* Dear brother Kestner, if you will wait you will be helped. I would not for my own life's sake recall ' Werther,' and believe me, believe in me, your anxieties, your gravamina, will vanish like spectres of the night if you have patience, and then — ^within a year, I promise you in the most loving, truest, and most fervent manner, to sweep away, as a pure north wind does fog and vapour, atight of suspicion, mis- interpretation, &c., which may still remain amidst the gossiping public, although they are a herd of swine. Werther must — must be ! You feel not him, you feel only me and you, and what " is plastered on " as you call it, and, in spite of you and others, interwoven. If I continiie living it is you whom I shall thank — so you are not Albert— and so Give Lotte a warm grasp of the hand from me, and tell her : To know that your name is uttered with reverence by a thousand sacred lips is surely an equivalent for anxieties which would hardly, apart from everything else, * Kestner's friend Von Hennings had written from Berlin, condoling with him on tlie unhappy circumstances which he thought were, revealed in Werther. Kestner's reply is given in full in G, und W., p. 224. 1774.] LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 2t)9 vex one long in every-day life, where one is exposed to every gossiping woman. If you are good, and do not worry me, I will send you letters, cries, sighs after ' Werther,' and, if you have faith, believe that all will he well, and that gossip is nothing, and lay to heart your philosopher's letter, which I have kissed. thou ! hast thou not felt how the man embraces thee, comforts thee — and in thine, in Lotte's worth finds consolation against the misery which terrifies you even in the fiction? Lotte, farewell. You, Kestner — love me — and do not worry me. G. Show this letter to no man ! [it is] between you two ! Let no one else see it ! Adieu, you dear ones. Kestner, kiss your wife and my godson for me. And remember my promise. I alone can devise means to put you completely out of reach of all gossip beyond the breath of suspicion. I have it in my power, but it is as yet too soon. Greet your Hennings very heartily from me. A girl said to me yesterday, I did not think that Lotte was such a pretty name! It has a sound quite peculiar to itself in ' Werther.' Another wrote lately : I beg you, for God's sake, not to call me Lotte any more ! Lottchen, or Lolo — whatever you Hke— only not Lotte, until I am worthier of the name than I now am. magic power of love and friendship ! Zimmermann's note shortly. It is cold, I cannot go np to look for it. To-day the ice bears. Dear ones, adieu. 206.— To J. G. Jacobi.* Frankfort, 1 Dec, 1774. My dear Canonicus, To-day I received the ' Iris ' from Fritz ; a few glances which I cast over it awaken in me the feeling • He was Canon of Halberstadt. 210 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. of past tinles, and, at the same time, tlie memory of a few songs -which came to me. I propose to myself to send them to you, and as I have come to-day, after dinner, to the dear Aunt's, who finds the idea good and what I have repeated to her suitable to the tone of your coUeo- tion, I straightway devote myself to you, and write down from memory what you receive herewith. If you can use it, put different initials heneath, telling nobody anything about it, and the ladies and gentlemen will have something ■ to guess. Farewell. Do not forget the pleasant hours that brought * us in the circuit from Diisseldorf to Cologne. We expect Fritz towards the end of the j-ear. You, too, might as well try some day what being stranded in a free city is like. Aunt greets you. ' Goethe. Punctuate the ballads as will best suit the reader. 207. — To Salzmann. Frankfort, 5 December, 1774. It is again time that you should once in a way hear something direct from me ; that I should tell you every- thing is going on in its old way with me. You will somehow have heard and seen that I have not been quite idle, and wiU, I hope hear and see still more before long. You again have a fellow-countryman of mine with you. "What is he likely to do? I wager that you are a good deal better pleased with him than with the brother. I should also much like to hear from you how Lenz gets on. And now the question is whether your moral disserta- tions* should be printed for Easter ? I find three amoagst my papers : on Emotions, Inclinations and Passions ; on Virtue and Vice ; and on Eeligion. If you would first like to have them back for revision, say so, and I will send you them by the mail-coach. If you have anything else of the same kind, add it thereto, and it shall go straight to Leipsic. Tell me at the same time what conditions yon wish made, and forthwith the little book will be already , * Comp. Letter 97. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 211 as good as finished and bound. Write to me as soon as possible, and believe that it would be no sin to write to me oftener than you have hitherto done, in order to recall me from my other enthusiasms, back to the happy regions where we spent so many pleasant hours. Hold me dear, and continue to take an interest in me and mine, and believe that my thoughts return very warmly to your yellow room, to the Fire-side * and the 'SiU: Goethe. 208.t— To Hans Buff. [? December, 1774.] Thauk you, dear Hans, very much for your letter. Go on so, I beg you. Here are four copies of Iris ; be so good as to give them to the four ladies who are named here on the little note. You still have, if I am not mistaken, some money in keeping for . me. I beg you .to accept it as a Christmas gift, a:pd. to get your brothers and sisters something with it also. Greet Papa and ■ your sisters and MUe. Brand. Will none of them take after Lotte ? G. 209. — To Heneiette von Knebel, J Ausbach. [From Captain von Kneble and Goethe.] Mainz, 13 December, 1774. Mt dearest Henriette, I had written to you yesterday from Frankfort ; our friend Goethe came, and I burnt the half-finished letter. • See note *, p. 154. t A. Kestner assigns this letter to the year 1773, but the reference to the Iris shows it to have been after his reconciliation with Jacobi. His former opinion about the journal, which did not actually appear till 1774, may be gathered from Letter 129. X Sister of Captain Carl Ludwig von Knebel (b. 1744'), who was now instructor to the younger Prince, Constantino, of Weimar. He was 1 oeompanyiug the Princes to Paris, and took the opportunity of intro- diiciuji Goethe to them at Mainz. Von Knebel was intimate with some of the best German writers, and was himself the author of translations of Lucretius and Propertius. See Autdbiog., bk. xv. p 2 212 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. "What shall I say to you my good child ? It is all too imich to tell you. I remained yesterday alone in Frankfort to enjoy the best of allTnen. To-day I have travelled hither with him, where we have met our Princes again, and this evening we are going to the play. I have crossed the Ehine this mid-day for the first time. To-morrow we go away from here again, and straight on. There, your brother will not go on now, and perhaps indeed cannot, for he is in the state of excitement which you must know very well, since I know it who have been with him a day and a half. And yet I want the letter to be finished and sealed, otherwise it will share the fate of one which was burnt yesterday evening, and I maintain that though an author should leave many sheets unfinished, or, if they are finished, should bum them, yet a brother to his sister, on the contrary, may send off and despatch the most insignificant octavo sheet. Fox XhaYfi.i sister, and there- fore know what you can be to your brothOTT^TSjldr-se-fiare- well ; the letter shall go off now, if only to assure you that your brother is very well in old Mainz and loves you very much. Now it seems laughable, perhaps, that I should write that for him. But not so ; for a man who is in good condition and a genuine lover is not a good story writer. I am hardly so either, as you may see by my hand and courtliness ; but no matter ; I hope that you may have as beautiful an evening whilst reading this, as I whilst writing it, and so I do not ask whether my faithful fist may perhaps seem a little too rough. I pray you make up to your brother, for what he has done for me. Goethe. PosTSCRiPTUM. — Tour brother could not read the foregoing right, so it occurs to me that perhaps you also will not be able to read it, and so please suppose I had spoken it some- what too gently in the court tone, and that you had therefore not understood me. I cannot add a word more, except thatyou will see from the foregoing that the author of the ' Sorrows of the Young Werther ' is the most loveable fellow in the world, and in 1774] LETTERS OF J. 'W. GOETHE. 213 this way I am very fortunate. He was oUiged to accom- pany us from Frankfort here to Mainz. The day after to- morrow, I hope to go straight on to Carlsruhe. Write to me ther^ whether the hundred thalers have been sent to Weimar. This is now my only anxiety. I hope that this will have heen done for me, for the contrary would be inexcusable indeed. Farewell, dearest Henrietta. Greet our beloved parents, our brothers. Enclose your letter to Carlsruhe under the address : To Herr Legationsrath Klopstock, Carlsruhe, — and inside the envelope, please, the present letter to be de- livered on my arrival. Adieu, dearest child ! I must go, and can remain only in thought almost always with you. Tour Carl. Ew. Gnaden must not be annoyed at the form of the present writing, it is all meant in very good part. Goethe. 210. — To Feau von Laeoche. [22 Deo. 1774.] If I could but give you, dear Mama, something very good for your kind letters. What I have I wiUingly give. I have not seen the Dean for some time. I have been at Mainz ! I travelled thither after Wieland's Prince,* who is an excellent man. From there I wrote to Wieland, 80 it occurred to me to do, and I have had an answer, too, such as I foresaw. It is a confounded thing, that I am beginning to have misunderstandings with nobody. There is a misunderstanding between Servieref and the little one ; nothing but misunderstanding, and so a thing goes on like a fallen stitch in a stocking, which in the beginning could be taken up with a needle. Next concert evening I will take the little one ; to-day I was at the old aunt's (the very Serviere), who is very kind. So goes the world, and I am excellent at smoothing such affairs. If I * Karl August, the Crown Prince of Saxe-Weimar, who assumed the government in September the next year. t This lady is briefly mentioned in the Autdbiog., under the name of Serviferes, as a member of the Brentano circle at Frankfort. See bk. xiii. (trans, i. 510). 214 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774 can be any suppoit to Herr. v.. Hohenfeld* in the world it will be a great pleasure to me ; I wish him happiness in his Greek. One day he wUl be thankful for the trouble he has given himself. To-day I received back a copy of ' Werther,' I had lent about, whidh had passed on from one to another, and lo ! on the blank page in front is written, " Tais-toi, Jean Jacques, ils ne te oomprendront point ! " It had the most peculiar effect on me, because this passage in Emile has always been very remarkable to me. My Klettenberg is dead,t before I had a suspicion that she was dangerously ill. Dead and buried in my absence, who was sb dear, so much to me ! Mama that stings the fellows, and teaches them to hold their heads straight — as for me-^yet a little longer will I tarry. Only come, my chair awaits you, that is evidence between me and you that we will have good cheer. You have now probably received the Almanac for Max and also sent it back to her. Eeich's letter is good. One carolin,| for the printed sheet he could well give as a bookseller. I do not care to think of what one gets for one's things, and yet perhaps the book- sellers are not to blame. My authorship has not yet made my soup rich, and will not, and also is not intended to do so. Once on a time, when a great public was occu- pied with Berlichingen, and I gained so much praise and satisfaction from all sides, I found myself obliged to borrow money, to pay for the paper on which I had had it printed.§ — I am glad that Lulu is happily through the dangerous pass, I knew of it from Max, and was rather anxious. The political newspaper of this place is sometimes good, but throughout neither for the head nor the mind of a man like Herr v. Hoh[enfeld.] Adieu, Mama : at day- break after the longest night, 1774. G. * See p. 146, note %■ f She died on the 13th, the day he went to Mainz. X A gold coin equivalent to about twenty shilliugs sterling. § See above, p. 141, note. 1774.] LETTERS OF J. \V. GOETHE. 215 211.— To H. C. BoiE. Frankfort, 28 Dee, 1774. (A-GAIN a word, my dear Boie, -which I have so long owed you, and hearty thanks for the things sent. Schon- horn writes from Algiers, greets you, and says that you will send me a few things for him. ]?lease do so at once, and also a Gel. Bepvhl* for him ; the poor fellow has not read it yet. I will put evcfrything together for him, and send them to Marseilles. He will then receive them just about the spring. Keep our frugal evening in remem- brance, and send me the Niobe in the meantime in part payment ; very carefully packed, please. You cannot think how much I am in want again of some such a sight. You shall have a quite recently-finished medallion of my nose, which is very successful. That is indeed lead for gold, but to my lead I add a large quantity of goodwill. You will receive the promised poems, too, directly. ITahn is a very dear man. I am drawing more than I do anything else, and I am also versifying a good deal. But I am getting everything ready to begin, with the entrance of the sun into the Earn, a new production, which ought to have your own tone. There is skating again ; adieu, ye Muses ! or rather, out with me onto the ice, whither ye must follow Klopstock. Good-bye, dear fellow, Eemember me kindly. 212. — To Feau von Laeoche. Heee is a piece of my ill-manners, dear Mama, I am furious, perplexed; and therefore get hold of only few ideas. I have spoken to dear Max at the play, I have again seen the eyes, I know not what is in the eyes. Send the letter to Zich [?] however. How long must I sfill remain your de'btor for money ; for all debts — other debts I would not willingly discharge. G. • Klopstock'a Bepuhlic of Learning. 216 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1774. 213.— To Hu:eonymus Petee Schlossek.* 26 Doe. 1771. Thank you, dear Brother, for the Poematia,^ the Lepores of the same have pleased me more than ever, and my father, although he knew yonr strength in Latin poetry, was extremely surprised at your strength in erotic works. Herewith I send you the petition for Amstein, which I have just dictated on a fasting stomach ; be so good as write your remarks and corrections hy the side of it, remind me of anything I have possibly forgotten, for giddiness ruffles my pate early in the morning. But I should like to have it back again after dinner. Tou are, indeed, so indulgent. I know how obliging you are. Therefore, in return, may the Deus Ludius banish the two black aces from your hands all this evening. Adieu. Si quid novi, inform me of it. Everybody pities poor Deinet, that you have so chained him to your poetic triumphal chariot, and that he must now, nolens volens, trot after it to all eternity. G. - 214. — To Gael Ludwig ton Ksebel.J Frankfort, 28 December, 1774. I MUST just begin, dear Knebel, I must tap you, otherwise I suppose I shall learn nothing of all that I. should so much like to know: How you have aU been hitherto? What effect the new men have on you? I should like to have my share in everything as far as I am allowed to know. To begin, therefore, about myself. I * The elder brother ot Goethe's brother-in-law, Johann Georg Sohlosser. See Autobiog., bk. xii. This letter is not included in Hirzel's collection, having been published since by Frese in Frits ScMosser's Nachlass, with the letters to Frau von Laroche and others. It is remarkable, considering Goethe's intimacy' with the two brothers, that this is the only early letter known to either. Frese gives a fac- simile of a clever pencil portrait of H. P. Schlosser by Goolhe. t Some Latin veises printed at Frankfort. They included a long Epithalamium on Lis brother's marriage. i See Letter 209. 1774.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 217 felt quite strange, when I stood under the gate of the Three Crowns as day tegan to break, just as if dropped down from the grasp of a bird into a strange world among all the stars and crosses, and wafted about therein with an open heart, and suddenly all vanished. And now I have just received your letter ; pardon me for my unbelief. Thanks ! hearty thanks ! If possible, the Landgravine's obituary verses shall be prepared. I am very glad about your sister. Wieland has written to me, has accepted my greeting exactly as I gave it him. Commend me sincerely to those princes. Does Graf Gorz* feel anything towards me? Write me, please, a few significant words about President Hahn. In comparison with other presidents ! Each one after his kind. Your words about Klopstock are splendid. Hold me dear. Do not let my affairs go out of your hands. It would be of no importance if certain people did not make something out of it. And then please, if possible, sound the Margrave and the President for me about my brother-in-law Schlosser. Even unimportant words give light. Adieu, when shall wo see each other again. G. 215. — To FeAU von VoiGTSf (n£e MoSKR), OsNABEiiCK, ■ Frankfort-on-Maine, 28 Deo. 1774. Madame, We are assuredly very much pleased if in the course of a walk we meet with an echo ; it amuses us, we call, it answers ; should the public then be harder, more unsympathetic than a rock? Shameful is it that the mean reviewers should answer from their holes, in the name of all those to whom an author or an editor has given pleasure. Here, however, madame, accept my individual thanks * Tutor to the Crown Prince of Weimar. t A daughter of Justus Moser of Osnabriiok, whoBe essays she was collecting and editing under the title Patriotisclie Fhantasien. See Autob. (traDB.), i. 518, & ii. 42, and Diintzer, Leben, p. 226. 218 EAELT AND MISOELLAKEOUS [1774. for the Patriotic Tancies of your fatter, which, by your means, have first dome before me and the neighbourhood ■hereabout. I carry them about with me, and whereyer I open them I am thoroughly well-pleased, and hundreds of wishes, hopes, enterprises, are unfolded in my soul. Commend me to your father. Accept this greeting with all the heartiness with which I give it, and do not let yourself be hindered in the publication of your second volume. Madame, your most devoted Goethe. 216. — To Erau von Laroche. [? 28 Deo. 1774.]* What, dear Mama, what is the heart of md,n? Are not real ills enough ? Must it still create out of itself imaginary ones ? But of what do I complain ? Unrest and uncertainty are our lot, and let us bear them with courage, like a brave son who has taken upon himself his father's debts. Our letters have crossed. Here is Keich's t lettei back, my previous letter answers the rest. Only I have not spoken to the l)ean,$ I have not liked to talk with him about Max. Why will she go away ? She said to me yesterday : " It is an idea of Brentano's, you must first say yes to it ; perhaps he will change his . mind again." And then,' Mama, in such cases it is as in illness— in bed, out of bed, and in again, one hopes, and betters one's condition at least for the moment of the change. The letter to Kalokhof § is just as you sent it away — So far, I wrote on the 14th, to-day, the 28th, I send you both letters back ; thanks, many thanks. let me continue to hear something of my neighbour Gorgias. You shall hear something in return in time. Adieu. * This is placed three months earlier by Frese; but it seems to be Bulisequent to that of Dec. 22. t The Leipaio bookseller, who published Wieland's works. j Dumeix, Dean of the collegiate foundation of S. Leonard in Frankfort. He and Merck were chiefly responsible for Maximiliane's niafriage with Brentano, which did not turn out happily, § Attach^ to Herr von Grosohlag. 1775.] LETTERS OF J, W. GOETHE. 219 Greet Herr v. Hohenfeld heartily ; write to me when and what your heart bids. Adieu, Goethe, 217. — To Philip? Erasmus Eeich, Leipsic. Frankfort, 2nd January, 1775. Hochadelgebohrner insonders hochzuehrender Herr, It affords me much pleasure at the very beginning of the new year to iind an opportunity of reminding you of your old friendship for me. Lavater has charged me to transmit to you the accompanying commencement of the manuscript on Physiognomy, about which there is the following arran gement. The translation of the introduction is committed to my care ;* on the other hand, you are yourself to get the fragments, from page 7 onwards, ttans- lated by Herr Huber. At page 17, where a + in pencil is marked, as also at page 21, some additions will probably be sent. Should these however not make their appearance, it is already noted in both places, for the information of the compositor, that these marks have no further significance. If you will kindly advise me of the receipt of these papers, and at the same time give me any hints towards the furthering and completion of this work, I will look after everythiag with the best diligence ; since, in addition to the. fact that the transmission of the manuscript will be chiefly in my hands, I shall thus frequently have the honour of assuring you of the great respect with which 1 sign myself, Eio Hochadelgeb. Very faithful servant, Goethe. * Goethe was to have the introduction translated into French by Gotter. (Lavater's letter to Eeich, 20tU Jan. 1775.)— 0, J. 220 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. 218.* — To Fbau von Laeoche. 3 Jan. 1775. Here, dear Mama, are the Letters f back, which I find excellent ; the 29th, because of its happy tone, in which it puts forwards such serious matter; the 38th, because it gives to the whole of your letters a finish, application, and instruotiveness. My sister has a little girl ; they remain at Emmendingen, where Schlosser directs the Margraviate of Hoohberg. Whilst I was sorting and destroying the letters of the past year, many old new ideas passed through my head. If one has rolled the moral snowball of one's I a year further, it has surely taken up something good somewherp. God avert a thaw. I do not know any such grammar, so I have ordered Eambach's of EsUnger. pf dear Max you know, most likely, more particulars than I. Perhaps I shall see her to-day at the concert. Adieu, remember me to H. V. Hohenfeld. G. 219.— To Hans Buff. 9 January, 1775. Here, dear Hans, is a letter to Lotte. Will you take the money from the ladies, f from each four and a half florins, and send it me when there is an opportunity. Your letters have made me laugh heartily over joy and sorrow. Go on loving me, and greet everybody, G. 220.— To C. L. VON Knebel. Frankfort, 13 January, 1775. Dear Knebel, I BEG you very earnestly for a word from yourself * Between Letter No. 216 and this, Frese prints 4 short undated notes evidently sent by hand when the lady was staying in Frankfort. ■ t Sosalie's Letters, by Frau von Laroohe, appeared consecutively in the Iris. t See Letter 208. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 221 and about my affairs. Where are you? Am I in your kind remembrance ? Addio. I have had a few very good productive days. G. 221.-:-To Teau von Laroche. Frankfort, 18 Jan. 1775. Heee is a letter from Max : we are now, especially I, right happy in life; it is a hard drive. Think of us. I have written to Merck about your Letters, but as yet have had no answer, Fritz has written to you. Adieu. Hold me dear. a 222. — To Heedee. The moment at which I received your letter, dear Brother, was highly significant. I had just been calling vividly to mind the doings and misdoings between us, when, lo ! you enter, and stretch out your hand to me. Now you have mine, and let us begin a new life with one another, for, in truth, I have hitherto continued to live for you, and you for me. Be to me ever henceforward affectionate and good, dear Sister ! * It will do me good to have a share again in your boy and household. Farewell. I shall soon send you something of my doing. Goethe. 223,— To J. H. Meeck. Frankfort, January, 1775. Had I not oeen very busy, I should have been jealous of your drawings. They are very good, and your mind unfolds itself in many ways, most honoured Sir ! I have nothing to send you. For hitherto my work has consisted of life-size portraits and little love-lays. Do you know the Deanf has sent me a hearty good letter. I took * This is, of course, addressed to Herder's wife. t Herder. See note, p. 109. 222 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. you for Christian Lachaeus Telonarcka, but I sco now it is Haman. Again a grand strengthening. . . . 224. — To COTJNTESS AUGTJSTE zu Stolberg.* Frankfort, 2G January, 1775. To the dear Nameless One. My dear , I wiix give you no name, for what are the names Friend, Sister, Beloved, Bride, Wife, or a word which cotaprises a 'complex of all those names, beside the direct feelingt^to the 1 cannot write further, your letter has caught me at a wonderful time. Adieu, though at the firstgnoment !-; — ^" Yet lyreturn— — I feel you can endure it, this disjointed stammejing expression, when the image of the Eternal stirs in us. And what is that but Love ? If He was forced to make man after His ima^e, a race that should' bo like HifQself, what must "we feel when we find brothers, our likeness,, ourselves doubled? And so it shall go, so shall you have this sheet. I wrote the above a week ago, inunediately after the receipt tif your letter.. \Have patience with me, soon you shall have an answer. Here, in the meantime, is my silhouette, I beg for yours, but^ not in n^iniature ; I beg> for -^he large outline taken from nature, v Adi^u, a most hearty adieu. '' Goethe. The letter has again remained unsent ; oh, have patience with me ! Wrjte tome, and I will think of you in my best hours. You ask if I am happy ? Yes, my best one, I am ; and if I am not, at least there dwells in me all the deep emotion of joy and sorrow. Nothing Outside myself dis- turbs, plagues, hinders me. But I am as a little child, God knoWs. Once more, adieu. * The third daughter of Gount Christian ■ Gunther zu Stolberg, find sister of the two Counts Stolberg, with whom Goethe presently became intimate. She was born Jan. 7, 1753, and was therefore at this date just twenty-two years old. The correspondence with Goethe, who ' had never seen her, was commenced by an anonymous letter from her referring to Wertlier, to which the following was a reply. She married Count P. A. Bornstorfl in 1783. 1775.] LBTTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 223 225.— To Frau Jacobi. 6th February, 1775. Fritz is now gone, and you can think what a good thing it was for us, for latterly the matter had become somewhat painful to us, especially to me, and I begged Fritz to go. Already I am somewhat better, although ho has not yet been twenty-four hours gone. So things go with me, for ever topsy-turvy. Continue to like me a little ! 1 wish sometimes, and sometimes I hope, that you and the girls keep a warm heart for me amongst you. v Here is something for the Iris. More soon. ' If Fritz had not gone nothing would have been done. The bell is ringing for dinner. Postscr. And let the boys have a greeting from me. Addio. G. 22G. — To Johanna Fahlmer. [About 10th-12tli February, 1775.] I AM an ass not to have come somewhat later yes- terday. The sealed enclosure is for Eost.* It contains five sheets of an operetta. Forward it immediately, but not with other things — quite alone — ^by the horse-post. Here are also a few sheets of transcript. If you wish to copy it, do not copy more than the first scene for George ; • perhaps the second as well. Greet him ; greet Fritz. To- morrow Jung is coming.'!' Frankfort is the new Jeru- salem, where all people go in and out, and the righteous dwell. 227. — To Countess Auguste zu Stolbekg. Frankfort, 13 Feb. 1775. To the dear Nameless One. If you can picture to yourself, my dear, a Goethe in a laced coat, otherwise from head to foot in tolerably * See note, p. 195. Tlie operetta was Erwin u. Elmire, begun in 1773. t To perform tho operation described in the Autobiography, bk. xvi. 224 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. consistent finery, illuminated by the unmeaning splen- dour of sconces and chandeliers, amidst all kinds of people, kept at the card-table by a pair of beautiful eyes, and, in varying dissipation, driven from company to concert, and from thence to"^ ball, and with all the interest of frivolity paying court to a pretty Blolidine ;* you have the present Carnival-Goethe, who lately stammered forth to you a few gloomy, deep feelings, who cannot write to you, who some- times too forgets you, because in your presence he feels himself quite unbearable. But now there is another, in grey beaver coat, with brown silk necktie and boots, who already detects the spring in the freshening February air, to whom his dear wide world will now soon reopen again, who, ever living, striving, Und working in himself, seeks to express, accord- ing to his power, sometimes the innocent feelings of youth in little poems, the strong spices of life in various dramas, the forms of his friends and his neighbourhood and his beloved household goods with chalk upon "grey paper; asking neither on the right nor left, what of all. that he does will last? because working he ever ascends a step higher, because he will leap at no ideal, but, fighting and playing, will leave his, feelings- to develop themselves to activity. He it is, from whose mind you are never absent, who suddenly in early morning feels a summons to write to you ; whose greatest happiness is to live with the best men of his time. So here, my best friend, is very varied news of my state ; now do the same, and entertain me with yours, so we shall draw nearer together, and believe we see each other. For this I tell you beforehand, that I 'shall often entertain you with many trifles as they dart into my mind. One thing more which makes me happy is the many noble i^ien, who from all ends of my Fatherland, amongst many indeed that are insignificant, insupportable, come into my neighbourhood, to me, sometimes passing on, some- * He refers, of course, to Lili, whose real name was Anna Elizabeth Pohonemaun. He had heen introduced to her family on the previous New Year's Eve. See Autohiog., book xvi., etc., and Diintzer, Leben, p. 229. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 225 times staying. We only know that we are, when, we finci eurselves again in others. Moreover, if it were disclosed to me who and where you are, it would make no difference ; when I think of you. i feel nothing but equality, love, nearness ! And bo remain to me, as I surely remain, through all whirl and hurly- burly, unalterable. 'Tis well indeed! — one hand-kiss^ Farewell. Goethe. 228.— To P. E. Eeich. Frankfort, 14th Feb. 1775. Your last valued letter I duly received through Herr Jonas, and yesterday the proof-sheets also, which 1 will immediately forward. I have already written to Lavater respecting the vignettes. The Judas after Hol- bein is not a vignette, but a large plate, and I confidently believe the Christ is also, although I have not yet seen it ; but of this you shall hear directly. Probably Herr Jonas has written to inform you what precaution we took at once on [receiving] your last. As the Book-Board requires a formal notice, this wiU be prepared by the brother in Biidingen, wherein the citation of the 4th and 5th parts of Gellert's works* will furnish the clearest and simplest proof of the violation of the Imperial ordinance ; wherefore I have advised that there should be demanded of the Board a requisition to the magistrate, throwing upon him the onus of proceeding at least in the first instance against Schiller. As regard? a depot here for Saxon books,')' I have too little insight into the affair to be able to form a sound opinion on the subject ; it would always be a difScult matter to find a bookseller for the purpose, who would be willing to bind himself. What I can do in this matter I will do ■with pleasure. Have the kindness to give me further information and instructions on this point. * Gellert's Moral had been pirated- by Giibhardt, in Bamberg. -O.J, t This refers to Eeich's suggestion to found in Frankfort an estab- lishment for the sale of North German publications. — O. J. VI 226 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. By yesterday's post some further additions to the ninth number of ' Physiognomical Fragments' were sent you, along with an enclosure for Professor Oeser, which I heg ■you will be "good enough to hand to him. Goethe, Dr. 229,— To J. Fahlmer. [Middle February, 1775.] Please forward that immediately, dear Aunt. I am writing at the operetta. As soon as you can send me — or rather send me the second sheet which you have, only for an hour, so that I can have it copied, then you can keep it as long as you like. I wish you a friendly good morning. I am anxiously expecting a word from Merck and Fritz. G. 230. — To Feau von Laeoche. Frfort., 17 Feb. 1775. Good luck to Max,* and soon good luck to the little grandchild, and greet the little mother. You will have told yourself the half-reason why I did not write ; I thought you had something against me, and that was unbearable to me ; besides that, I have been such a Carnival-Goethe, involved in crowds and revels and something more that' I have been unable to do anything. Fritz, who wiU ■ now soon return, must tell you about me ; we were very happy and iutimate together, I hope Max wiU say a little good of me, with the evil she has to say of me., I greet her heartily. I should like to hear something also of my most worthy Grecian. The Privy Counsellor is, I suppose, in Vienna, but will soon re- turn, and remember me also. Good-bye, Mama. Ever yours, ,G. * Who wag now with hei mother expecting her first child. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 227 201.— To G. A. BiJRGEii. Frankfort, 17 Feb. 1775. God bless you, dear Brother, with your wife, and when you dwell on her heart, think of me and feel that I love you. It is difficult to say anything of my perplexi- ties; diligent I certainly have not been lately. The spring air which already breathes so often across the gardens, works again on my heart, and I hope something will be saved again from the slaughter. Be kindly disposed to what comes from me. You are ever with me, even when silent as lately. Tour ' Europa ' and ' Eobber- count ' are much amongst us. Adieu. Goethe. 232.— To J. Fahlmee. [March 1775.] Here, dear Aunt, is something from Fritz. What 'think you of it ? Shall I get back Lenz's Words of Love ?* Wieland is and remains a ■ , see p. 96 of the accom- panying Mercurius. Everlasting enmity be between my seed and their seed. I am quite unbearable, and therefore busy with work that occupies the senses.f I cannot come. God give you something to push forward. With me no good ending comes.| Adieu. When you send something to Fritz, he must havo * Poatus and Arria.'f * According to Urlichs these were Lenz's Briefe iib. Werther'a Moralitat, which he had sent to Jacobi. The remark about Wieland refers to a review in the Jan. No. of the Iris, of some Dramatic Notes bylicnz. See U., p. 67. t Sinnlioher Arbeit: he probably means drawing. j Probably a reference to his relation with Lili. See next Letter. § A romance by Merck. Q 2 228 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. 233.— To J. Fahlmee. [5th March, 1775.] Hearty thanks, dear Aunt, for all. To-morrow or the day after ' Stella ' will certainly come, and I sooner or later. Yesterday I went from you straight home, from there — oho ! — I hope to draw you into our circle ; by Heaven, Aunt, you' cannot feel very much amiss therein — Lili is very dear, and esteems you cordially. .Perhaps to-morrow morning I will carry out my proposal to you of a walk with Mama and me. Adieu. Continue good to me. 234.— To J. Fahlmek. [6th March, 1775.] Here are the first sheets of ' Stella.' If it amuses you, copy it. To Fritz this piece will certainly be ten times more acceptable from your hand. No walk to-day ; but I will come for a little and read the continuation. Yesterday I went round the town with the Eunckels,* Lili met us in a carriage with her mother, I was very stupid and mad. And I played ombre from six till, eight with Loischen and Bies-t Adieu, dear Aunt. G. 235. — To Countess Auguste zu Stolbeeg. I [6th March, 1775.] ' Why should I not write to you ? why lay down the pen again for which I have so often reached 'my hand? How have I ever, ever been thinking of you. And now ! — In the country among very dear people, in expectation. Dear Augusta, God knows I am a poor youth. The 26th February we danced out the close of Carnival. I was there among the first in the room, walked up and down,' * Friends of his sister's. t Loisohen is Antoinette Louise Gerock, and Eies the J. J. Eiese to ■whom Letters 3-5 are addressed. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 229 and thought of you — and then much joy and love sur- rounded me. The next morning, as I came home, I was going to write to you, but I left it and talked much with you. What shall I tell you, since I cannot quite tell you my present position, as you do not know me. Love ! Love ! Eemain kind to me. I wish I could rest on your hand, repose in your eyes. Great God ! what is the heart of man ? Good-night. I thought I should get better whilst writing. In vain, my head is overstrained, Adieu. To-day is the 6th March, I think. You, too, must always writo the date, at such a distance it is a great pleasure. Good-morning, dear. The carpenters who are erecting a building over there have awakened me, and I have no rest in bed. I will write to my sister,. and then another word to you. It is night ; I was going into the garden again, but was obliged to remain standing under the doorway ; it is rain- ing hard. Much have I thought of you ! Thought that I had not yet thanked you for your silhouette. How often have I already thanked you for it ; how is mine and my Brother Lavater's physiognomical faith again confirmed. This pure intellectual forehead, this sweet firmness of the nose, these dear lips, this well-defined chin, the nobility of the whole ! Thank you, my love, thank you. To-day has been a wonderful day, I have drawn — written a scene. Oh, if I did not write dramas now, I should perish ! Soon I will send you one written. Would that I could sit opposite to you and work it out in your heart ! — only take care, love, that it does not leave your hands. I must not let it be printed, for I wish in future, if God will, to bury or to settle my and my children in a little corner ; without flaunting it in the face of the public. I am so sick . of the unearthing and printing of my poor ' \Yerther.' Wherever I enter a room I find the Berlin pack,* etc. ; one blames it, the next praises it, * Nicolai of Berlin had been an adverse critic of Werther, and iind published a parody of It called The Joyi of Toung Werther, in which the hero shoots himself with chicken's blood only, and afterw.ad3 marries Charlotte. 230 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. a third, says it is tolerable, and one iiTitates me as inucli as another — come now, you must not think ill of me for that. It does not interest me in my inner whole, does not move or ■ affect me in my works, which are always only the stored-up joys and sorrows of my life — for although I find that it is much more reasonable to shed chicken's blood than one's own The children are romping over- head ; it is better for me to go up than to carry my text too far, I have set the eldest girl to spell a page and a half in the little garden of Eden up there ; I am well content, and it is the blessed meal-time. Adieu ! Why do I not tell you all, best one ? Have patience, patience with me. The 10th; in the town again to see my shepherdess. I am writing to you on nay knee. Dear, the letter shall go to-day, and 1 only tell you further, that my head is tolerably gay, my heart pretty free. What say I ! 0' best one, how shall we find expression for what we feel ! Best one, how can we tell one another anything of our state, since it changes from hour to hour. I am hoping for a letter from you, and let not the hope be disappginted. Blessed is the good impulse which, prompted me, instead of all further writing, to draw my room for you, as it now stands before me. Adieu. Keep a poor youth in your heart. The Good Father in heaven give you many brave, cheerful hours, such as I often have, and then let the twilight ^come tearful and blessed. Amen. Adieu, dear, Adieu. Goethe. 236.— To J. H. Merck. Here is something for what you sent. I have been working for the last three days at a drawing with my utmost possible diligence, and have not yet finished. It is well for once to do everything one can do, in order to have the merit of knowing oneself more intimately. Greet your wife and children. Send me back the studies 1775.] LETTERS OP J.*W. GOETHE. 231 and something new with. them. Adieu, I am learning somSthing from thehallads: and I am just going to Oli'b. [Offenbach], whereby hangs a tale. Tuesday, &o., &o., &c., half-past seven in the morning. G. 237. — To Feau von Laroche. Frfort. 15 March, 1775. God bless you, dear, dear Grandmama, and the little mama and the boy. 1 hope the intervention of the little creature will make a good deal of difference. I can indeed say I expect them back very longingly. I am now going to Brentano to congratulate him. Greet Herr V. Hohenfeld. Fritz has, I see, produced my last small family ;* he is kind. Very soon you shall again receive sometMng, which I commend to your heart. On Friday I shall be here, so I expect. Good-bye. To the dear little mother, good-bye I Will there come a time then in which we shall have a friendly influence on each other, dear Max ? You shall soon have your Letters back again.' Goethe. 238. — To J. Fahlmejr. [Offenbach, March 1775.] I KNEW wha;t ' Stella' would be to your heart. I am tired of bewailing the fate of our race of men,f but I will represent them ; they shall recognise themselves, if possible, as I have known, them, and shall be, if not more at rest, yet stronger in unrest. / - There is much wonderful and new in me ; in three hours I hope to see Lili. Dear Aunt, on Sunday ! ! ! Take the girl to your heart, it will be good for you both. Have you overcome the longing for the fifth act ? I wish you had one- made for it. Adieu. ' Stella ' is already yours, and through the writing becomes ever more yours, f What pleasure Fritz will have ! * Probably some poems in the Iris. t i.e., men of wild impulses, as Diintzer explains. j She was copying it oat. See Letter 234. 232 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. 239.— To Pbitz Jacobi. 21 March, 1775. Thank you for all, Erwin, money, etc., Dear Brother. I am very glad that you like my ' Stella' so much ; my heart and mind are now so entirely turned in other directions, that my own flesh and blood are almost indifferent to .me. I can tell you nothing, for what is there that can be said ? I do not wish either to think of to-morrow or the day after to-morrow, therefore adieu. Let the enclosed be well attended to by Sohenk, it is for the second dear brother. Keep by me, dear Fritz ; it seems to me as if I were going alone on skates for the first time, and stum- bling on the path of life, and had already to run for a wager, and that to where all my soul is striving. Brother, dear fellow, you will now probably have impressions of the airs, and something from Lenz; I am waiting for ' Stella,' and then you shall have tte other copy at once. CI. * is off to Cannabich. G. 240. — To Feau von Laeoche. 21 March, 1775. BEENTANof has shown me her [Max's] daily letters to him. The little wife is well, and I hope that the friend- ship and confidence which the husband has hitherto shown me may be undissembled ; I believe it at least, and so I hope that in future I may cause no more vexation to the little one, and perhaps a pleasant hour now and then. Tell her that, with my heartiest greeting. I strive and work daily to become better, and have, thank God, lighted on fresh relais of horses for my further route. Good- bye, dear Mama, and now one more request; last sum- mer I gave to Von Buri,| in Neuwied, some poems, which, he withholds from me. This annoys me. I have written * Probably Clavigo. t It appears that Goethe had now reconciled himself to Brentano. X See note. Letter 1. 1775.] LETTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 233 to him ; he has told me through a third person that he will send them to me hy Madame L. K. Please, please, dear Mama, get them for me. What ought I to have received last Friday? Many greeiings to Herr v. Hohenfeld I Good-bye, dear Mama. G. 241.*— To Herder. 25th March, 1775. Here, dear Brother, is a grand Fussli-Ietter f from Lavater. What viulence and rancour there is in mankind. Hamann's 'Prolegomena' have done much for what, implicite, is strength in me. Send me something, write me something of yourself, whatever it may be ! Were it a cast-off curl-paper — and especially a silhouette of your boy. It, looks as if the threads by which my fate hangs, and which I have already so long shaken backwards and forwards in rotatory oscillation, would at last unite. Otherwise, general circumstances make me tolerably tame, without, however, taking from me the good courage . of youth. Caroline, dear Sister, good morning. Goethe. 242. — To Prau von Laroche. 28 March, 1775. Here, dear Mama, is a Klyjoch,f which will give you much pleasure. The drawing of Herr v. Hohenfeld * A letter to Augusta Stolberof asking for silhouettes of her brothers, etc., the same date as this, is omitted. See S. Hirzel, vol. iii., p. 74. t i.e. from Henry Fuseli, the English Eoyal Academician who took a great interest in Lavaters work. X A misspelling of the Swiss name CUi Jogg, Klein (little) Jacob, the pseudonym of a Swiss peasant, Jacob Gujer, of Canton Ziirich, w6o was at this time brought into notoriety. Though a respectable man of considerable natural sense, he can hardly have deserved the great fame which he obtained through the patronage of a physician of Ziirich, who devoted more tlian one volume to the praise of this " peasant philosopher ;" or, as he was called in a French translation of one of these books, Le Socrate ruitique. Goethe, like many otlier people of good education, and some of high rank, was at first very enthusiastic about him. He here refers, probably, to one of the ' volumes of the above-mentioned physician, Hans Caspar Hirze]. Soo Frese, p. 162. 234 EABLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. will he ten times as valuable to me, only I beg you, by all that is holy, that when you send it me it may be protected most carefully, for however careless I am in general, a crease in such a thing makes me furious. Good-bye to you and the dear wife. I have kept my word hitherto, I have kept my word to her hitherto, and promised her ;wlien her heart should incline to her husband, I would again return. I shall again" be there and remain. till my life's end, while ^e remains spouse, housewife and mother. Ameu. G. 243.— To P. E. Eeich,* Frankfort, 28 March, 1775. I BEG you, dear Herr Eeich, to tell me when con- venient, how long I have Tintil I need again send any manuscript ; the reason is this — all is ndw out of Lavater's hands and ready with me, but I should still like to make a few additions, which in fact I have begun. In the mean- time, if it must be, all can go off to you at an hour's notice. Farewell. G. 244.— To Lavatee. Here is the journal. I would rather not have inserted anything. But as for once it was to be, I think I have hit the right tone. You may imagine what an effect the information you sent me about the public of this place would have on me. I hope the matter will, now rest, and for the future I beg you to be less sensitive. As long, as you live and work, you will not escape" being misunderstood; to that you must resign yourself once for all. And in fact you need only speak hastily with a friend in the street, and the indifferent spectators from the first-floor windows make their comments thereupon. Be silent. G. * Dated May 28 by O. Jahn. Hirzel's date is as above, and seems, from a comparison with other short notes which Jahn prints referring to the i)rootsheets of Lavater's book^ to be the more probable. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 235 245.— To J. Fahlmer.* [29 March, 1775.] Here is Erwin, and Klopstock is here ! If you will oblige me, then, have yourself conveyed to us at tliree. You will meet him here. G. 246.— To Herder. 1 AprU, 1775. Dear Bhother, Write to me sometimes, crossly or kindly, about everything and nothing ! Look, whilst the world is so full of [rascals], ought we to quairel? Why am I always writing this ? a little book is put into my hand after dinner. Prof. Meiner's Essay, ' The Egyp- tians.' " He ! " say I, and turn over the leaves, where does Brother Herder appear then ? — for I think it is a likely occasion ! more or less. • But I actually find you not, either for good nor evil — the most cursed hog-wash about Lake Moeris, and travestied funeral rites of the Egyptians, &c., &c., &c., &c., and then Orpheus ! &c. &o., and at thd end, after X.Y.Z., &c., your name too : and smart in sUken cloak and collar, a pert bow to you, that he also, &c. Adieu, Brother ! Fraul. Hess has sent me the letter of the Swiss Peasant.f Klopstock -yv^as with me the day before yester- day, he is going to Hamburg. I saw Merck too in Langen three days ago. Greet your wife. Goethe. 247. — To J. Fahlmer. [Beginning of April, 1775.] I THANK you, dear Aunt, for the letter from Fritz — he is dear and good as ever — but I have not written to him yet, I will not write to anybody on the subject. * A note by hand. Klopstock had left and was at Gottingen by 3rd April. Urliohs, p. 74. t See note, p. '233. 236 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. Neither shall I give myself any trouble about the author,* nor help to put you on the track. The public may think what it likes of me — the clincher with which Wieland's letter ends avails him nothing. I have laughed over a great part of his epistle, and turn up my nose at the end. I was sorry yesterday not to meet you. Adieu, greet Fritz and ask him for Fr. ballads.f (Send it back to P.) G. 248.— To J. Fahlmer. [Before 9th April, 1775.] I SAID it indeed, dear Aunt ! It is Gospel truth. f About the printing we will speak further. Yes, Aunt, she was beautiful as an angel,§ and I had not seen her for four days. And, dear God, how much better she is than beau- tiful. ■ G. 249.— To J. Fahlmee. [lOth April, 1775.] A GOOD word finds a good place. I went home at once, however, and disinterred {.'laudine.|| That for your information, herewith is the Ode. How do I please you on slender prophetic stilts, admonishing " Princes and Lords as to their duty ? IT G. * This refers to a farce, by H. L. Wagner, of Strasbourg, entitled Prometheus, Deucalion, and his Meviewers, wliieh was generally ascribed to Goethe. It appears to have offended Wieland, on which account Goethe fchoitly afterwards took occasion to repudiate its authorship in the Frankfurter Qelehrt. Ameigen. See Letter 251, and Urliolis, p. 75. Wagner was two years older than Goethe, and is descriljed by Diintzer as a poet of more facility than originality. See G.'s Leben,]^. 225. t Probably, French popular ballads such as those referred to above. Letter 149 and note J, p. 162. X Again referring to Wagner's farce. § i.e. Lili. 11 His play, or operetta, Claudine von Villa Bella. •jf Urlichs applies this to the i oem, Granzen der Menschheit. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 237 250.— To C. L. VON Knebel. Frankfort, 14 April, 1775. I DO not know to -where I ought to send a word to yon. Item, let it go. Do you still love me ? and think of me? I ! — fall out of one perplexity into another, and am really standing again unsuspecting with my poor heart in full sympathy with the fate of mankind, from which I had just rescued mvself with difficulty. Klop- Btook found me in strange agitation. I only had a sip of the dear man. I have been doing all sorts of things and yet little. I shall soon have a play ready, I am carrying on the citizens' affairs as gently and quietly as if I were carrying on a smuggling trade, and am otherwise ever the same that you know. And now write to me much about yourself. As to the dear Duke, remember me lovingly to him. Adieu. Adieu. G. 251^— To Klopstock. [Frankfort], 15th April, 1775. Here, dear Father, is a little word to the public, I set about it unwillingly, but it must be. I am still pretty much in the position in which you left me, only that it is sometimes worse, and then a dewdrop of the universal balsam again falls on me from above, which makes all good again. I occupy myself as much as I can and' that does something. However I divine well that each one must drink up his cup, and so fiat voluntas. Remember me among your dear ones. A letter from Fran v. Wiuthern will have got back [to you] again. Write me a few words about your journey. N. B. The Wagner, of whom the leaflet speaks, is the very person whom you saw for a moment in the morning in ' my room. He is long, lean. You were standing near the stove.* Goethe. * Probably on his recent visit. See Letter ?45. 238 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. Goethe's Explanation to the P0B1.IC. It is not I, TDutHenry Leopold Wagner, who wrote and printed th^e' Prometheus' without my co-operation, without my knowledge. It was a riddle to me, as well as to my friends and the public, who could so have imitated the manner in which, I am accustomed sometimes to make ■ fun, and who could be informed of certain anecdotes, before the author discovered himself to me a few days ago. I believe this explanation to be due to those, who love me and trust my word. Furthermore, I have been very glad on this occasion quietly to become better acquainted with divers persons by, their behaviour towards me. Goethe. Frankfort, 9th April, 1775. 252.— To J. Fahlmee. [April, 1775.J Yotr are very kind. I have kept back my answer to Fritz, for it was really mysterious. However, the clear and decisive does nothing too ; it is water without baptism. Whoever, drinks thereof will thirst again. So let it pass ; I could well be wild with Fritz, but never angry. Adieu. Here is ' Prometheus.' * Still the stream goes pleasantly with me — but I help it a little at the rudder too. 253.— To Lavater. [19 April, 1775.] Lay of the Physiognomical Draughtsman. Oh, th^t creative power of thought Within my mind abode. That forming force with vigour fraught From out my fingers flowed ! * Probably the short Ode on Promethens. 1776.] LETTERS OF J. W. GQETHE. 239 I stammer only, only quail, Yet cannot let it he, Nature ! thee I know, I feel, So must I grasp at thee. When I recall how years have past Since sense hegan to grow, How he, where was an arid waste, Now sees a joy-spring flow, Then, Nature, whole and all, to thee Benign and free, I cling ; A joyous well-spring, thou to me On thousand reeds wilt sing. Thy forces all within my mind Wilt quicken and make free. And open out this being confined, Tor all eternity. That you may see. Brother, I am glad to do what I can, here you have, my dear fellow, your chapters [Gapitels] back with interest; they have been copied and sent to Getter. I think it is best so ; if you are satisfied with what I write there, I will go on. For I must keep to my style ; it will not do to mix yours and mine ; but thus, one after the other, it may have its effect. Do not excite yourself too much, and manage so that it assumes a seemly arrange- ment. Above aU, I should like to look over the whole once more before it is printed, for I already perceive that it will ultimately go from the writing-table to the press. Let it go as it will, I am ready. 234. — To J. Fahlmee. [Sunday morning, 23rd April, 1775.] I doiu't understand a word of it, dearest Aunt — not a word. Good God I it is a nice state of things for us, very nice — and yet it seems to me like a ray of light, that Fritz is coming — so utterly unexpectedly. What can, what must I say ! I do not remember his last note. We must now wait, 240 EAKLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775 I suppose. I fee] what is passing in you — Adieu. Must it not be an old letter from the last time — left lying at Mainz ? 255.* — To CoifNTESS AuausTE zu Stolbeeg. [15-26 April, 1775.] Heee, my liest one, is a little song from me, to which I have had a melody of Gretry's adapted ! Ah, God ! your , brothers, our brothers, are coming^ to me ! . . . . You will receive your shadow likeness, but I must have a new one of you, large. Give . a look at the second volume of Iris when you come across it, there are all sorts of things by me in it. I often think of you. When I am gayer again, you shall have your share of it, only do not. let my letters be hateful to you, as I am to myself whilst I write. I fancy all the wrinkles in my face are impressed therein. Adieu ! Adieu ! Best one. 15th April. How I am waiting for our brothers ! f What a dear Ifctter from you three. Here are the shadow likenesses. They are not all equally good, but all cut with a feeling hand. Not another word for this time. Keep me in your heart. G. 2(Mi April, 1775. 256. — To Herder. [Frankfort, May, 1775.] It is with me as with you, dear Brother, I play up my balls against the wall, and shuttle-cocks with the women. I fancied a short time ago that I was coming, nearer to the haven of domestic bliss, and sure footing in ' Abridged in translation. Hirzel, vol. iii. p. 80. t The two Counts Stolberg, with whom he shortly went to Switzer- land. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 241 the true sorrow aud joy of the earth, but am again in a grievous way cast out into the wide sea. Hearty thanks for your boy's shadow-likeness ! It is quite your face ! — quite ! quite ! in unbelieving determina- tion. I am helping on Lavater's ' Physiognomy ' with cordial Shandyism. I have managed to get your book?, and refreshed myself therewith. God knows that it is a world felt. An animated heap of sweepings ! And so thanks ! thanks ! I have been obliged to make all the pages full of lines ; in order to indicate transition, and yet If only the whole doctrine about Christ were not such a pretence, that it makes me, as a man, as a limited needy creature, furious, the Subject would be dear to me. God or Devil so dealt with becomes dear to me, for he is my Brother — and so I feel in all your being, not the shell and covering, from which your Castors or Harlequins creep out, but the everlastingly equal brother, man, God, worm and fool. Your way of sweeping, and not even sifting gold out of the dust, but making the dust serve for the palin- genesis of living plants, always sets me on the knees of my heart. Adieu. I am going away in a short time to my sister. Adieu. Greet your little wife. I dance away my life on the tight-rope, called fatum congenitum. You shall shortly see some of my fresco-painting, when you will be angry at seeing well-felt nature beside frightful locus communis. Fiat voluntas. QOETHB. 257. — To Fkau von Laroche* 13 May, 1775. At last I have reconciled my mind to it, and am going from Frankfort to my sister. Thus,' through Mann- heim, Carlsruhe, and Strasbourg. Thank you for your last letter and offer. I now communicate with Lenz myself, and perhaps more from there. Your Letters are splendid. Good-bye, and to the little wife everything hearty ! Then when I return, I shall meet her. G. 242 EAKLT AND MIECELLANEOUS [1775. 258.— To J. Fahlmer. [16 May, 1775.] ' I AM in Mannheim,* dear Annt, and I am mad enougli. You must write to me, at Strasbourg, addressed to Aotuaiy Salzmann. And when 'Brwin' is performed, I heg for an account of it. Tor there is a farce, yet And whether Lili was there? and anything else. Greet Pritz. Adieu. Tuesdaj'. G. 259.— To J.Fahlmee. [Strasbourg, 22nd May, 1775.] Hearty thanis, dear Aunt, for the news of the splendid acting, and for your last, with the things. I am a good deal in the open air. Sleeping, eating, drinking, hathing, riding, driving, have been for a few days back the blessed contents 6f my life. Your letter gave us all much. 3)leasure ; you have felt very keenly and described very dramatically. It was better to me than the representation itself. I am going to Schaffhausen to see the Ehine-falls, to envelope myself in the great idea. For as yet I feel that i;he chief aim of my journey has failed, and if I return it will be worse with the Bear f than before. I know very well I am a fool, but for this reason I am so And why :should the little lamp be extinguished which shines and glimmers so nicely before one on the way through life. Adieu, Aunt. Greet Tritz. Whit-Monday. Write to me at Emmendingen; tell Mama too that everything is to be sent to me here until I counterorder. Greet Max very kindly for me. G. ♦ He had now started on the tour which he took with the two Counts Stolberg and Haugwilz. See Autdbiog., bk. xviii. t The Bear was the oharaotsr aaaigued to himself in his poem Lili't Fork. His chief aim was, of course, to forget hei. 1775.] LETTERS OP J. W. GOETHE. 243 260.— To J. Fahlmee. In the open air ! In a primeval avenue of high interlacing lime-trees, a meadow between, and the minster beyond ! Yonder the 111. And Lenz this moment hastens to town. I have already ordered dinner near by here, and so on, he is coming back, &c. Thank yon for the letter, I hope for- another! I hope for the representation of 'Erwin' — not a word as to author! — You are good, dear Aunt, and so is Heaven ! These old places, now again so new ! The past and the future ! Well, well, on the road [K. met me] "unexpected, but dearer, fuller, more perfect than in anticipation; good and bad men true in their way. Louise t is an angel, the brilliant star could not withhold me from picking up a few flowers which fell from her bosom, and which I keep in the breast-pocket near my heart. Weimar also came and is kind to me. The rest by word of mouth ! Everything is better than I thought. Perhaps because I love I find everything lovable, and good. ■ . So much for this time from the escaped bear,J albout the fugitive cats ! I have seen much, much. The world is a grand book from which to become wiser, if only some- thing helps. Greet Fritz a thousand times ! Mama la Eoche who will, I suppose, be with you ! Max ! My Father and Mother ! Wednesday, 24th May, 1775 — a quarter of a leagiie from Strasbourg. G. [J» inh'] The devil take me. Aunt ; it is Friday, the twenty-sixth, and I am still at Strasbourg. To-morrow, however, I go to Emmendingen.§ It is aU mad and wonderful to me wherever I am. Adieu, best Aunt, I shall probably find your letters at Emmendingen. * The letter, which ia written in pencil, is here illegible. He probably refers to Von Knebel and the Weimar party. t The Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, the destined bride of Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar. Goethe and the Slolbergs visited the Court at Karlsruhe. J See note to preceding letter. § His sister's home. He stayed there from the 27th May to 5th Jane. B 2 244 EAItLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. 2G1.— To C. L. VON Knebel. Emraendingen, 4th June, 1775. I SEND you with this, dear Knebel, ' ClaTidine ;' read it to our Duke at leisure hours, and then please send it back again here to my sister by the mail-coach. Not to be copied I beg, please. Thank you for your note. I am heartily glad that you are not alienated from me. To his Serene Eighness everything heartfelt from me. Addio. To-morrow I am going to Schaffhausen, if fortune favours. G. 262.— To J. Fahlmeb. 7th June, 1775. Here, dear Aunt, are a few glimpses into the open world. I am writing this at Schaffhausen at the "Sword." I am now going out to see the Ehine-falls. To-morrow at this time I shall be with Lavater. I am very well. If only I could get quite deep into the world. But I suppose 1 shall very shortly be with you again.* G. 263. — To Chaelotte Kestner, 19 June, 1775. In the heart of Switzerland, at the place where , Tell shot the apple from the head of his boy ; why, from there in particular [do I write] a ffew words to you when I have been so long silent ? Dear, good Lotte, one peep at you and your little ones, and your dear husband, from out of all this glorious nature, amidst the noble race which cannot be quite unworthy of its fathers, though there are men too here and there. * This letter is ynitten in pencil, and contains a drawing of Goethe Bitting at a table in the street, with a landsc ipe in the baokgrouild. — U. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 24,5 I can tell nothing, describe nothing. Perhaps I shall tell more when it is far from me, as has been the case with me before, I dare say, in matters dear to me. You still love me a little, don't you ? Continue to do so, and kiss your husband also for me, and your little ones. Adieu. Greet the Meyers heartily. Altdorf, three leagues froni Gothard, which I ascend to-morrow. 264. — To Fkad ton Laeochk. [Zurich], at Lavater'a desk, June, 1775. I AM come from Klyjoch,* where I have been with Lavater, Stolberg, Haugwitz, and other good young fellows. [To show] that I thought of you there, here is a piece of bread cut at his- table. " One can cutf merrily when one sees there is plenty of it," he said, of course in his tone and speech. I went from here without an idea of him, and return rich and well-content. I have met with no ideal descended from the clouds,J God be thanked, but one of the -most splendid creatures, such as this earth produces, from which we also have sprung. Good-bye ! Good-bye ! And you at Frankfort just when I go away from it ! Many greetings to Max. G. t For " ciit " they say " chop" [haueri]. " Chop off a piece of bread." j N.B. No moral-philosophical peasant. 265. — To Fratt von Laroche. [Frankfort], 27 July, 1775. I HAVE been here again for some days. I met Herder in Darmstadt, and came over with him and his little wife. You are coming soon, and even if you were not to come, I must reserve for word of mouth what adventures were ex- perienced on the way. I did not find Herr v. Hohenfeld at Spires. It is well for me that I know a country like Switzerland; now, let come what may to me, I have always a place of refuge there. * See note f. P- 233, above. 246 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. I have seen Max, with her dear little one ; she had a good deal of intercourse with my mother in my absence. How it will go now, God knows ! Brentano is not jealous, lie says. Has Crespel * shown himself a true knight ? Do not fail to come to us still. The 26th. Another good-morning, this the 27th July, 1775. G. 266. — To CousTEss Auguste zu Stolbero. 25[-3I] July, 1775. I AM again in Frankfort, I parted from our brothers in Zurich; yet it was hard for us. "I can well believe it," Gustchen will say. Fritz,f my love, is now at Woloken- badj and the good spirit Who, hovers round us all will pour healing balm into his soul. I suffered with him, and could not do the same. I beg you — yet let me say nothing about it now — and who can sjieak of it. I was present when the last news came. It was at Strasbourg. Good-night, angel sister. A hearty greeting to the Countess Bernsdorf. 267. — To Feau von Lakoche [Frankfort], 1 Aug. 1775. Yesterday evening, dear Mama, we fiddled and tootled at good Max's. Thank you for your letter, and for the first through Falmer, I received it duly. Here are your Letters returned with thanks. Blank paper is ever a friendly resource ; in the moment of necessity, a true, sympathizing friend, who does not repel us by any clumsy angles of character, such as we often experience at the very moment when we would least wish to be so affected. That you like my ' Stella ' so is infinitely prized by me, let Fritz give it you. It is not a piece for everybody. How do you stand with Lenz? I know nothing about it, he has not let me see your letters ; it seems to me as if * Eath Crespel, a friend of the Goethe family: he lived later la Eiitisbon. — F. t Fritz Leopold was the younger of the two Counts Stolborg. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. \V. GOETHE. 247 you did not got on very well with the little original. He rolls his little tuh with much fervour and sinceiity. A.dieu. Greet Herr v. Hohenfeld ! Eemembrances from Crespel, who heartily loves and esteems you. Write to me soon. G. 268.— To C. L. vox Knebel. Frankfort, 1st August, 1775. How are you, dear KneBel, I should like to hear a word about you and our Duke. I am here again, have made a pilgrimage through the dear, sacred Swiss-German nation, and am a good deal better, and quite contented with the past and full of hope for the future. Send me back ' Claudine ' and keep me in your affection. G. t269.* — To Countess Auguste zv Stolbeug. [Offenbach], 3rd Aug. One word that my heart may be free, only one hand-clasp. I can say nothing to you. Here ! — How shall I name here to you ! f Before this pretty straw writing-case ' — where delicate little notes should be written ; and yet tbese tears and this oppression ! What discord. Q that I could tell you all ! Here in the room of the girl who makes me unhappy, by no fault of hers, with the soul of an angel, whose bright days I trouble — I ! A quarter of an hour ago I took your letter out of my pocket ; I read it ! Of 2nd June ! and you beg, beg for an answer, for a word from my heart. And to-day is the 3rd August, and I have not yet written. . . . And how can I speak of Fritz, of you, since in his misery I have often indeed wept for my own. . . . He is better off than I. In vain for three months have I wandered about in the open air, absorbing a thousand new objects in all my senses. Angel, and I am sitting again in Offenbach, become as simple as a child, as confined as a parrot on the perch. . . . * Hirzel, iii., p. 93. Abridged in translation, t He was again at D'Orville's house at OffenbaoIi,and, as it appears, in the room occupied by Lili. J 248 EARLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. At night, on the terrace by the Maine, I look across and think of you ! So far ! So far ! And then yon and Tritz, and I ! and everything entangles itself in a snaky knot ! and I find no atmosphere for writing. . . . Here flows the Maine, just opposite lies Bergen, on a hill behind corn-fields. You have heard no doubt of the battle at Bergen.* On the left there beneath it lies grey Frank- fort with the clumsy tower, which for me is now as empty as if swept with brooms jf up on the right there are pretty villages, the garden below, the terrace on the Maine just beneath. And here on the table a pocket-handkerchief, a basket, a necktie yonder, there hang the dear girl's boots. N.B. To-day we are going to ride. ... I hear her voice — I may stay, she will get ready in the next room. . . . I have described to you how it all looks around me, in order to drive away the spirits by the sense of sight. LUi was surprised to find me here ; they had missed me. She asked to whom I was writing. I told her. Adieu, Gustchen. Greet the Countess Bernsdorf. Write to me. Your brothers will have sent you the silhouette. Lavater has had the four Heumann children engraved very successfully. The Ebstless One. For God's sake let no one see my letters I f 270.— To Lavater. [Aug. »-4.] Louise's § portrait, by Melling, which I have in hand for you, you ' shall very shortly receive. I have written to her. The poem to her is the best you have * During the Seven Years War, 13 April, 1759; Goethe himself saw something of this battle. See AutoMog., bk. iii. t Comp. Hermann u. D., line 2. j This postscript will explain the abridgment of some of these letters, •wliich seem greatly overestimated by some German critics. § The Princess of Hesse-Darrastadt who married the Duke of Weimar. The second volume of Lavater's Physiognomical work is dedicated to hor ; and her portrait is given at vol. iii., p. 327. 1 775.] LETTSES OF J. W. GOETHE. 249 ever made. A few more cold baths, and some Eoborantia and you are a brother not to be improved on. God bless your boy, your wife .and all. My father compliments her upon her confinement. Take it in a friendly way. Send Stella straight to Lenz. Or let Pass[avant] look after it. Something for the Physiognomy directly. Send me something too. I am at Offenbach, where, of course, Lili is. I have greeted her for you. I shall very soon send you her silhouette as a woman. Do something for her in verse that will strengthen and keep her in good- ness. You can do good, and you are willing to do it. 4 August. Yesteeday we went out riding. Lili, D'Orville and I. You should have seen the angel in her riding- Jiabit on horseback. The' rest of the party waited for us in Oberrad, and a storm drove the old Princess of Waldeok and her daughter, the Duchess of Courland, and the Princess of Dsingen into our house and drawing-room. As soon as they recognised me they asked me a great deal about you, and the old Princess spoke with so much sincerity and warmth about you that it did me good. She said : If his ears do not tingle to-day, I do not think much of his power of divination, the fault is not ours. She sends you a hearty greeting. Lili greets you too ! And God wUl be gracious to me. N.B. For some time since I have been pious again, my desire is for the Lord, and I sing him psalms of which you shall very soon have a vibration. I am very much strained, I might almost eay, 0!;ej--[straiaed], but I wish you were with me for then my neighbourhood is good. How is the catalogue of the sermons getting on ? Send me soon a dozen little books with texts and themes indicated. V\ rite out what you wish me to see for you if I go to Italy. G. 250 EAllLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775 271. — To Madame U^ARSCH * at Berlin. [Offenbaoh-on-Maine, 17 Aug. 1775.] I WANDER about tlie country, dear lady, to enjoy in the open air the sorrow and joy which God has given to young hearts for their portion. I lately ran iip to town once, and G-riesbaoh brought me your letter. It has given me cordial delight that you let your pen so run on to me ; and now I thank you for your greeting and friendliness. I wished that your daughter f had written to me also, howsoever and whensoever it came into her mind, for no looking-glass of vanity is such a mirror as a letter from the soul oppressed by extraordinary conditions when it hears harmony therein, and tired of the eternal solo pauses with joy and gains new delight by listening to the friendly fellow-player. Write often to me something on the spur of the moment, everything is dear and precious" to me which comes true and strong from the heart, whether in other respects it looks like a hedgehog or a cupid. I have written of all sorts, in a certain sense litUe, in reality nothing. We draw the foam from the great river of humanity with our quills and imagine to ourselves that we have caught floating islands at least. . The whole circulation of my small individuality has gained much from my journey in Switzerland. Perhaps the invisible scourge of the Eumenides will drive me again from my Fatherland, probably not northwards, though I would gladly greet Lot and his household some day in your Sodom. Addio. P.S. The theme of the slovenliness of human beings under certain circumstances I cannot and may not discuss to-day. The causes lie on the writing-table here, on the coffee-table there, and the figure in negligee who turns * Anna Louisa Kaisoh was a minor poetess of the Gleim circle. Her chief merit is that her talent was developed in the most humble and depressing circumstances, and without any literary cultivation, Diintzer calls her a " Nature's poetess." t Baroness Klencke, who inherited some of her mother's poetie talent. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 251 her back towards me, and swallows her breakfast. Holy Yorick ! if only thou wouldst look down from thy Heaven and represent in a dream to the good Madame Karsch the rational, cordial character of this nonsense, for thou alone wouldst have had head and heart therefor — only one classical passage by way of explanation. "Les gens amoureux," says the too-wise spouse of the incomparable Shah Baham — " ne dorment guere, a moins (ju'ils ne soient favorises." This letter has remained lying until 28th August. Kow once more good morning and adieu. Q. Frankfort. 272.— To J. H. Merck. [Frankfort, August 1775.] JusG has gone back to Elberfeld and greets you. What are you doing ? How is your wife getting on in her confinement, and will the conference soon take place ? I am again foully stranded and could cuff my own head a thousand times, for not having gone to the devil whilst I was afloat. I am on the watch again for a fresh opportu- nity of printing, only I should like to know whether in that case you could supply me with a little money, only for the first start. In any case you may clearly point oiit to my father at the approaching conference, that he must send me to Italy in the spring ; that is, at the end of this year I must be off. I can scarcely endure until then, gondoliring about on this pond, and preparing with great festivity for the frog and spider hunt. Have you written about my M3S. ? Adieu ! Draw and send. You shall have all your things back. Amen. 273.— To J. Pahlmer. . [End of August 1775.] Eead this. Aunt, then on with it to Fritz. It is from Lenz ! * I, an uncle, am creeping about in~-&e_swaddling * The packet also rontained some poems of Goethe's for the Iris ;- amongst tbem the UerbstgefUhl See Urliohs, p. 89. 252 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS. [1775. clothes of all my powers and capacities, and am externally somewhat rongk, &c. Farewell. I am drawing, touohiag up, &c. And live entirely with Eembrandt.* G. 274. — To Lavater. [Frankfort, Aug. 1775.] What has become of Zimmermann ?| Where is he now? When he comes back he is to live with me. Do not forget to write that to him. Ask Herr Schutz for a few silhouettes of my phiz, and send them at your convenience. Have you thought about the Physiognomy and will you soon send me something ? Here is something about the silhouettes of Frau v. Stein and the Marchess, Branooni.f Look them out at once and lay them side by side with this. Stein. Firmness. Amiable and unehanging contin- uance of the object. Sel f-satisf action. Affectionate amiability. Innocence and goodness; self- sustaining conversation. Indulgent firmness. Goodwill. Faithful. Vanquishing with nets.§ Bbanooki. Enterprising strength. Acute, but not deep, thought. Pure vanity. Eeflned exacting politeness. Wit, cultivated language, choioe in expression. Opposition. Feeling for herself. Grasping and retaining. Vanquishing with darts. I wish you would leave them and Prau v. Low to me for the second part, they must be' engraved as clearly as possible. 1 would comment on them and send you them for annotation and only then make a connected whole out of them. So it must be, at all events, with the whole of " There is a drawing after Eembrandt in Lavater's ' Physiog.' iii. 14, chiefly by Goethe. — U. t The well-known physician and writer on Solitude. X A friend of Lavater and Zimmermann. § This and the corresponding quality in the other character are of course metaphors from the Eoman amphitheatre. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 253 the second part. But you, Waverer, I teg you to suppress tlie family plate of us j it is horrible. You stultify yourself and us. Let my father he cut out and use him as a vignette, he is good. I earnestly beg this. With my head do what you like, only my mother must not be left there. ' If you have still a few copies, send me them with those for which I ask you in the enclosed note, it is in order to cut out the father. If the drawings of Fuseli which you gave to me are found send them too. Thanks for the Chodowiecki and the others. Here are lines of Fettmilch's head. The blunt and obstinate is marked more strongly on the bad paper on which it is taken, and it has at the same time something low and brutal which the sketch has not. What do you think of the idea? It would be grand to carry it out in silhouettes. You know Hogarth's line of beauty .from distortion to hfelessness. The fair point of the line of beauty is the line of love. Strength and weakness stand on either side of it. Love is the point in which they unite. Give me some additions to it and we will make a nice little chapter. Perhaps no altogether impure thread drawn out of the great web. 275. — To J. Fahlmer. [August 1775.] Here is Fritz's work ; " I should not like it to be printed, and yet there are such good things in it.* And I^ — The Intricacies of Diego and Julia. Part I.f — always speak in the deepest constraint with me and my ass, whilst a whole small world busies itself about me. Amen. * G. (Send it to F. again.) • A novel by Jaeobi, ' Edward Alwill's Papers.' t A reference to ' Tristram Shandy,' which had been recently trans- lated by Bode. See vol. iv. ch. 1. 254 EAELT AKD MISCELLANEOUS [1775. 276.— To J. Fahlmee. [11 September, 1775.] I AM just come from Offenbacli ! I can give you neither look nor feature of the household. My heart is just like a stocking, the outside in, the innerside out. Pray pray! look about you at the Fair_,* for somethLog-^for Juili ! ! ! ! Finery, Jewellery,' the most fashionable, the most elegarit. You "Only understand it, and my love as well. But this is sacred between us, Mama must know nothing of it. Nor the 'Gerooks. 'I pray. And write what it costs ! 1 1 !" 277. — To Feau von Laeoche. 15 Sept. [1775.] To-day will go your open-hearted letters, they are written right well ; here and there he makes exaggerated pretensions, like all spectators who have not to stretch their backs over it themselves. Kalckhof has written me a very gracious letter and invited me in the name of their Excellencies,t to Dieburg. . GroBohlag was here yesterday but I was not able to get to him. 1 have had two long talks lately with dear Max. ^& is well, and reconciles herself to circumstances with much composure. I am glad that my verses are right. Whether they are understood or sympathised with is not the question, a scrap of paper, black on white, and a gilt edge, that is the way to do it, but Herr v, H[ohenfeld's] sympathy is very dear to me. Greet Lisq). and my little ones for me. The Trossons must remember me and also the Desters. The Dean f is building and papering. * There was a fair at Frankfort in the autumn (beginning Sept. 10) as well as in the spring, f The newly-married Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Weimar. } Dnmeits. See note, p. 171. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 255 My sister is still in Emendingon. Herder has a boy. Dester and Gretel I have met once. Merck is happy and I busy without being industrious, but I am getting on. Good-bye. G. 278. -Tj Alguste Couniess Stolbeeo.* A [14-19 Sept.] I HAVE begun forthwith on 14th September at the moment of finishing your letter ; you see how high up and how small, how much I intend to write. To-day I am at peace ; yet indeed, there lies generally one snake in the grass. Listen, I have an abiding presentiment that you will save me, in some dire distress, and no other created woman can but you. I thank you first of all for your vivid description of all about you, if I only had, now, a silhouette of your whole figure ! Could I but come ! What you say about Lili is quite true. Un- luckily distance makes the bonds still firmer that bewitch me to her. I Qannot, I must not tell you all. It touches me too closely. I must have no reminiscences, angel ! Your letter has sounded in my ears again like the trumpet to the sleeping warrior. Would to God that your eyes were Tlbald's shield to me, and let me deeply recognisj my unworthy misery. . . . After dinner. Your good word worked in me, then suddenly there was a voice within me : it cannot be over- > weening pride to desire that the girl should know you , perfectly and so knowing, love you. Maybe, too, I do not know her, and since she is different from me, is she not, probably, better. Let my sUenoe tell you what io words can say. . . . 15th. Good-morning. I have had a good night. . . . You will not guess- what is occupying me. A masque next Tuesday, when we have a ball • Abridged in translation. Hirzel, iii. 103. 256 EAKLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. And my masque is to he an old German costume, Mack and yellow, "pantaloons, short doublet, mantle and turned up hat and feather. Ah, how I thank God for gmiig me this puppet for a few days, if it lasts so long. Half-past three. Fallen through, as I suspected. My masque wijl not he made. Lili is not going to the ball. But may I, can I tell you all ! I did it in her honour because I am declared as hers and a girl's heart, &c. So, Gustchen — ^I did it half out of spite, because we tave not been on a particularly good footing this last week. . . Half- past 4. I wish I could picture myself to you .as I am, you "would then see your wonder. Good Heavens ! In such everlasting change always just the same. 16th. Last night half deadly dreams tormented m^. They, haunted me when I awoke edrly this morning. But as I saw the sun, I jumped out of bed on both feet, ran up and down the room, my heart beat so cheerfully, cheerfully, and was so light, and an assurance came to me that I was saved, that something would yet be made of Half-past three in the afternoon. The morning was open and fine, and I did something to give Lili a little pleasure ; saw visitors,- wandered about after dinner playing the fool among friends and strangers. I am now going to Offenbach, in order not to see LUi at the play this evening nor at the concert to-morrow. I put up the sheet and will go on writing from there. Offenbach ! Seven in the evening. Amid a set of people who are very fond of me, often sympathize with me! It is so now'! I am again sitting at the little writing-table, from which I wrote to you before I went to Switzerland Adieu for to-day. It is night and the Maine still twinkles from between the dark banks. Offenbach. Sunday 17th, 10 o'clock at night. — The day has gone by indifferent and dull. When I got up I felt 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GOETHE. 257 well, wrote a scene of my ' Faust,' passed a few hours idly, made love a little to a girl, of whom your brothers could tell you ; she is a singular creature. Dined in company with a dozen good young fellows, who are just what God made them. Eowed by myself up and down on the water, I have a whim to learn to row myself. Played at faro an hour or two, and dreamed away a few with good people. And now I sit down to say good-night to you. Through all this, I was like a rat who has eaten poison, it runs into every hole, gulps down everything moist, swallows every- thing eatable that comes in its way, • whilst its inside bums with inextinguishable destroying fire. A week ago to-day Lili was here. And at that time I was in the fearfuUest, gayest, sweetest state in aU my life (I might say). 0, Gustchen, why can I not tell anything about it ! Why ? How I looked at the moon and world through the hottest' tears of love, and everything blissful sur- rounded me. And in the distance th"e forest-horn and the noisy glee of the wedding guests. Gustchen, since the storm I am — ^not at rest but quiet — quiet for me, and only fear another tempest, which is ever gathering in the most peaceful days, and— Good-night, Angel Monday 18th. — My little boat is ready and I am going at once to steer it below. A splendid morning, the mist has dispersed, everything bright and fine around ! And I am going back into town, to the sieve of the Danaides . ' again. Adieu. • I have a fine bright morning ! Gustchen ! WUl my heart at last feel some day in, thrilling, true delight and sorrow the blessedness which has been granted to men and not be driven about for ever between Heaven and Hell on the waves of imagination and overstrained sensi- bility. Best one, I beg you to write me also a diary like this. That is the. only thing which overcomes the per- petual distance. Monday-night, half-past 11. — Frankfort, at my table. I come once more to say good-night 'to you. I have hurried and raved until now. To-morrow it will be still s 258 EAELY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. worse. dearest, what is thelife of man! And yet again the manifold good whicli gathers round me ! the manifold love which surrounds me.- .... I saw Lili _ to- day after dinner, saw her at the play. I had not a word to say to her — and said nothing ! — Would I were free of it. Oh, Gustchen, and yet I tremble for the moment when she could be indifferent to me, and I become hopeless ! But I remain true to my heart, and let things take their course. As they will. 279. — To Augusts Countess Stolbeeg. [20 Sept.-22 Nov.] Begun 'again Wednesday 20th whether to be torn up or otherwise ! l^nough, I begin. At the balltiU six o'clock to-day, only danced two minuets, kept in the company of a sweet girl, who had a cough. — If I could tell you my present relations to several de&,r and noble womanly souls I if I could tell you vividly ! No, if I could, I would not, yon would not get through it. -Nor I either, if everything came in one rush, and Nature did not let us swallow a few grains of forgetfulness in her daily economy. Now it is close upon eight o'clock at night. , I slept until one, ate, looked after something, dressed, presented myself at the Prince of Meiningen's, 'went tb the door of the theatre. Said seven words to Lili. And am now here. Adieu. Thursday, 21st. — I have taken it into my head to dress myself well to-^Sy. I am awaiting a new coat from the tailor which I have had embroidered in Lyons — grey with blue embroidery — ^with greater impatience than the acquaintance of a man of genius, who has announced a visit to me at this very hour. Something has gone wrong already. My hairdresser did my hair for an hour, and when he was gone I pulled it down and sent for another, whom I am also waiting for. Saturday 23rd. — Mad doiags have possessed me. I have not been able to write. Yesterday nothing but High- nesses. To-day I have a cough. Adieu. Sunday, 8th October; — After a great Jiause I am in strange cold and heat. Soon a still greater pause. I am 177u.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. . 259 waiting for tlie Duke of Weiinar, who is coauig from Karlsrulie .with his handsome new wife Loniso of Darm- stadt. I am going with him to Weimar. Your brothers are also coming there, and from there I will certainly write, dearest sister. My heart is ill at ease ahout it. It is autumn weather within it, neither warm, nor cold. When are you coming to Hamburg ? * R80.— To.J. Fahlmee [? 24 September, 1775.j I i.M coming, dear dear aunt ! This whole morning I have been wishing to write to you. I have endured on all sides terribly this week, but also resisted. God knows ! — Now — oh, perhaps a word about it presently. I have looked for you continually at the play. Adieu. G. 281.— To Lavatee, [Frankfort, end Sept. 1775.] ZiMMEEMANN has gonc and I have been lying in bed until ten o'clock in order to drive out a cold ; more though to revive in myself the feeling of domestic affection which the ungodly bustle of the last few days had quite scattered. Father and mother came to the bedside, we talked confidentially, I drank my tea and thus I am better. I have a home-feefing vagain in my four walls, however long it lasts. Z. and I got on capitally together. You can imagine it yourself, and I should have a great deal to tell if you did not show my letters to every one. It may indeed be your way, and amusing to others, but I cannot bear my letters to reveal to a man what I would not say a tenth part of by word of mouth. His conduct towards you is best left unexcused, it is better that such a thing should remain unexplained. I have distressed him Very much about it, although he * Thia letter was not sent till nearly 7even weeks later. Its con- cluiiion is given under Nov. 22. S 2 260 EAELY AND MISOELLAWEOUS [1775. immediately began tlie story with a very witty capiat, lenev. — His daugliter is so reserved ; not locked up, she is only retiring, and has left the door a little ajar. She would rather open to a softly lisping lover than to a knocking father.* It gave him great pain to have dis- tressed you so, and you good man will not have experienced this for the last time. C'est Ir sort d'un amour extreme De faire toujoura des ingrats. The ways of the world and of the heart become more and more incomprehensible to me. Isolated trials resemble each other everywhere, arid yet it is never to be thought from that that the greatest human head can take in the hurhan economy as a whole.' Decide about the Phis, volume II., pray, pray ! Other- wise nothing will come of it. New Year is almost here ! Especially the first Socratic chapter [is wanted] soon. Yesterday I jingled a little on the four madmBn and Brutus. Brother, brother, how difficult it is to animate the dead copper, where the character only glimmers through wrong lines, and one continually hesitates as to why that betokens sometMng, and yet betokens nothing. How dif- ferent in the life ! Only decide and send soon, for there are a multitude of distractions. The Duke of Weimar is here, but will soon take Louise away. Could you. not send me a crane-bill. Greet Babe,t she must write me something about herself and you. -In the last fortnight, I have been quite in the show of the great world ! Is the table of Eaphael heads numbered like the Hogarth ? 282.— To Lavatee. [Frankfort, Autumn Fair, 1775.] Here is my arm again on the stretch. But I * Zimmerman and his sensitive daughter are described in the Autobiog., book xv. t He refers to Frau Barbara Schulthess, an intimate friend of LavateSr and Pfenninger. See Diintzer, Leben, p. 247. ■ 1776.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 261 expressly desire that you will not leave me in the lurch again. You must now tell me at once which plates you will leave out of those proposed by me, which (for this or that reason) you will leave in. Then I will go on work- ing for you directly, think about the vignettes, &c. For the order must then remain fixed, even to trifles. Answer all, point by point, and say about what amount of general dissertations you wish to insert. Tolerance towards the countenances of men ! You may write that, I know nothing about it. Yesterday, deep in the buzz of the Fair-time ceremonials, Ariosto's expres- sion about the mob occurred to me : worthy of death before birth. I await your Abraham kindly. I do not indeed know a word of how I could have dramatised him, but I am willing to further and serve your poetry. About the plates I have only dashed off something, so as to make a start from shore. If you would only supply me with wind ! For I tell you whatever you desire of me, see to it quickly. I want of you above all things — 1, Eutgerodt; 2, Van Dyck. 3, No. 28-29. In return I promise directly — 1, Hedlinger, 2, Brutus,' 3, No. 17. Once more I ask you for Eutgerodt. Words ! looks, it occupies me very much and you shall have all my atten- tion. I swear to you, that with all your promises of re- muneration — which please me too, for I am human, and I like the game — you do not drive me on so well as you do by sending back my balls quickly. If you had seiit Newton that would have been sown and -reaped. You must learn to know me if you wish to use me ; otherwise you are a cunning rogue enough in that respect ; but I will still teach you something more. I have already written some more. Pestaluz* has sent me word of his coming, so soon i saall see the son of your faith. * Johann Heinrioh Pestalozzi, the well-kuown teacher, horn at ■ Zni-ioh 174fi. Hu established in this year his first school for poor children in Cmton Aargau. 262 EABLT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. I have got your ' Abraham.'* Deinet is coming to talk with me. So Babe thinks I have forgotten her. Deinet will print. Quarto ! And I will do what I have set my heart on about it ; but I am not exactly either in Abraham's position nor Isaac's. That piece will have a good wide effect : there will be a puff of scent here and there in it from my cask too, methinks. I cannot read the ciphers at the end of your letter. Send me the key quickly. Pestaluz Was very kind. I told him though, I wished you knew your countryijien better and they knew you better. He spoke entirely for you, without buts. Heaven grant [it was] with a pure heart. 283.— To ^t I am as I can be. Thank you, monsters, for your letters, and as the sea woman does not write, lash her with nettles when she comes out of the bath. 1 have dramatised you three, Gcnmt Christian Truchsess, Count Fr. Leopold, and Squire Curt. Where you will be represented in the great coronation hall at Frankfort in naturalibus. If I can go to Weimar I shall probably do so, but certainly not fur love of you ! And for love of no man, for I have a pique against the whole world. I do not grudge you your journey, which is worthy of you ! And may no dog make a boast of you, and be gaped at on that account as is fitting. Zimmermann stoutly commended you. 'I'here are endless letters to the sea woman about it. So farewell, dear brothers. What I am doing is worth much less than a penstroke. Gustchen is an angel. The devil take it, that she is an imperial countess. — For the rest I am of the perfectest. Write here when you To Weimar come. * A drama of Lavater's, " Abraham and Isaac." DUutzer thinks that one passage, " Abraham's prayer," was written by Goethe. t Evidently to the Counts Christian and Fritz Leopold Stolberg and their companion Cuunt Hangwitz. 1775.] LUTTEKS OF J. W. GOETHE. 263 284— To J. H. Merck. [Frankfort, October ITTS.l I AM -waiting for tlie Duke and Louise, and am going with them to Weimar. Then there will he again good things of all kinds, and wholes and halves, which inay God bless to us. Farewell, meantime, old friend, and make the best of life. If you can send me ten carolins, do it by the next carrier. I am in want of them, and so on. I have translated the Song of Solomon, which is the grandest collection of love songs which God has made. Madame la Eoche is in despair that you do not answer her. Eide over here once more before I go. I am pretty well. Have written a good deal at ' Taust.' Zimmermann greets you ; he went through Darmstadt at night. Greet wife and children. 285. — ^To Feait vox Laeochk. 11 Got 1775. I AM going to Weimar ! Does that please you ? I will see whether it is possible to agree with Wieland, so as to prepare something friendly for his old age on my part. I am waiting for the young couple, and then go. Write to me there, you can enclose it to Wieland. Max is charming, and will become still more intimate with my mother in my absence, although Brentano hides all appear- ance of jealousy, or perhaps even considers me harmless now. I have not been able to do anything for Buri,* I am entangled with my bookseller, and a new one ,would do it as a favour, and ask some sacrifice of me in return, but I will take his letter with me. Wieland is still as of old, even in the Neuwied affair ; this womanish vein will, I fear, keep me apart from him. Here are Menalck and Mopsus. Zimmermann is very * See note, p. 1, and Letter 210. 264 EAELT AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775 good ! a character made ! Swiss, free-Tjorn and modified in the German court, he charms all the world, especially the women. Merke [sic] is still at home, and pretty well, otherwise I know little about him. You know the non- writer, non- answerer ! Your Fritz, dear mama !* That fate should pierce the heart of mothers with such swords at the moment when they ought to reap in fuU the reward of all their little cares— keep up ! Who can do so else, and in weary hours lean on our love, which surely is perfect and eternal. G. 286.— To C. L. VON Knbbbl. [Frankfort, October 1775.] Your young ducal pair asked me to accompany them to Weimar ; I made my arrangements, packed up, put on my travelling' clothes, took leave and lemained , sitting here. By what fate I know not, Kalb,f to whom they referred me, did not come, but I should certainly have followed if it were not too dangerous in the present state of the weather and roads, to make the journey alone. In the meantime there are surely letters for me with Kalb and Wieland, and among them some which stUl touch my heart ; therefore put them up together please, and send them by horse-post to my usual address af Frankfort ; if there are any parcels, send them by post-cart, but quickly. Love me, and greet all who remember me according to what is due to their rank, and heart, and dignities. G. 287.^To G. A. Burgee. J [Frankfort.) Where in the world I am sitting must be aU the same to youl You feel that it is a moment of boundless * Fritz von Laroohe, her son, was leading a dissolute life. t J. A. A. von Kalb ^a.a Kammerath (Councillor of the Chamber) at the Weimar Court. J Here addressed as Bailiff at Altengleiohen, near Gottingen. See Letter 163. 1775.] LETTERS OF J. W. GOETHE. 265 necessity which places the pen in my hand to yon, dear Burger. Here on the right hand I am warmed by a' pleasant fireside, and I am writing to you on a low seat, at a child's little table. I have so much to tell you, but will tell you nothing, and you will understand me ! — The first moments of composure which by a mad chance, by a lettre de cached of fate, are thrown over my heart, the first after the most desultory, the most perplexed, the most complete, the fullest, the emptiest, the strongest, the siUiest three- , quarters of a year which I have ever had in my life. Whatever human nature can collect of contradictions the Fairy Kind or Unkind — ^what should I call her ? — bestowed on me as the New Year's present of '76 ; in fact the excellent arrangement was already made with the christen- ing gift ; and so let everything take its course. How it will be with me henceforth, God knows ! It will be still more restless, still more entangled ; and then I shall recall with pleasure the present moment in which I write. The clock strikes six. Wednesday, 18th of October, 1775. What is your domestic situation with your wife ? Have you any children, I hear absolutely nothing from you. Write to me only when you wish at Frankfort, I receive the letters duly. I have written all sorts of things that ought to afford you a pleasant hour. But they are one and aU delinquents and lack the good report which we should have before our Mother Nature. 288. — To J. Fahlmeb. V- [Weimar, 22 Nov. 1775.*] Dear little Aunt ! How like a sleigh-ride goes my life ; swiftly away, and tinkling and careering up and down. God knows for what I am still destined, that I am passed through such a school. This gives my life new impetus, and everything wiU be well. I can say nothing * Goethe was now paying a visit to the Duke of Weimar — a visit which practically never ended. He arrived at Weimar on the 7th of November, and after a short absence in the neighbourhood in the following month he returned, and soon received a permanent appoint- ment at the Court. 266 EABLY AND MISCELLANEOUS [1775. «)f my domestic economy, it is too -confused, but every- thing goes on desirably; it is a wonderful show here, naturally. Write me a word. Wieland is very amiable, we always keep together, and I am only too fond of being amongst his children. His wife is thoroughly good, and like Madame la Roche. Adieu; ask mama to open all letters- in French envelopes. Here is one back. Give it to the papa, with the request to attend in my name to what is needful, to treat with the Herren Diacres about th.e suit and to keep the Triimbachs' money himself. Here is a letter to them which he can send them.* Adieu. Greet the dear Gerocks and Max. Write me something of the fate of this unhappy one. Adieu. But we shall certainly meet again in this world. Never mind the above commissions to' papa, I vsdll write to him myself. Fritz has been ill, I hear — the kind soul. Wieland has written a long letter to him. I, too, shall probably write to him again to-day. Give this letter to mama to read. G. 288a. — [To AUGUSTE Ztl SxOLBERG.t] [Weimar, 22 Nov.] I AM expecting your brothers oh Gustchen. How all this time has passed with me ! Here I have been for nearly a fortnight already, in the bustle and movement of the court. Adieu; more soon ; together with our brothers. You shall have this sheet in the meantime. ' G. 289.— To Herder. K^ [Weimar, about lOtli Deo. 1775.] Dear Brother, the Duke wants a Superintendent- General. X If ypu have by this time altered your plans as to Gottingen, something might be done here. Write me a * These instructions refer to Goethe's business as an advocate. The children of the Freiherr von Triimbach were Fraul. von Klettenber^'s heirs. U, p. 100. t This is the conclusion of Letter 279, which was not sent until now. X A clerical post united with that of court chaplain. 1775.] LETTEES OF J. W. GGETHE. 267 word. Anyhow in the mutability of the future there is a prospect here. Farewell. Greet the wifie. .1 am well off here in every respect. Wieland is a good soul, and the princes noble, amiable and kind. Goethe. 290.— To Lavater. ^ Friday, 2l8t Deo. After a splendid winter's day, which I have mostly spent in the open air ; in the morning with the duke, in the afternoon with Wieland, tolerably tired, and out of breath with skating, I am sitting near W. and will see what I can glean together for you. Your Physiognomy lies on my mind. 1 will do the chapter allotted to me. Short enough and, God willing, concise, and to the point ; that is everything. For it is not now the time for spinning out, whilst I am hurried about in more extensive style of living and diversion from morning till night. I am also diligently looking after the remaining copper- plates ; I talk to all kijids of people about them. Wieland iias given me his sentiments, and so all will be well. I Hm going soon to Leipsic, so if you want anything tliere write in time and Jet me execute it. Moreover, the Duke wants a Superintendent-General ; ho asked me about it, and I named Herder to him. Who, as perhaps you know, is not yet quite certain to go to Gottingen. The Duke commissioned me to ask whom you would suggest. Let liie have a word then quickly about this, and whota else you could suggest in default of Herder. I am quite as if amongst my own people here, and the Duke becomes daily dearer to me, and we daily become more united. Greet all for me. I have kind letters from Passavant ; from Zimmermann, too, who tells me of your good courage and brisk, way with the rascals of country folk. To-morrow I am going through Jena to Waldeck, to seek out wild regions and simple men. Addio. Every- thing goes according to my heart's wish, the same to you. ^ G. '268 EARLY AND MISCELtANEOUS [1775. Babe,* too, may exert herself to write to me once more. Greet your wife. Do not he too laconic with me. In the list of contents of the Phis, sent to me, the last numbers are wrong ; in order that there may be no dis- order in the plates, joii will find a double set of numbers. ^ 291. — To THE Duke of WEiMAE.f Waldeok, 23 Deo. 1775. In falling mist, in deep laid snow, la forest wild, in the winter's niglit, I hear the hungry howl of wolves, I hear the cry of owls. Wow, wow, wo, wo, Towhit, towhoo. My man he shot a oat in the he