old fritz and the new era-第44部分

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〃Proceed；　Wolf；〃　cried　the　duke；　as　the　echo　died　away。　〃How　can
you；　yourself　a　god；　be　so　excited　with　the　anger　of　like　beings？
Proceed！〃

The　uplifted　arm　of　the　poet　sank　at　his　side；　and　the　fiery　glance
was　softened。　〃No　human　word　is　capable　of　expressing　what
Prometheus　just　spoke　in　thunder；〃　said　Goethe；　musingly；　〃and　I
humbly　feel　how　weak　and　insignificant　we　are；　and　how　great　we
think　ourselves；　while　our　voice　is　like　the　humming　beetle　in
comparison　to　this　voice　from　the　clouds。〃

〃Be　not　desponding；　Wolf；　your　own　will　ring　throughout　Europe；
every　ear　will　listen　and　every　heart　will　comprehend；　and　centuries
later　it　will　delight　with　its　freshness　and　beauty。　The　storm
passes　and　dies　away；　but　the　poet　lives　in　his　heavenly　melodies
through　all　time。　You　must　finish　'Prometheus'　for　me；　Wolf。　I
cannot　permit　you　to　leave　it　as　a　fragment。　I　will　have　it　in　black
and　white；　to　refresh　myself　in　its　beauty　bright。　A　spark　of　your
divine　talent　is　infused　into　my　soul；　and　I　begin　to　rhyme。　Ah；
Wolf；　all　that　is　elevated　within　me　I　owe　to　you；　and　I　bless　Fate
for　according　you　to　me。〃

〃And　I　also；　dear　Charles；〃　said　Goethe；　feelingly。　〃For；　fostered
and　protected　by　your　noble　mind　and　nature；　my　inmost　thoughts
develop　and　blossom。　We　give　and　receive　daily　from　each　other；　and
so　mingle　the　roots　of　our　being　that；　God　willing；　we　will　become
two　beautiful　trees；　like　the　oak　which　now　arches　over　us。　But　see；
the　rain　is　fast　ceasing；　and　the　sun　looks　out　by　the　clinched　hand
of　Prometheus。　We　can　now　travel　on　to　the　loved　spot。〃

〃Oh；　Wolf；　are　you　in　love？　None　but　a　lover　could　say　the　rain　has
ceased；　when　it　pours　down　so　that　we　should　be　drenched　before　we
could　arrive　at　Weimar。　But　hark！　I　hear　a　carriage　in　the　distance；
we　may　be　favored　with　a　shelter。〃

The　duke　stepped　out　from　under　the　trees；　and　looked　along　the
highway　with　his　sharp　hunter's　eye。　〃A　vehicle　approaches；　but　no
chance　for　us；　as　it　appears　to　be　a　farm…wagon；　crowded　with　men
and　women。〃

〃Indeed　it　does；〃　said　Goethe；　joining　him；　〃a　very　merry　company
they　are　too；　singing　gayly。　Now；　grant　the　rain　rain　has　ceased〃

〃Charlotte　von　Stein　is　at　Weimar；〃　interrupted　the　duke。　〃Give　me
your　arm；　and　we　will　walk　on。〃

They　advanced　briskly　arm　in　arm。　A　stranger　meeting　them　would　have
supposed　that　they　were　brothers；　so　much　alike　were　they　in　form；
manners；　and　dress；　for　the　duke　as　well　as　Goethe　wore　the　Werther
costume。

As　they　descended；　the　carriage　came　nearer　and　nearer。　The　duke's
keen　eye　had　not　been　deceived。　It　was　a　farm…wagon；　filled　with　a
frolicsome　party；　sitting　on　bags　of　straw　for　cushions。　They　were
chatting　and　laughing　absorbed　in　fun；　and　did　not　observe　the　two
foot…passengers；　who　turned　aside　from　them。　A　sudden　cry　of
surprise　hushed　the　conversation；　a　form　rose；　half　man　and　half
woman；　enveloped　in　a　man's　coat　of　green　baize；　crowned　with　a　neat
little　hat　of　a　woman。　〃Oh；　it　is　Charles！〃　cried　the　form；　and　at
the　same　instant　the　duke　sprang　to　the　wagon。　〃Is　it　possible；　my
dear　mother？〃

〃The　Duchess　Amelia！〃　cried　Goethe；　astonished。

〃Yes；〃　laughed　the　duchess；　greeting　them　with　an　affectionate　look。
〃The　proverb　proves　itself'Like　mother；　like　son。'　On　the　highway
mother　and　son　have　met。　You　should　have　done　the　honors　in　a
stately　equipage。〃

〃May　I　be　permitted　to　ask　where　you　come　from？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃And　the　dress；　of　what　order　do　you　wear？〃

〃We　walked　to　Ziefurt；　and　intended　to　walk　back。　Thusnelda　is　so
delicate　and　weak；　that　she　complained　of　her　fairy　feet　paining
her；〃　answered　the　duchess；　laughing。

〃Ah；　duchess；　must　I　always　be　the　butt？〃　cried　the　lady　behind　the
duchess；　crouching　between　the　straw…sacks。　〃Must　I　permit　you　to
follow　in　my　footsteps；　while　I〃

〃Hush；　Goechhausenhush；　sweet　Philomel；〃　interrupted　the　duke；　〃or
the　Delphic　riddle　of　this　costume　will　be　apparent。〃

〃It　is　easily　explained；〃　said　the　duchess。　〃No　other　conveyance　was
to　be　had；　and　my　good　Wieland　gave　me　his　green　overcoat　to　protect
me　from　the　pouring　rain。〃　＇Footnote：　True　anecdote。See　Lewes'
〃Goethe's　Life　and　Writings；〃　vol。　1。；　p。　406。＇

〃And　from　to…day　forth　it　will　be　a　precious　palladium；〃　cried　the
little　man　with　a　mild；　happy　face　on　the　straw　by　the　duchess。

〃And　there　is　Knebel　too；〃　shouted　the　duke　to　the　gentleman　who
just　then　pulled　the　wet　hood　of　his　cloak　over　his　powdered　hair。

〃Our　treasurer　Bertuch；　Count　Werther；　and　Baron　von　Einsiedel
also。〃

〃Does　not　your　highness　ask　after　our　bewitching　countess？〃　asked
Goechhausen；　in　her　fine；　sharp　voice。　〃The　countess　is　quite　ill
is　she　not；　Count　Werther？〃

〃I　believe　so；　they　say　so；〃　answered　the　count；　rather　absent…
minded。　〃I　have　not　seen　her　for　some　days。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　duke；　as　Goethe　was　engaged　in　a
lively　conversation　with　the　duchess。　〃Is　the　dear　countess
dangerously　ill？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　answered　Goechhausen；　〃not　very　ill；　only　in　love　with
genius；　a　malady　which　has　attacked　us　all　more　or　less　since　that
mad　fellow　Wolfgang　Goethe　has　raged　in　Weimar；　and　made　it　a　place
of　torment　to　honorable　people。　Oh；　Goetheoh；　Wolf！　with　what
lamb…like　innocence　we　wandered　in　comfortable　sheep's　clothing
until　you　came　and　fleeced　us；　and　infected　us　with　your　'Sturm　und
Dranger'　malady；　and　made　us　fall　in　love　with　your　works！〃

〃Goechhausen；　hold　your　malicious　tongue；　and　do　not　hide　your　own
joy　beneath　jest　and　mockery；〃　cried　the　duchess。　〃Acknowledge　that
you　are　rejoiced　to　see　your　favorite；　and　that　you　will　hasten　to
write　to　Madam　Aja；　'Our　dear　duke　has　returned；　and　my　angel；　my
idol；　Wolfgang；　also。'　I　assure　you；　Goethe；　Thusnelda　loves　you；
and　was　exceedingly　melancholy　during　your　absence。　If　asked　the
cause　of　her　sadness；　she　wept　like〃

〃Like　a　crocodile；〃　said　the　duke。　〃Oh；　I　know　those　tears　of
Fraulein　Goechhausen；　I　could　relate　stories　of　her　crocodile
nature。　Mother；　how　can　you　have　such　a　monster　in　your　society？　Why
not　make　the　cornes；　that　the　little　devils　may　fly　away？〃

〃Very　good；〃　cried　the　little；　crooked　lady。　〃I　see　your　highness
has　not　changed　by　this　journey。　Where　have　you　been；　dear　duke？　Oh；
I　remember；　you　flew　over　the　Rhine；　and　have　flown　home　again　quite
unchanged。〃

All　laughed；　the　duke　louder　than　any　one。　〃Goechhausen；　you　are　a
glorious　creature；　and　the　Arminius　is　to　be　envied　who　appropriates
this　Thusnelda。　Oh；　I　see　the　charming　youth　before　me；　who　has　the
courage　to　make　this　German　wife　his　own！〃

〃I　will　scratch　his　eyes　out？〃　cried　Goechhausen；　〃and　then　the
Countess　Werther　can　play　Antigone；　and　lead　him　around　as　Oedipus。
Why　shut　your　eyes；　Einsiedel？　I　do　not　scratch　quite　yet。〃

〃I　was　not　thinking　of　that；〃　said　the　baron；　astonished。

〃You　never　think　that　every　one　knows；　but　did　you　not　do　it　so　soon
as　you　understood　the　Countess　Werther　should　lead　blind　Oedipus　as
Antigone？〃

Before　the　count　could　answer；　the　court　lady　turned　again　to　the
duke。　〃What　did　your　highness　bring　me？　I　hope　you　have　not
forgotten　that　you　promised　me　a　handsome　present。〃

〃No；　I　have　not　forgotten　it；　I　have　brought　my　Thusnelda　a
souvenirsuch　a　gift！〃

〃What　is　it；　your　highness？〃

〃A　surprise　which；　if　Thusnelda　is　clever；　she　must　think　about　all
night。But；　Goethe；　is　it　not　time　to　leave　the　ladies？〃

〃Wait；　I　command　you　both；〃　said　the　Duchess　Amelia；　extending　her
hand　to　her　son；　who　pressed　it　to　his　lips　most　affectionately。　〃I
have　given　out　invitations　for　a　soiree；　for　this　evening。　My
daughter…in…law；　the　Duchess　Louisa；　has　accepted；　duke；　and　Frau
von　Stein　also；　Goethe。　I　hope　to　see　you　at　Belvedere；　gentlemen。
The　poet　Gleim　is　in　town；　and　will　read　his　late　'Muse　Almanach。'
May　I　not　expect　both　of　you？〃

They　joyfully　consented；　gazing　after　the　merry　society　as　it　drove
away。　〃This　is　a　good　bite　for　the　poisonous　tongues　of　the
honorable；〃　cried　the　duke。　〃My　mother　in　a　farm…wagon；　with
Wieland's　green　overcoat　on；　and　the　reigning　duke；　with　his　Goethe；
entering　his　capital　on　foot　like　a　journeyman　mechanic；　after　a
long　journey！〃

〃I　wish　we　were　there；　my　dearest　friend；〃　sighed　Goethe。

〃Oh；　love　makes　you　impatient！　Come　on；　then。　But　listen；　we　must
play　Gochhausen　a　trick；　I　have　promised　her　a　surprise。　Will　you
help　me；　Wolf？〃

〃With　pleasure；　duke。〃

〃I　have　thought　of　something　very　droll；　and　your　servant　Philip
must　help　us；　he　is　a　clever　fellow；　and　can　keep　his　own　counsel。〃

〃He　is　silent　as　the　grave；　duke。〃

〃That　is　necessary　for　such　a　gentleman　as　the　women　all　run　after。
Let　us　skip　down　the　mountain；　and　then　forward　where　our　hearts
incline　us。　This　afternoon　I　will　go　for　you　and　bring　you　to
Belvedere；　and　then　we　can　talk　over　the　surprise。〃　They　ran　down
the　declivity　into　the　suburb；　to　the　terror　of　the　good　people；　who
looked　after　them；　saying　that　the　young　duke　had　returned　with　his
mad　protege。　The　〃mad　favorite〃　seemed　more　crazy　than　ever　to…day；
for　after　a　brief　farewell　to　the　duke；　he　bounded　through　the
streets　across　the　English　park；　to　the　loved　house；　the　roof　of
which　he　had　so　longingly　greeted　from　the　hillside。　The　door　stood
open；　as　is　customary　in　small　towns；　and　the　servant　in　the
vestibule　came　to　meet　him；　and　respectfully　announced　that　her
master　had　gone　to　his　estate　at　Hochberg；　but　that　Frau　von　Stein
was　most　probably　in　the　pavilion；　in　the　garden；　as　she　had　gone
thither　with　her　guitar。　〃Is　she　alone？〃　asked　Goethe。　The　servant
answered　in　the　affirmative；　and　through　the　court　hastened　the
lovernot　through　the　principal　entrance；　as　he　would　surprise　her；
and　read　in　her　sweet　face　whether　she　thought　of　him。　Softly　he
opened　the　little　garden　gate；　and　approached　the　pavilion　by　a
side…alley。　Do　his　feet　touch　the　ground；　or　float　over　it？　He　knew
not；　he　heard　music；　accompanied　by　a　sweet；　melodious　voice。　It　was
Charlotte's。　Goethe's　face　beamed　with　delight　and　happiness。　He
gazed　at　her　unseen；　not　alone　with　his　eyes；　but　heart　and　soul
went　forth　to　her。　She　sat　sideways　to　the　door；　upon　a　table　lay
her　notes；　and