But even by walking, a man rests and recovers himself for climbing; by little joys and duties, for great. The victorious Dictator must contrive to plough down his battle Mars-field into a flax and carrot field; to transform his theatre of war into a parlor theatre, on which his children may enact some good pieces from the Children's Friend. Can he accomplish this, can he turn so softly from the path of poetical happiness into that of household happiness,—then is he little different from myself, who even now, though modesty might forbid me to disclose it—who even now, I say, amid the creation of this Letter, have been enabled to reflect, that, when it is done, so also will the Roses and Elder-berries of pastry be done, which a sure hand is seething in butter for the Author of this Work.
As I purpose appending to this Letter a Postscript (at the end of the Book), I reserve somewhat which I had to say about the Third[1] half-satirical, half-philosophical part of the Work till that opportunity.
Here, out of respect for the rights of a Letter, the Author drops his half anonymity,[2] and for the first time subscribes himself with his whole true name,
Hof in Voigtland, 29th June, 1795.
- ↑ Fixlein stands in the middle of the volume; preceded by Einer Mustheil für Mädchen (A Jelly-course for young Ladies); and followed by Some Jus de Tablette for Men. A small portion of the Preface relating to the first I have already omitted. Neither of the two have the smallest relation to Fixlein.—Ed.
- ↑ J. P. H., Jean Paul Hasus, Jean Paul, &c., have in succession been Richter's signatures. At present even, his German designation, either in writing or speech, is never Richter, but Jean Paul.—Ed.
