Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 10.djvu/751

Lili. Stcllu. journey with Jacobi. wiss vurney. GOETHE and author of the illessia/1, the acknowledged head of German poets. On December 11 Goethe was surprised by the visit of a stranger, whom he at first took for Fr. Jacobi. It was Karl Ludwig von Knebel, who was travel- ling with the two young princes of Saxe-Veiniar,.the reign- ing duke Karl August, then just seventeen, and his younger brother Constantine. They were on their way to France with their tutor, Count Gorz, and they could not pass through Frankfort without making the acquaintance of the new genius who had risen upon their country. Goethe went to see them, was warmly received, and talked with them about the condition and prospects of Germany. This meeting decided the future course of Goethe’s life. Kiiebel thought Goethe “the best of men, the most lovable of man- kind.” The princes invited him to visit them at Mainz, where they would stay longer than at Frankfort. The visit lasted from December 13 to 15 when the went on to Carlsruhe, where the duke was to nieet his intlefnded bride. Goethe took the opportunity of reconciling himself with Wieland, who lived in Veimar. On his return he found Fritulein von Kletteiiberg dead. “My Klettenberg is dead,” he writes, “before I had an idea that she was dangerously 111. Dead and buried in my absence! She who was so dear, so much to me.” Frederike was lost to him, Charlotte, Maxiiniliane, and his sister married. Some attachment was a necessity of his nature. He now came iuider the influence of Lili Scliiineinann, the daughter of a rich banker, whose father was dead, but whose mother con- ducted the business, and held one of the most brilliant salons in Frankfort. This passion seemed to be of a more lasting nature than the others. Goethe was drawn into the whirl of society. He is described as moving in brilliaiitly-lighted rooms, in a gold-laced coat, passing from party to concert, from conceit to ball, held captive by a fair- liaired girl with a pair of bright eyes. Such was Goethe in the carnival time. To Lili’s influence we owe several of his smaller poems, Ne-ue Liebe 7l6Zl€S Lebcn, II erz main Ilerz was soll tlas gebcn, IIei'clem'¢')slcz.'a, and two little vaudevilles, Erwm mul Elmzre and Cluucliae won Villa Bella. The firtsttcoiitains lsoiné prelity slotngs, fl1Ol7a(l1)l_Yl “Dalsl lEai€pli(e12t,’f’ se 0 music y .L ozai . 1S oun ec on t e a a o “Ezlwin and Angelina” in the Vicar of Tl"alr(_’/ielrl. The latter half belongs to an earlier period, and is complete in itself. Clazuliiw van l'll_lcL Bella has one good_ch-aracter, the prodigal son Crugantino ; and the ballad which LS sung at the crisis of the plot was written during the Rhine To this period also belongs Stella, a comedy for loveis, a strange, wild play, full of extravagant passion. The weak-minded hero Fernando marries two wives one after the other. They meet together in an inn, and he is reduced to extremity of misery. He loves them both, and they both love him. Finally, the first wife Stella surrenders her rights, and they agree all to live together. The play in this form suggested to Canning the parody of the Ilouers, or the Double Arrangement. In 1806 Goethe altered the close by making Fernando shoot himself and Stella take poison. It is seldom performed, but Stella is a fine character for a great actress. It is said to be founded on an occurrence in the Jacobi family. Neither family approved of the engagement between the youthful couple. Goetlic’s parents thought Lili too much of a fine lady; they had a suspicion, which was well founded, that her wealth had no very sure founda- tion. Frau Schiinemann did not think that Goethe, with all his genius, would make a good husband for her child. Cornelia Schlosser was strongly opposed to the match. Goethe tore himself away, and went for a tour in Switzei'laiid. His companions were_ the brothers Stolberg, noisy, wild young noblemen, who 111 May had stayed at Goethe’s house. They gave Goetlie’s mother the name of 7 27 Frau Aya, which she ever afterwards retained. On his journey Goethe visited the duke of Saxe-Weiinnr and his betrothed at Carlsruhe, his sister at Enimendingeii, Lavater at Zurich. He bore with him the constant memory of Lili ; he wore a golden heart which she had given him round his neck. He climbed the St Gotthard on her birth- day, and looked with longing eyes to the promised land of Italy. But a stronger power drew him home again, and he returned. At Strasburg he met his old friends, and saw Ziiiimerniann, the writer on solitude. He showed him a. profile of Frau.voii Stein who lived at Weimar, with which Goethe was enchanted. He returned to Frankfort on July 20. August was Return. spent delightfully with Lili at Offenbach ; his letters speak of nothing but her. September and the fair-time at Frankfort brought back his troubles. His position is described in the poem Lili’s 1’m'lr. He is the half-tamed bear who is held by magic bands amongst the birds and the fish, and yet sees a door left a little open for escape, and swears that he has the power to pass it. During this last period of his passion be translated part of the Song of Solomon. He wrote some scenes in Faust-—the walk in the garden, the first conversation with Mephistopheles, the interview with the scholar, the scene in Auerbach’s cellar. 12';/mont was also begun under the stimulus of the American Rebellion. A way of escaping from his embarrassments was unexpectedly opened to him. The duke of Weimar passed through Frankfort both before and after his niarriage, which took place oii October 3. He invited Goethe to stay at W'eiinai', and it was arranged that one of the duke’s household, who was expected every day with a new carriage, should bring him with him. He took leave of everyone, including Lili. But the carriage did not come ; a second leave-taking was impossible. He remained all day in the house working at E;/mont, going out only at night. Once he stood by Lili‘s window, heard her sing his songs, and saw her shadow on the curtain. He could not linger longer in the town. He started for Heidelberg hoping to meet the carriage, determined if it did not come to go on to Italy. He was summoned hastily back by a messenger, found the carriage at Frankfort, and entered Weimar in the early morning of November 7, 1775. It was not for his happi- ness or for Lili’s that they should have married. She afterwards thanked him deeply for the firmness with which he overcame ateniptation to which she would have yielded. At this time the smaller German courts were beginning Weiinar. to take an interest in German literature. Before the Seven Years’ War the whole of German culture had been French. Even new German writers found but scant acceptance at Berlin or Vienna. The princes of the smaller states, shut out from the great world of politics, surrounded themselves with literature and art, and with men who would be likely to give an interest to their lives. The duke of Brunswick had made Lessing his librarian at VVolfenbi'ittel, and had not objected to the publication of Emzlia Galolti. Emmerich Joseph, the worldly elector and arch- bishop of Mainz, was devoted to Munich and the theatre, and made his stage one of the best in Europe. The mar- grave of Baden had invited Klopstock to his court, and delighted to associate with himself the author of the Jlessialt, the “poet of religion and of his country.” The duke of Wiirteinberg paid special attention to education ; he promoted the views of Schubart, and founded the school in which Schiller was educated. Hanover offered a home to Ziiiiiiiermanii, and encouraged the development of Sclilegel. Darmstadt was specially fortunate. Caroline, the wife of the landgrave, had surrounded herself with a literary circle, of which Merck was the moving spirit. She had collected and privately printed the odes of Klopstock, and her death

in 1774 seemed to leave Darmstadt a desert. Her daughter