pened to them as it did to the monkey who had seen a man shave himself. When the latter left the room, the ape came, took the razor and brush from the drawer, soaped himself, and then cut his own throat. I do not know to what extent these German Jacobins wounded themselves, but I see that they are bleeding badly. Now they are scolding me. "Look!" they say; "we have honourably soaped ourselves, and bled for the good cause, but Heine did not act honourably in his shaving; he was wanting in true earnestness in using the razor; he never once cut himself; he calmly washes away the soap, whistles while doing so, and laughs at the bloody wounds of the throat-cutters who had honourable intentions."
Be satisfied; this time I have really cut myself.
HEINRICH HEINE.
Paris, end of November 1832.
