PREFACE.
35
utter the terrible all-powerful word of incantation, when the great change will unexpectedly begin, and he himself the fool, all at once disenchanted, will stand before you in his original beautiful blonde heroic form with his great blue eyes, the purple mantle instead of the harlequin jacket, and the sword of empire in his hand instead of the dagger of lath. But ye need not fear; the great fool will never speak the word. The great fool remains most submissively obedient to you, and if the little fools would injure you, the great one at a wink would strike them dead.[1]
(Written in Paris, Oct. 18, 1832.)
HEINRICH HEINE.
- ↑ The preceding two sentences form the conclusion in the original MS., and do not occur in later editions.
