No More Learning

I requested the Editor of the Foreign Review
to forward you some of my lucubrations, which
you said you had not seen; nevertheless I am
afraid he has neglected it; neither, I can warn
you, is the loss very great. I was shocked to
learn that poor Mu? liner was dead: the very
post that brought me his version of my Play-
wrights in his Mitternacht-Blatt, conveyed also
those other tidings that the poor Jester was
now "quite chapfallen. " Alas, poor Yorick!
And why did / add another grain to his last
load of suffering, already too heavy for him1! --
Since then I have not cast one other glance
at your Tartarus; but looked only at the
Elysium, which is far more profitable.
Of our English Literature at this moment,
the two chief features seem to be our increased
1 In his article on German Playwrights {Foreign Review,
No. VI. , 1829, see Miscellanies, vol. ii. ), Carlyle had spoken with
some severity of Mu? liner's Plays and of his Midnight Paper.
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? 1830 CARLYLE TO ECKERMANN 169
and increasing attention to the Literature of
neighbouring nations; and the universal effort
to render all sorts of knowledge popular, to
accommodate our speculations, both in price
and structure, to the largest possible number of
readers. In regard to that first peculiarity, you
already know of our two Foreign Reviews, both
of which affect to be prospering; and now
further we have a Foreign Literary Gazette?
published weekly in London, and which, though
it is a mere steam-engine concern, managed by
an utter Dummkopf, solely for lucre, appears to
meet with sale, so great is the curiosity, so
boundless is the ignorance of men: dem
Narrenkb'nig gehort die Welt, at least all the
temporalities thereof. Our zeal for popularising,
again, is to be seen on every side of us. To
say nothing of our Societies for the Diffusion of
useful Knowledge, with their sixpenny treatises,
really very meritorious, we have, I know not
how many Miscellanies, Family Libraries,
Cabinet Cyclopedias, and so forth; and these
not managed by any literary Gibeonites, but
1 Edited by Mr. William Jerdan.
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? 170 CARLYLE TO ECKERMANN 1830
sometimes by the best men we have: Sir
Walter Scott, for instance, is publishing a
History of Scotland by one of these vehicles;
Thomas Moore is to write a History of Ireland
for the same work. The other day, I may add,
there came a letter to me from a quite new
Brotherhood of that sort; earnestly requesting
a "Life of Goethe. " Knowing my corre-
spondent l as a man of some weight and respect-
ability in Literature, I have just answered him
that the making of Goethe known to England
was a task which any Englishman might be
proud of; but that, as for his Biography, the
only rational plan, as matters stood, was to
take what he had himself seen fit to impart on
the subject; and by proper commentary and
adaptation, above all, by a suitable version,
and not perversion, of what was to be trans-
lated, enable an Englishman to read it with
the eye of a German. If anything come of this
proposal, and what, you shall by and by hear.
But it is more than time that I should say
a word about my History oj German Litera-
1 Mr. G. R. Gleig, on behalf of Dr. Lardner.
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? 1830 CARLYLE TO ECKERMANN 171
ture (if such can be the name of it), the task
above alluded to, and which also is to form
part of a joint-stock enterprise, the first of a
whole series of Literary Histories, French,
Italian, Spanish, English Literature being all
to be depicted in that "Cabinet Library" of
theirs. I am to have four volumes, and have
thought a good deal about the plan I am to
follow. The first volume is to be antiquarian,
I think; to treat of the Nibelungonlied, the
Minnesingers, Mastersingers, and so forth, and
may perhaps end with Hans Sachs. The
second will probably contain Luther and the
Reformation Satirists, with Opitz and his
school; down as far as Thomasius, Gottsched,
and the Swiss. The last two volumes must
be devoted to your modern, indeed recent
Literature, which is of all others the most
important to us. I need not say how much
any counsel of yours would oblige me in
regard to this matter, many parts of which
are still very dark to me. In particular, can
you mention any reasonable Book in which
the "New School" is exhibited; what was
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? 172 CARLYLE TO ECKERMANN 1830
its history, fairly stated, what its doctrines;
what in short was the meaning lying at the
bottom of that boundless hubbub, which so
often perplexes the stranger even yet with its
echoes in your Literature? Is Gru? ber's talk
(in his Wieland) about the Xenienkrieg to be
depended on, or is it mostly babble; and is
there any other work that will throw light on
that singular period? The Briefwechsel, two
volumes of which I have, is doubtless the
most authentic of all documents: but still my
understanding of it is far from sufficient. A
few words from you might perhaps save me
much groping; neither will you grudge that
trouble for me. Might I ask you to mention
what you think in general the most remarkable
epochs, and circumstances (Momente] of Ger-
man Literature? Indeed nothing that you can
write on that subject will be otherwise than
welcome to me. But, alas! the sheet is done;
and I must so soon say Lebewohl! Pray do
not linger in writing; your news, too, will seem
highly important to us. Lastly, if it be not
troublesome: use the Roman handwriting;
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? 1830 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 173
the other is like a thick veil, requiring to be
torn off first.
With best wishes, ever faithfully yours,
TH. CARLYLE.
Your German Philister, your Adelungs,
Nicolais, etc. (of which sort we have plenty in
England even now), and what figure their
activity specially assumed, are also an object of
great curiosity with me. We call them "Utili-
tarians" here, and they are mostly political,
and " Radical," or republican.
My wife directs me to send her kind regards,
and continued hope of one day seeing you.
Pray employ me, if there is anything here in
which I can serve you.
XXV. -- GOETHE to CARLYLE.
April 1830. ]
Das werthe Schatzkastlein, nachdem es
durch den strengsten Winter vom Continent
lange abgehalten worden, ist endlich um die
Halfte Marz glu? cklich angelangt.
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? 174 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1830
Um von seinem Gehalt zu sprechen, erwa? hne
zuerst der unscha? tzbaren Locke, die man wohl
mit dem theuren Haupte verbunden mo? chte
gesehen haben, die aber hier einzeln erblickt,
mich fast erschreckt ha? tte. Der Gegensatz
war zu auffallend; denn ich brauchte meinen
Scha? del nicht zu beru? hren, um zu wissen dass
daselbst nur Stoppeln sich hervorthun; es war
nicht no? thig vor den Spiegel zu treten, um zu
erfahren dass eine lange Zeitreihe ihnen ein
missfarbiges Ansehen gegeben. Die Un-
mo? glichkeit der verlangten Erwiederung fiel
mir aufs Herz, und no? thigte mich zu Gedanken
deren man sich zu entschlagen pflegt. Am
Ende aber blieb mir doch nichts u? brig als mich
an der Vorstellung zu begnu? gen: eine solche
Gabe sey dankbarlichst ohne Hoffnung irgend
einer genu? genden Gegengift anzunehmen. Sie
soll auch heilig in der ihrer wu? rdigen Brieftasche
aufbewahrt bleiben, und nur das Liebenswu? r-
digste ihr zugesellt werden.
Der Schottische elegante Turban hat, wie
ich versichern darf, zu manchem Vergnu? g-
lichen Gelegenheit gegeben. Seit vielen Jahren
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? 1830 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 175
werden wir von den Einwohnern der drey
Ko? nigreiche besucht, welche gern einige Zeit
lang bey uns verweilen und guter Gesellschaft
geniessen mo? gen. Hierunter befinden sich
zwar weniger Schotten, doch kann es nicht
fehlen dass nicht noch das Andenken an einen
solchen Landsmann sich in einem scho? nen
Herzen so lebendig finde, um die National-
Prachtmu? tze, die Distel mit eingeschlossen, als
einen wu? nschenswerthesten Schmuck anzusehen,
und die gu? tige Senderin ha? tte sich gewiss gefreut
das lieblichste Gesicht von der Welt darunter
hervorgucken zu sehen. Ottilie aber dankt zum
allerverbindlichsten, und wird, sobald unsre
Trauertage voru? ber sind, damit glorreich auf-
zutreten nicht ermangeln.
Lassen Sie mich nun eine na? chste Gegen-
sendung anku? ndigen, welche zum Juni als der
gu? nstigsten Jahreszeit sich wohl wird zusammen
gefunden haben. Sie erhalten:
1. Das Exemplar Ihres u? bersetzten Schil-
lers, geschmu? ckt mit den Bildern Ihrer la? nd-
lichen Wohnung, begleitet von einigen Bogen in
meiner Art, wodurch ich zugleich dem Bu? chlein
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? 176 . GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1830
offnen Eingang zu verschaffen, besonders aber
die Communikation beyder La? nder und Litera-
turen lebhafter zu erregen trachte. Ich wu? nsche
dass diese nach Kenntniss des Publicums ange-
wendeten Mittel Ihnen nicht missfallen, auch
der Gebrauch, den ich von Stellen unsrer
Correspondenz gemacht, nicht als Indiskretion
mo? ge gedeutet werden. Wenn ich mich in
ju? ngeren Jahren vor dergleichen Mittheilungen
durchaus gehu? tet, so ziemt es dem ho? heren
Alter auch solche Wege nicht zu verschma? hen.
Die gu? nstige Aufnahme des Schillerischen
Briefwechsels gab mir eigentlich hiezu Anlass
und Muth. Ferner finden Sie beygelegt:
2. Die vier noch fehlenden Ba? nde ge-
dachter Briefe. Mo? gen Sie Ihnen als Zauber-
wagen zu Diensten stehen, um sich in die
damalige Zeit in unsere Mitte zu versetzen, wo
es eine unbedingte Strebsamkeit galt, wo
niemand zu fordern dachte und nur zu verdienen
bemu? ht war. Ich habe mir die vielen Jahre
her den Sinn, das Gefu? hl jener Tage zu er-
halten gesucht und hoffe es soll mir fernerhin
gelingen.
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? 183o GOETHE TO CARLYLE 177
3. Eine fu? nfte Sendung meiner Werke liegt
sodann bey, worin sich wohl manches unter-
haltende, unterrichtende, belehrende, brauchbar
anzuwendende finden wird. Man gestehe zu
dass es auch ideelle Utilitarier gebe, und es sollte
mir sehr zur Freude gereichen wenn ich mich
darunter za? hlen du? rfte. Noch eine Lieferung,
dann ist vorerst das beabsichtigte Ganze voll-
bracht, dessen Abschluss zu erleben ich mir kaum
zu hoffen erlaubte. Nachtra? ge giebt es noch hin-
reichend; meine Papiere sind in guter Ordnung.
4.
Ein Exemplar meiner Farbenlehre und
der dazu geho? rigen Tafeln soll auch beygefu? gt
werden; ich wu? nsche, dass Sie den zweyten,
als den historischen Theil, zuerst lesen. Sie
sehen da die Sache herankommen, stocken,
sich aufkla? ren, und wieder verdu? stern. So-
dann aber ein Bestreben nach neuem Lichte
ohne allgemeinen Erfolg. Alsdann wu? rde die
erste Ha? lfte des ersten Theils, alsdiedu? tactiscfa
Abtheilung eine allgemeine Vorstellung geben
wie ich die Sache angegriffen wu? nsche. Frey
lieh ist ohne Anschauung der Experimente
hier nicht durchzukommen; wie Sie es mit
N
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? 178 GOETHE TO CARI. YLE 1830
der polemischen Abtheilung halten wollen und
ko? nnen, wird sich alsdann ergeben. Ist es mir
mo? glich, so lege, besonders fu? r Sie, ein ein-
leitendes Wort bey.
5. Sagen Sie mir etwa zuna? chst wie Sie die
deutsche Literatur bey den Ihrigen einleiten
wollen ; ich ero? ffne Ihnen gern meine Gedanken
u? ber die Folge der Epochen. Man braucht nicht
u? berall ausfu? hrlich zu seyn: gut aber ist's auf
manches voru? bergehende Interessante wenig-
stens hinzudeuten, um zu zeigen dass man es
kennt. Dr. Eckermann macht mit meinem
Sohn eine Reise gegen Su? den und bedauert,
nicht wie er gewu? nscht hatte, diesmal bey-
hu? lflich seyn zu ko? nnen. Ich werde gern
wie obgesagt seine Rolle vertreten. Diesen
Sommer bleib' ich zu Hause und sehe bis
Michael Gescha? fte genug vor mir.
Gedenken Sie mit Ihrer lieben Gattin
unsrer zum besten und empfangen wiederholten
herzlichen Dank fu? r die scho? ne Sendung. Treu angeho? rig,
J. W. v. GOETHE.
WEIMAR, den 13 Apr. 1830.
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? 1830 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 179
[TRANSLATION. ]
[I3/A April 1830. ] The precious casket, after a long delay in
reaching the Continent owing to the extreme
severity of the winter, at last arrived safely
about the middle of March.
As to its contents, I will mention first the
incomparable lock of hair, which one would
indeed have liked to see along with the dear
head, but which, when it came to light by
itself here, almost alarmed me. The contrast
was too striking; for I did not need to touch
my skull to become aware that only stubble
was left there, nor was it necessary for me
to go to the looking-glass to learn that a long
flight of time had given it a discoloured look.
The impossibility of making the desired return
smote my heart, and forced thoughts upon me
which one usually prefers to banish. In the
end, however, nothing remained for me but to
content myself with the reflection that such
a gift was to be most thankfully received with-
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? 1So GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1830
out hope of any adequate requital. For the
rest it shall be kept sacred in the portfolio
which is worthy of it, and only the most
cherished objects shall bear it company.
The elegant Scotch Bonnet, I can assure you,
has given much pleasure. For many years we
have been visited by inhabitants of the Three
Kingdoms, who like to remain with us for a
time, and enjoy good society. Among these,
indeed, there are comparatively few Scotchmen;
yet there cannot fail to be preserved in some
fair heart here so lively an image of one of your
countrymen that she must regard the splendid
national head-dress, including the thistle, as a
most pleasing ornament; and the kind donor
would certainly be delighted to see the most
charming face in the world peering out from
beneath it. Ottilie sends her most grateful
thanks, and will not fail, as soon as our days of
mourning are over,1 to make a glorious appear-
ance in it.
Let me now announce the despatch of
another parcel in return, which will probably
1 For the Dowager Grand Duchess (died February 1830).
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? 1830 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 181
be put together by June, as the most favourable
time of the year. You will receive :--
1. A copy of the Translation of your Schiller,
embellished with the pictures of your country
dwelling and accompanied by a few pages of
my own, in which I endeavour to procure a
good reception for the little book, and especi-
ally to awaken a more lively intercourse between
the two Countries and their Literatures. I
trust that you may not disapprove of the means
I have employed, in accordance with my know-
ledge of the public, and that you will not regard
the use I have made of some portions of our
correspondence as an indiscretion. Although in
my earlier years I was at all times careful to
avoid publishing matters of the kind, it is fitting
that in my old age I should not despise even
such means. What especially inclined and en-
couraged me towards this course was your
favourable reception of the Schiller Corre-
spondence. Further, you will find enclosed:
2. The four volumes, still wanting, of these
said Letters. May they serve as a magic chariot
to transport you into our circle at that period
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? 182 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 1830
of frank and ingenuous striving, when no one
thought of making claims, but only endeavoured
to be deserving. I have all these years sought
to preserve in me the spirit and feeling of those
days, and I trust that in the future, too, I may
succeed in doing so.
3. A fifth instalment of my Works is also
enclosed, in which may be found many a thing
that is entertaining, improving, instructive and
capable of practical application. If you will
admit that there may be idealist Utilitarians
also, I should be very glad to be allowed to
reckon myself as one of them. One more Section
and the intended whole will be complete, a con-
summation which I scarcely allowed myself to
hope I should live to see. There will be no
lack of addenda. My papers are in good order.
4. A copy of my Farbenlehre, with the
plates belonging to it, will accompany the other
books. I wish you would first read the second,
that is, the historical part. You see there the
subject approaching, halting, becoming clear,
and again growing dim; then an attempt to
obtain new light, without any general success.
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? 1830 GOETHE TO CARLYLE 183
After this the first half of the first part, that
is, the didactic, would give you a general idea
of the way in which I wish the matter to be
apprehended. Unless, however, the experi-
ments can be seen, this part cannot be fully
understood. You will then see how you like the
polemic portion, and what you can make of it.
If possible, I will add, for your especial behoof,
some introductory words.
5. Tell me before long how you propose
to introduce German literature amongst your
people, and I will gladly give you my thoughts
on the sequence of its epochs. One does not
need to enter into detail about every matter,
but it is well at least to touch upon many a
thing of transitory interest, to show that one
is aware of it. Dr. Eckermann is making a
journey southwards with my son, and regrets
that he cannot be of use at present, as he had
wished. I will gladly, as I have said, be his
proxy. I am going to remain at home this
summer, and I see before me plenty of work
until Michaelmas.
I beg you and your dear wife to hold us in
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? 184 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1830
kindliest remembrance, and to accept our re-
peated and cordial thanks for your beautiful
gifts.
With sincere attachment,
J. W. v. GOETHE.
WEIMAR, 13/7* April 1830.
XXVI. --Carlyle to GOETHE.
CRAIGENPUTTOCK, DUMFRIES,
23^ May 1830.
The Weimar letter, now as ever the most
welcome that could arrive here, reached us, in
due course, some two weeks ago. We rejoice
to learn that you are still well and busy, still
gratified with our love for you, and still sending
over the Ocean a kind thought to us in our
remote home. This fair relation and inter-
course with what we have most cause to
venerate on Earth seems one of the strangest
things in our Life; which, however, is all built
on wonder: Ce que f admire le plus cest de ME
VOIR ICI.
I know not whether I should mention the
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? 1830 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 185
sort of hope which has again arisen of our even
seeing you in person one day: that long-
cherished project of a visit to Germany now
assumes some faint shape of possibility; in
which pilgrimage Weimar, the grand Sanctuary,
without which indeed Deutschland were but as
other Lands to us, would nowise be forgotten.
But it is better to check such Day-dreams than
encourage them; the impediments and counter-
chances are so many, as Time, which brings
Roses,1 brings also far other products. Happy
it is, meanwhile, that whether we ever meet in
the body or not, we have already met you in
spirit, which union can never be parted, or
made of no effect. Here in our Mountain
Solitude, you are often an inmate with us; and
can whisper wise lessons and pleasant tales in
the ear of the Lady herself. She spends many
an evening with you, and has done all winter,
greatly to her satisfaction. One of her last
performances was the Deutschen Ausgewan derten, and that glorious Mdhrchen, a true
Universe of Imagination; in regard to the
1 Die Zeit bringt Rosen, is an old German proverb.
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? 186 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 1830
manifold, inexhaustible significance of which
(for the female eye guessed a significance under
it), I was oftener applied to for exposition than
I could give it; and at last, to quiet impor-
tunities, was obliged to promise that I would
some day write a commentary on it, as on one
of the deepest, most poetical things even
Goethe had ever written. 1 Nay, looking abroad,
I can further reflect with pleasure that thou-
sands of my countrymen, who had need enough
of such an acquaintance, are now also beginning
to know you: of late years, the voice of
Dulness, which was once loud enough on this
matter, has been growing feebler and feebler;
so that now, so far as I hear, it is altogether
silent, and quite a new tone has succeeded it.
On the whole, Britain and Germany will not
always remain strangers; but rather, like two
Sisters that have been long divided by distance
and evil tongues, will meet lovingly together,
and find that they are near of Kin.
1 "The Tale" was translated, and, with a commentary,
published in Fraser's Magazine, No. XXXIII. , 1832. See
Carlyle's Miscellanies, vol. iv. , Appendix.
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? 1830 CARLYLE TO GOETHE 187
Since you are friendly enough to offer me
help and countenance in my endeavours that
way, let me lose no time in profiting thereby.
In regard to that History of German Literature,
I need not say, for it is plain by itself, that no
word of yours can be other than valuable.
Doubtless it were a high favour, could you
impart to me any summary of that great subject,
in the structure and historical sequence and
coherence it has with you: your views, whether
from my point of vision or not, whether con-
tradictory of mine, or confirmatory, could not
fail to be instructive.