Conversations With Goethe
Conversations With Goethe (第2/3页)
hesaid,isthefrozentapiocaintheicechestofHistory.
March22,1824
GoethehadbeendesirousofmakingtheacquaintanceofayoungEnglishman,aLieutenantWhitby,theninWeimaronbusiness.IconductedthisgentlemantoGoetheshouse,whereGoethegreetedusmostcordiallyandoffereduswineandbiscuits.English,hesaid,wasawhollysplendidlanguage,whichhadgivenhimthedeepestpleasureovermanyyears.Hehadmastereditearly,hetoldus,inordertobeabletosavorthefelicitiesandtragicdepthsofShakespeare,withwhomnoauthorintheworld,beforeorsince,couldrightfullybecompared.WewereinamostpleasantmoodandcontinuedtotalkabouttheaccomplishmentsoftheyoungEnglishmanscountrymenuntilquitelate.TheEnglish,Goethesaidinparting,aretheshiningbrownvarnishonthesadchiffonierofcivilization.LieutenantWhitbyblushedmostnoticeably.
April7,1824
WhenIenteredGoetheshouseatnoon,awrappedparcelwasstandinginthefoyer."Andwhatdoyouimaghismaybe?"askedGoethewithasmile.Icouldnotforthelifeofmefathomwhattheparcelmightcontain,foritwasmostoddlyshaped.Goetheexplainedthatitwasasculpture,agiftfromhisfriendvandenBroot,theDutchartist.Heunwrappedthepackagewiththeutmostcare,andIwasseizedwithadmirationwhenthenoblefigurewithinwasrevealed:arepresentation,inbronze,ofayoungwomandressedasDiana,herbowbentandanarrowonthestring.Wemarveledtogetherattheperfectionofformandfinenessofdetail,mostofallattheindefinableauraofspiritualitywhichradiatedfromthework."Trulyastonishing!"Goetheexclaimed,andIhasten
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