-

CHAPTER VI.

SCHILLER'S LAST YEARS.

Goethe's mode of daily life. His reception of visitors.-- Bürger

and Heine. Jean Paul Richter's description of Goethe.id.

of Schiller. Friendship of Goethe and Schiller, and partisanship

of their respective admirers. - Kotzebue's unsuccessful efforts to

create a coolness between Goethe and Schiller. - Herder's jealousy

of Schiller. The Natürliche Tochter '.- Madame de Stael's

visit to Weimar.-Illness of Goethe and Schiller.

death

-

Schiller's

267

--

-

CHAPTER VII.

FAUST.

-

Gradual development of 'Faust', and progress of its composition.

- The Problem of our intellectual existence, and picture of our

social existence. Resemblance between Faust' and ' Hamlet'.

-Twofold cause of the popularity of 'Hamlet': intellectual sub-

limity and dramatic variety. - Popularity and prodigality of

'Faust'. The idea of "Faust" not so important a study as

the means' which produce the effect. Analysis of the First

Part of Faust'. — The Theatre Prologue. — The Prologue in

Heaven. Necessity for the two Prologues. First scene of Faust

in his study. The scene before the gate.

Auerbach's cellar. — The witches' kitchen.

garet. - Wood and cavern. - The Walpurgis Nacht'.- Causes

of the early disappointment and after fascination of the readers

of 'Faust'. - Inadequacy of all translations of poetry. - Analysis

of Marlowe's Faustus' and Calderon's El Magico Prodigioso'.

-- Description of Maler Müller's play. - Coleridge's criticisms on

Goethe's 'Faust', compared with Goethe's own observations. --

In 'Faust', the problem stated but not solved

-

CHAPTER VIII.

THE LYRICAL POEMS.

--

Faust's study. —

Meeting with Mar-

282

Goethe's fame lessened by his wealth. — Perfection of his poetry and

occasional feebleness of his prose. - Witchery of his lyrics. -

Sincerity of their style. -- Simplicity and directness of the images.

Story of the 'Bride of Corinth '. 'Gott und die Bajadere '.-

The Erl King'

346

BOOK THE SEVENTH.

SUNSET.

1805 TO 1832.

CHAPTER I.

THE BATTLE OF JENA.

Effect of Schiller's death on Goethe. Visit of Jacobi.

-

- Acquaint-

ance with Gall. -- Appreciation of Phrenology. - Battle of Jena.--

Sacking of Weimar. - French soldiers in Goethe's house. -

Courage of the Duchess Luise. — Napoleon's intemperate rage

against Karl August. Characteristic outburst of Goethe.

Goethe's marriage

-

-

-

355

CHAPTER II.

BETTINA AND NAPOLEON.

Restoration of peace at Weimar. - Visit of Bettina.

-

--True nature of her intercourse with Goethe. -- Forbidden

Goethe's house. Unauthenticity of the Correspondence'

proved by Riemar. - Napoleon at Erfurt. His reception of

Karl August, Goethe and Wieland. - Conversations of Napoleon

with Goethe. Goethe flattered by Napoleon's attentions..

Beethoven's ostentatious independence, and Goethe's supposed

servility

-

364

CHAPTER III.

ELECTIVE AFFINITIES.

Goethe's passion for Minna Herzlieb. - Die Wahlverwandtschaften.'

- Plot and Character of the novel. - General criticisms. -

-

Marriage of Minna. Death of Goethe's mother

--

377

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICS AND RELIGION.

-

Goethe's acquaintance with Beethoven. - Death of Wieland.—

Struggle of Germany against Napoleon. - Goethe's indifference

in politics, but earnestness in art. - Accused of looking on life

only as an artist. - Accused of irreligion. — Changes in his re-

ligious opinions. Opposition to dogmatic teachings. Theoso-

phy and ethics. — Goethe's religion. His system of morals.-

Character of his old age. His oriental studies. - The West-

östliche Divan. - Ovation at Frankfurt .

-

-

CHAPTER V.

THE ACTIVITY OF AGE.

-

. 387

Publication of the Kunst und Alterthum.'- His growing tend-

ency towards mysticism. Visit of Werther's Charlotte. - Death

of his wife, Christiane. Marriage of his son with Ottilie von

Pogwisch.-Anecdote of Goethe's enlargement of the Jena library.

Quarrel with the Landtag concerning the accounts of the com-

mission for art and science. Charged with stealing an ingot of

gold. Story of Döbereiner and the bar of platinum. - Story of

the hundred engravings borrowed from Knebel.- Miscellaneous

literary labors. -Wilhelm Meister's Wanderjahre.' - Character

of the work. — Eckermann's account of its extension. — Opposi-

tion to it in Germany. Spread of Goethe's fame in Italy,

England and France. - Vitality of his old age.

-

--

-

-

- His passion for

Fraulein von Lewezow. - Celebration of his jubilee at Weimar.—

Protection of his copyright throughout Germany.

Karl August. Effect on Goethe

-

· Death of

407

CHAPTER VI.

SECOND PART OF FAUST.

Embarrassment in expressing a faithful opinion.

the impression produced by Faust' and the Second Part.' -

Character of the Second Part.' - Symbolism in art must be

intrinsically beautiful and interesting, as well as significant.

The Second Part of Faust' a failure. - Analysis and criti-

cisms

429

CHAPTER VII.

THE CLOSING SCENES.

Goethe in his eighty-first year. Revolution of July, and contest

between Cuvier and St. Hilaire. - Importance of the doctrine of

unity of composition in the animal kingdom recognized by Goethe

and George Sand. — Death of Goethe's only son. Tribute to

Goethe from fifteen Englishmen. - Thackeray's residence at Wei-

mar, and interview with Goethe. Goethe's activity in his old

age. Signs of decay. - Death
• 442

-

BOOK THE FIFTII.

CRYSTALS.

1779 to 1793.

6

Wenn sich der Most auch ganz absurd gebärdet,
Es giebt zuletzt doch noch 'n Wein.'

Von jener Macht, die alle Wesen bindet

Befreit der Mensch sich der sich überwindet.'

'Postquam me experientia docuit, omnia quæ in communi vita frequenter occurrunt, vana et futilia esse; quum viderem omnia, a quibus et quæ timebam, nihil neque boni neque mali in se habere, nisi quatenus ab iis animus movebatur: constitui tandem inquirere, an aliquid daretur quod verum bonum et sui communicabile esset, et a quo solo rejectis ceteris omnibus animus afficeretur; imo an aliquid daretur, quo invento et acquisito continua ac summa in æternum fuerer lætitia.'

SPINOZA.

VOL. II.

1