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.

Publication of the Kunst und Alterthum.'

-

-

-

387

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.

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

Protection of his copyright throughout Germany.

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 FIFTH.

CRYSTALS.

1779 to 1793.

. 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

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 FIFTH.

CRYSTALS.

1779 to 1793.

เ

• 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