The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03.

The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 544 pages of information about The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03.

I am very sorry to hear that your having to keep at home is not voluntary on your part.  Unfortunately, we are none of us quite strong, and he who is of necessity forced to learn to put up with being ill has the best of it.  I am very glad now that I formed a determination and have commenced to occupy myself with a translation; thus these days of misery have, at all events, been put to some use, and I have lived and been active.  During the next eight days I shall try to see whether I can put myself into the proper humor for my Demetrius, which, however, I fear I shall not be able to do.  If it cannot be managed, I shall have to look up some other semi-mechanical work.

[Illustration:  FACSIMILIE OF A LEAF FROM THE ALBUM OF SCHILLERS LETTERS TO CHARLOTTE VON LENGEFELD]

Herewith I send you what has been copied out.  Tomorrow my Rudolph will get the whole finished.

Would you look over the first sheets, occasionally compare them with the original, and mark in pencil whatever you may have to suggest?  I should like to have it ready as soon as possible, and before the roles are copied out.

If the roles are commenced day after tomorrow, we could have a reading-rehearsal next Sunday, and there would still be ten days before the thirtieth.

The Duke has given me permission to read the Memoirs of Marmontel, which you now have; therefore, please let me have them when you have finished with them.

The Grand Duchess yesterday again spoke with great interest about your late recital.  She is looking forward to seeing and hearing many other things at your house.

Farewell; and let me, too, soon hear from you again.  Should you not be in the humor to read the sheets through, please send them back to me, so that I can make use of the time for having them copied out.

* * * * *

SCHILLER to GOETHE

February 22, 1805.

It was pleasant to me to see a few lines in your handwriting, and it has again awakened my belief in the return of the old state of things—­which I have at times quite despaired of.  The two severe attacks which I have had within the space of seven months have shaken my system to its very foundation, and I shall have difficulty in recovering my strength.

It is true that my present attack seems to have been merely the general epidemic that is going about, but the fever in my case was so great, and it seized me when I was already in such a weak state, that I feel as if I had arisen from a most severe illness, and find it specially difficult to struggle against a certain listlessness which is the worst trouble in my case.

I am anxious to hear whether you have yet sent off the manuscript of Rameau.  Goeschen has not written anything about it to me, and, in fact, for the last fortnight I have not heard of anything that is going on in the world.

I trust that things may daily and hourly improve with you and with me too, so that we may soon see each other in gladness.

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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.