APPENDIX. DEDICATION. YE approach again, ye shadowy shapes, which once, in the morning of life, presented yourselves to my troubled view. Shall I try, this time, to hold you fast? Do I feel my heart still inclined towards that delusion? Ye press forwards! well then, ye may reign, as ye rise around me out of vapour and mist. My bosom feels youthfully agitated by the magic breath which atmospheres your train. Ye bring with you the images of happy days, and many loved shades arise; like to an old half-expired Tradition, rises First-love with Friendship in their company. The pang is renewed; the plaint repeats the labyrinthine mazy course of life, and names the dear ones, who, cheated of fair hours by fortune, have vanished away before me. They hear not the following lays-the souls to whom I sang the first. Dispersed is the friendly throng -the first echo, alas, has died away! My sorrow voices itself to the stranger many : their very applause makes my heart sick; and all that in other days rejoiced in my song-if still living, strays scattered through the world. And a yearning, long unfelt, for that quiet pensive Spirit-realm seizes me. 'Tis hovering even now, in half-formed tones,—my lisping lay, like the Æolian harp. A tremor seizes me; tear follows tear; the austere heart feels itself growing mild and soft. What I have, I see as in the distance; and what is gone, be comes a reality to me. PROLOGUE ON THE THEATRE. MANAGER, THEATRE-POET, MERRYMAN. MANAGER. YE two, who have so often stood by me in need and tribulation, say, what hopes do you happen to entertain for our undertaking upon German ground. I wish very much to please the multitude, particularly because it lives and lets live. The posts, the boards are put up, and every one looks forward to a feast. There they sit already, calm, with elevated brows, and would fain be set a wondering. I know how the spirit of the people is conciliated; yet I have never been in such a dilemma as now. True, they are not accustomed to the best, but they have read a terrible deal. How shall we manage it?--that all be fresh and new, and pleasing together with significance. For assuredly I like to see the multitude, when, like a stream, they press on towards our booth, and with powerfully repeated undulations, force themselves through the narrow portal of grace-in broad day-light, already before four, elbow their way to the paying place, and risk breaking their necks for a ticket, as in a famine at bakers' doors for bread. It is the poet only that works this miracle on people so various-oh! do it, my friend, to-day! POET. Oh! speak not to me of that motley multitude, at whose very aspect the spirit takes flight. Veil from me that undulating throng, which sucks us, against our will, into the whirlpool. No! conduct me to the quiet, heavenly nook, where only enjoyment blooms for the poet-where love and friendship, with godlike hand, create and cherish the blessings of the heart. Ah! what there hath gushed from us in the depths of the breast, what the lip stammered tremblingly to itself -now failing, and now perchance succeeding-the wild moment's sway swallows up. Often only when it has endured through years, does it appear in perfected form. What glitters, is born for the moment. is genuine, remains unlost to posterity. MERRYMAN. What If I could but hear no more about posterity! Suppose I chose to talk about posterity, who then would make fun for cotemporaries? That they will have—and ought to have it. The presence of a gallant lad, too, is always something, I should think. He who knows how to impart himself agreeably-he will never be soured by popular caprice. He desires a large circle, to agitate it the more certainly. Then do but pluck up courage, and show yourself a model to the world. Let Fancy, with all her chorusses,-Reason, Understanding, Feeling, Passion, but-mark me well-not without Folly, be heard. MANAGER. But, most particularly, let there be incident enough. People come to look; their greatest pleasure is to see. If much is spun off before their eyes, so that the many can gape with astonishment, you have then gained in breadth immediately; you are a great favourite. You can only subdue the mass by mass, Each eventually picks out something for himself. Who brings much, will bring something to many a one, and all leave the house content. If you give a piece, give it at once in pieces! With such a hash you cannot but succeed. It is easily served out, as easily as invented. What avails it to present a whole? the public will pull it to pieces for you notwithstanding. POET. You feel not the baseness of such a handicraft! How little that becomes the true artist! The daubing of these fine gentlemen, I see, is already a maxim with you. |