15 Kar' ovap to their excellence, I would rather pave the way1 to the better understanding of these ancient writers, than write myself what careless readers, enticed by the love of novelty, may read to their exclusion; for, as a celebrated poet has said, 16 'Ancient manners and men make firm the state of the Romans, '17 so we may say that true and solid erudition stands upon the foundation of ancient literature. But, as another poet says,' 'I think them wise who drink 19 the mellow wine, Are much more faulty than the new base coin.' 20 23 18 With a slight modification this may be applied to almost every kind of books. And yet (what sometimes provokes my mirth, at others excites my indignation)" we meet with obscure individuals who venture to call to account all the best writers, who, if I may say so,24 have been raised to heaven by their merits,25 and to pass sentence upon them in opposition to the opinions of so many ages. One condemns Homer; another finds much fault with Virgil; another ridicules Horace's rules about the art of poetry; another declares that Ovid did not know how to talk Latin, as if we moderns knew what it was to talk Latin; others give utterance to other sentiments which I am ashamed and vexed to read.26 Poor creatures," how much better, if they would bestow their pains on understanding them and thoroughly appreciating their excellences, and in imitating them as far as their abilities permit, instead of endeavouring, as they now do, like dogs that bay the moon, to mangle the fame of those to whom they cannot aspire. Not that I would deny that faults may be found in the ancients; they were but men.30 Still, as we do not despise all the beauty of handsome persons because we remark a few blemishes,31 so I think that we ought modestly to notice any faults which may be remarked in them, not to brand them altogether 33 with the stamp of reprobation. I can tolerate modest opinions; I cannot tolerate impudence and arrogance. 32 34 28 29 Exercise XXXIII. On Multifarious Acquirements. 36 5 IT has been repeatedly said,' that it is of less consequence in youth what a man learns, than how he learns it, and that the saying of Hesiod, the half is often better than the whole,' finds an application here. The heaping up of knowledge, for the sake of knowledge, brings no blessing, and all education, in which vanity bears the sceptre," misses its object. Youth must not learn everything, which may by possibility be useful at some future time, (for if so, as Aristotle facetiously' remarks, we must descend to learning cookery); but only such particulars1o as excite a general activity of mind," sharpen the understanding, enliven the imagination," and produce a beneficial effect on the heart. Not only on grounds of science, but on moral grounds also, it is more important" to be thoroughly master of one subject, than superficially acquainted with many. Knowledge strengthens,16 a smattering of many branches of knowledge" puffs up, and produces a pedantic arrogance, which is perhaps the most unhappy endowment, which a youth can carry with him from school into the world. It is hated because it is illiberal.20 Illiberality, however, in reference to knowledge and art, always prevails in those who know neither the summit nor the root of the tree of knowledge." 15 18 13 Exercise XXXIV. Reminiscences and Literary Gossip. I HAD resolved, most worthy Creuzer, not to reply to your letter until I had got through your book,' but I soon perceived that its subject and learning were far beyond my scanty leisure; and reflecting that I had been occasionally more eager than prudent' in wishing to answer with one effort both a letter and the book that accompanied it, and had accordingly ended in doing neither; I have resolved to write you a more hasty and careless letter rather than leave my duty to a chance of being impeded by forgetfulness, or at least by procrastination. You however have written to me so carefully, so much at length, and in such a friendly manner, that if I wish to reply to all the different points which have struck me there will be topics for a good sized' volume; accordingly, I will confine myself to a few points, such however as may tend to show my return for your good will. The account you give of your youth, and generally of your life and studies, was very pleasing to me as recalling to my memory the spot, where I grew up from my ninth to my two and twentieth year, in the midst of the pursuits not only of virtue but, as the saying is, of idleness." I remember I then saw two brothers of your name, both of them fathers of families, one connected by marriage with Bangius, the other a bookseller; I should be glad to know if either of them is your father, in order that I may better revive the recollection of that olden time. So, then, you have now migrated from Marburg to Heidelberg, and enjoy such pleasures and comforts of life that you seem to have little to want. I both hope and wish that this happiness may last long, nay, that it may be perpetual; although in these days, when there are some revolutions every year, we can scarcely understand what we can promise ourselves as lasting. We are now living in such a different manner from what we did fifteen years ago, that our outward circumstances, though not to be despised amid the ruin that surrounds us, suggest the daily fear of a downfall: but I would rather transfer my thoughts from a gloomy future to the glad recollections of the past. Ruhnken's letter came as a really welcome present to me from the excellent Voss, whom you shall thank in my name. I do not know what you mean by calling him your fellow-citizen,' unless perhaps he is also a Professor at Heidelberg. On this and other news in literary Germany I wish you would write to me; for it is past all belief how absolutely ignorant we are about all that goes on abroad, myself especially, who have escaped from that dreadful destruction of our city, with my house ruined, and with much 8 loss of property, to a villa in the suburbs, where I now dwell. With regard to your having heard, in addition to Bangius, Griesbach also, Schütz, Beck, Hermann, Tiedemann, you certainly had for your teachers the most learned and able men of our age. I wish a colleague of this kind had fallen to my lot; for succeeding to Ruhnken on his death, I have no one here in particular, with whom I can ovμpidodoyɛw and learn in our department of literature. I have lately published a second edition of my 'Selections,' and that too alone; I mean' deprived of my adviser Ruhnken. Luzac had succeeded to Valckenär's post, owing to the favour of the same Ruhnken; and he10 having been cut off in the calamitous destruction of this city, the vacant chair was first offered to Heusde, then to Huschke of Rostoch, lastly to the Sluiter, of whom I have spoken in the last part of the Bibliotheca Critica. Whether he comes or not, is not yet settled. The Savigny you mention seems to be the same who gained great credit by his treatise On the nature of possession,' a subject which has been discussed by my countryman" Cuper, formerly my pupil in classics," and by Thiebaut, a Professor of Göttingen. I really never think of the present state of literature in Germany without grief: especially with regard to those scholars, whose fortunes war has ruined either by the plunder of cities or by a change of dynasty. And I should grieve for Hesse Darmstadt on account of my old connexion with it, had it not, in the opinion of most persons, gained more than it has lost by a change of masters. That climate was never suitable or 13 And I auspicious for promoting and nurturing our studies. remember the time when most respectable men advised me to give up those pursuits, when I was labouring by myself at Marburg, maintaining that I ought to take up some better vocation, by which I might hope to become a privy-councillor some day, not Greek and Latin, from which nothing was made, except schoolmasters. I wish to know when our friend Bangius died-I mean what day and year, and how old he was.14 I fear a good many of my letters never reached him, and among them the last written in April 1803. I have often suspected that there was some difficulty or delay in their delivery by the Marburg post. If you shall again send me 15 any books, I wish you would take advantage of some bookseller's opportunity, rather than send by the post. Take care of your health, and preserve yourself to us and literature; and so once more, farewell, and keep up your regard for me. Leyden, 16th Sept., 1808. Exercise XXXV. Incidental Proofs of an Active Imagination. 5 My first example will perhaps appear somewhat trivial; but I will speak out, boldly and plainly, how it is that I am sure that nature most certainly indicates her meaning by trifling circumstances.1 When boys are playing at their games, do we not observe this difference among them, that while one will roam and ramble wherever caprice leads him,2 another will sit musing and castle-building in the air,3 with all his thoughts wrapt up in his imaginations? If, however, any one of the latter has a little more of the faculty of expressing the images which crowd his mind-if, whether by action, gesticulation, or mimicry, he can represent or shadow forth the thoughts of which his heart is full, do we not always exclaim, not only how good!' or 'how pretty!' but 'what a poetical idea!' For example, suppose one of us had stood by that boy who is so beautifully described by Herodotus, and who, when the despot refused him recompence, and by way of sarcasm and insult pointed to the rays of the sun as the only wages he would receive, at once exclaimed, 'We receive, O king, what you give us ;' then, quick as thought,' he drew the circle of the sun with his sword on the floor of the house, and having so drawn it, and having thrice received the rays of the sun into his bosom, he took his departure. Thus he gave a specimen of his noble and truly princely character. The tyrant, taking this as an omen, was for the instant amazed; and when the youth had escaped, sought him for the purpose of putting him to death. A long time afterwards, when the youth returned, the tyrant found him more than his match 8 6 |