for them to be most attractive. Their bound them to him, besides the pride of ideal woman, however exalted and refined associating with a person above their rank, by their own further development, will was his poetical talent, which even then continue to bear a sisterly resemblance to had begun to show itself, and which entheir first love. Who can fail to recognise, abled him to come to the aid of their more even in the most spiritual of Raphael's tardy invention, in the manner in which later creations, the fair-haired Madonnas another great poet is said to have done to of his earliest time? We may conceive the that of a great king. He was the means of Madonna di San Sisto, as representing the enabling them to carry on a small mystifiglorified body of the "bella Giardiniere." cation, by supplying them with verses A more minute acquaintance with the early which they sent to the sweetheart of one of days of the prince of painters, would pro- their number; and his ready wit also conbably reveal to us the simple story of some tributed the responses to his own effusions. yellow-haired daughter of Urbino, whom In pursuance of this little piece of boyish he had wooed on the breezy heights of the wickedness, his friends had invited him, on Apennines, while yet he listened to the in- one occasion, to take part in a small supstructions and sat at the feet of old Pietro per party in a tavern, and here it was that Perugino, and whose recompense for many he encountered the object of his first atan hour of youthful bliss has been, that her tachment in the humble capacity of the image has been consecrated by the hands of bar-maid. We should probably injure the her lover, and for ever entwined with the beautiful naïve description which he has highest conceptions which men in after given us of the whole scene more by a paratimes were to form of sacred beauty. In phrase, than even by an imperfect translathe other great painters, it seems to us that tion; and we shall therefore endeavor to we can trace something analogous, the de- present it to our readers as nearly as poslicately sensual air which characterizes the sible with its original coloring. Speaking whole of Correggio's women-the sunny glow of the trick which they were engaged in of wanton life and joy which warms those playing off on their companion, he says,of Titian-and the mild and saint-like My natural good-heartedness left me little spirit which is shed over Murillo's virgins, pleasure in such a wicked deception, and the reseem to mark them out as three distinct petition of the same theme began already to disfamilies of beautiful sisters, in each of whom gust me. I should certainly have spent a tiresome we can trace the resemblance to some com- evening, if an unexpected apparition had not mon parent. They have each, in short, brought me suddenly to life. When we came, we what is called a type, the origin of which found the table already covered-tidy and nice, be that which we have suggested. and supplied with a passable quantity of wine. We took our seats, and remained alone, there In the little story of Goethe's childish being no need for service. At last, however, as passion for the Frankfort Gretchen, and the the wine ran short, one of the party called for the description which he has given of her per- servant, but instead of her, there came a girl of son and character, one can detect many of uncommon, and indeed, when one considered her the features which peculiarly distinguish his position, of incredible beauty. What do you females. It is pretty certain that she was friendly good evening; the girl is ill, and has want? she said, after she had greeted us with a the mother of the Gretchen in Faust in gone to bed. Can I serve you? We want more than the name; and as the prototype wine,' said one of them; will you go and get us of this at once the simplest and most cele- a couple of bottles, like a good girl?"- -Do it, brated of the sisterhood-it will probably Gretchen,' said another; it's only a kitten's jump not be out of place if we should introduce over the way. Why not? said the girl, and her to such of our readers as may not al- taking a couple of empty bottles from the table, ready have made her acquaintance. Whilst she ran out of the room. Her figure, seen from behind, was even more fascinating. The little still a school-boy at Frankfort, and living in cap sat so neatly on her pretty little head, which his father's house, Goethe informs us that he a slender neck united in the most charming way accidentally made the acquaintance of seve- with her delicate shoulders. Everything about ral boys of a lower rank of life than that to her seemed perfection; and now that the attention which he belonged. His chief reason for was no longer attracted and fettered by the sinfrequenting their society seems to have been cere quiet eye and the sweet mouth, one could the passion which even at this early age, I reproached my companions for sending the pretfollow at leisure the effect of her whole figure. he possessed, for making himself acquainted ty child out alone into the night, but they only with the habits and feelings of men in all laughed at me, and I was speedily consoled by her the positions of life; and the tie which reappearance, for the tapster's was only on the

may

other side of the street. · Now, in return you through the house. The young man requested must come and join us,' said one of them to the that I would read my production aloud. I did so, girl. She did so; but alas! she did not sit beside and not without emotion, while I peeped over the me. When she had drunk a glass to our healths, paper from time to time at the beautiful child; she left us with the advice that we should not and when I imagined that I perceived a certain remain very long, and above all not to get loud, as restlessness in her manner, and a slight blush on the old mother was just going to bed. It was not her cheek, I read in a clearer and more lively her mother, but the mother of our landlady." manner the parts which expressed what I wished that she had addressed to me. My friend, who had We have here a picture worthy of an ar- often interrupted me with his commendations, at tist's pencil. The little old Frankfort last requested that I would make some slight alterations. They had chiefly reference to those Schenke, with its smoky walls and its oaken parts which indeed suited better for Gretchen's rafters, the boys around the table, and the condition than for that of the girl from whom beautiful features of the youthful Goethe, they were supposed to come, who was of a good beaming with the glow of a first emotion, family, wealthy, well known, and respected in as he gazed in astonishment upon their the town. When the young man had pointed out lovely attendant, form an ensemble, which to me the passages which he wished to have seems to want nothing but the touch of genius to transfer it from the page to the canvas, and to convert it into the most charming cabinet-picture :

altered, and had brought me writing materials, he

took his leave of us for a short time, in consequence of an engagement, and I remained sitting at a bench against the wall, behind the large table, trying my alterations upon the large slate which usually lay in the window for writing the reckon"The image of this maiden," he says, "fol-ings upon, and on which also those who came lowed me, sleeping and waking, wherever I went. and went used to inform each other of their moIt was the first permanent impression which a female nature had made upon me; and since I neither could find, nor was willing to seek, a pretence for seeing her again in the house, I went to church for her sake, and was not long in discovering where she sat, and thus I had abundant opportunity, during the long Protestant service, of gazing at her till I was satisfied. When the congregation dispersed, I had not courage to speak to her, far less to accompany her home, but was transported with joy when, by a little nod of her head, she seemed to return my greeting."

His hopes of a second meeting, however, were destined to be gratified at no distant period. His friends were pressing him for an answer to the love-epistle, and as the recompense, he knew, would be another sight of Gretchen, it may be supposed that he did not idle over his task.

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tions. I had been laboring for some time in vain, writing and rubbing out again, when at last, losing patience, I called out, it won't do any way! So much the better,' said Gretchen, firmly, I should be very well pleased if it did'nt do at all; you ought to have nothing to do with such tricks.' She rose from her wheel, and coming to the table beside me, she read me a lecture with great good sense and good feeling. The thing seems an innocent jest,' she said; it is a jest, but not an innocent one. I can remember more than one occasion where our young people came into a great deal of trouble in consequence of such a piece of mischief.'-But what shall I do? 1 replied; the letter is written, and they trust to my altering it. Believe me,' she said, and don't alter it at all; indeed the better way is, that you take it back, put it into your pocket, and go away and try to put the affair to rights through the intervention of your friend. I will also say a little word on the occasion; for look you, though I am a poor girl, dependent upon these people, who "I set to work immediately," he says, "and are my relations, and who, though they don't, thought of everything that would be most agree it is true, do anything that is positively bad, still able to me if Gretchen were to write it. I often, for fun and for profit, play many a desperate thought that I had succeeded so thoroughly, in trick: I stood out against them with the last writing every part of it as if it had proceeded out letter, and would not copy it as they wished; of her person, her nature, her manner, and her they copied it themselves in a feigned hand, and mind, that I could not restrain the wish that it they may do the like by this one, if the thing might really be so; and I lost myself in rapture cannot be otherwise. But you, a young man of at the very thought that something of the kind good family, wealthy, and independent, why might really be addressed by her to me. In this should you allow yourself to be made the instruway I succeeded in mystifying myself, whilst I was engaged in making another ridiculous, and it was destined that I should yet be rewarded for my pains, with many a joy and many a sorrow. When I was again called on for the piece, I was ready, and promised, and did not fail to come at the appointed hour. Only one of the youths had arrived; Gretchen was sitting at the window spinning, and the old mother was going about

ment for carrying out such an affair, out of which nothing that is good, and perhaps much that is disagreeable for you, may arise?' I was beyond measure happy to hear her thus speak continuously, for hitherto she had only put in a word in the conversation from time to time. My interest increased inconceivably. I was no longer master of myself, and replied, I am not so independent as you think, and what does it help me to be

rich, so long as that for which I most wish is

denied me.'

a very agreeable and interesting playfellow. We know not whether the identity of name, "She had taken the draft of my poetical epistle and the similarity of position, have had any into her hand, and read it, half aloud, very sweet- influence in inducing us to think, that there ly and pleasantly. It is exceedingly pretty,' she said, whilst with a sort of naïve pointedness she is so strong a resemblance between this girl held her breath for a moment, and then added, it and the Gretchen in Faust, as to warrant the is only a pity that it is not intended for any real conclusion that the one is the original of the use.' That were indeed much to be wished,' I other. In both, we find the same sound, exclaimed; how happy must he be who should natural, simple sense, and deep, true feeling. receive from a girl whom he really loved such an They seem both to be the happiest of naassurance of her affection.' It would require a ture's productions, unaided and uncontamigreat deal to bring that about,' she said, and yet nated by one single tinge of art. These many things are possible.' • For example,' I continued, if any one who knows you, esteems you, children of nature, indeed, seem all along to honors you, and worships you, were to lay such have been the women whom Goethe most a sheet before you, and prayed you most importu- loved, holding, as he did (what, with renately, most heartily, and most kindly, what would gard to females, at all events, we believe to you do? I pushed the paper over to her which be the orthodox doctrine), that all training she had returned. She smiled-reflected for a which has another effect than that of bringmoment-took the pen and wrote her name under it. I could not contain myself for joy. I sprang and believing that the ordinary occurrences ing out their natural qualities is prejudicial, from my seat, and was going to take her in my

arms. No kissing,' she said, that is something of life (what Byron callsso vulgar, but loving, if it be possible.' I took the paper, and put it carefully past. No one shall have it,' I said, and the thing is at an end. Which is acquired in nature's good old college,") You have saved me!' Now finish what I have

"That useful sort of knowledge

begun,' she exclaimed, and run as fast as you will, in most cases, accomplish this purely can, before the others come and bring you again feminine development quite as well as the into trouble and embarrassment.' I could not most labored education. turn myself away from her: but she entreated me in the kindest manner, and taking my right hand into both of hers, she pressed it most lovingly. I was not far from tears. I thought I saw her eyes moist. I pressed my face on her hands, and ran away. In my whole life I had never been in such

a state of distraction."

It would be altogether out of place to offer any analysis of a character so well known even to purely English readers as the Margaret in Faust.

The natural buoyancy of

her innocent heart, when she is first presented to us, at once secures our affections He frequently refers afterwards, in the Queen" of Tennyson, with something more and our sympathies. She is the "May same pleasing and natural way, to this boy- of thought and character; and the deep paish attachment, which subsisted till shortly thos of the latter scenes in which she mourns before his departure for the university, when over her fall, is unequalled by anything it came to rather a disagreeable termination, which we have ever seen in any language. by his male companions getting involved in Her prayer to the Virgin, above all, is so a serious scrape, which brought their doings perfectly heart-rending in its deep and tenunder the notice of the authorities, and ex- der grief, that we believe very few who unposed the whole of his connexion with them. derstand it in the original, and are capable His family as may be supposed, when the of feeling at all, would undertake to read it matter came to light, took effectual steps to aloud with dry eyes.* It is not unworthy put an end to his further intercourse with of remark, as illustrative of the perfect artGretchen. She was removed from Frank-lessness with which Goethe has succeeded fort, and he never saw her again; but he in investing this marvellous creation, that tells us, that what wounded his feelings most although every actress of note in Germany, of all was, that when the girl was examin- since its first publication till the present day, ed about the relation that existed between has attempted to personate it, not one has them, she called him "a child."—" I," he succeeded in so far laying aside all appearsays, "who regarded myself as a very ance of art, as to do so to the satisfaction of knowing and adroit young man.

She seems, indeed, to have been a sensi- *We make no apology for the following transble and very superior girl, and to have re-lation of this celebrated scene, notwithstanding that garded him all along in no other light than some sixty or seventy versions of it have been published. As they are all confessedly faulty, we can that of a love-sick boy, whose precocious scarcely be blamed for making one effort more in talents, and handsome person, rendered him behalf of the English reader. If we fail, we shall

the public. Mephistopheles has been acted ing anecdote of the two pretty daughters of to perfection, and some have even been tole- the Strasbourg dancing-master. rably successful with Faust; but although Goethe's father, who had retired from the Margaret appears on the stage, in all, only active duties of his profession with a consisome five or six times, and although all she derable fortune and a high-sounding title, utters, including her two little songs, might and who seems to have been a strange, ecbe spoken with ease in eight or ten minutes, centric, and in many respects childish old yet the reproduction of her character in an man, took upon his own shoulders the whole animated form is a difficulty, which as yet duty of superintending the early education has been found insurmountable. From the of his son. In this avocation his zeal knew general character of Jenny Lind's acting no bounds, and the most trifling accomplishand singing, we should think that it would ments, and the most needful acquirements, lie nearer to her, than to any of those who have hitherto attempted it.

were equally important in his eyes, provided only that they had reference to Wolfgang. In pursuing the course of Goethe's early Even dancing was not beneath his notice; attachments—at least of such as exerted an and Goethe has given us an amusing deinfluence on his literary labors and his after scription of the manner in which he used to life-the next personage who presents her- play on an old flute-douce, whilst he taught self is the Friederike of Sesenheim, the ori- his sister and him to stand in position and ginal, as he tells us, of the two Maries- the square their toes, and himself inculcated his one in Görtz von Berlichingen, and the other precepts by his example. The instructions in Clavigo. But before proceeding to this, of the old "Königlicher Rath," however, the most notable and the most interesting of seemed to have infused into the mind of his his youthful passions, as also that in which son no very passionate fondness for the fanhe was most to blame, we shall present our tastic art; and during the whole of his resireaders, by way of episode, with the amus

Now to God thy sighs ascending,
Comforts now from him descending
Succor thy woe.
Who feels

What anguish steals,

To me through flesh and bone;
What my feeble tongue would mutter,
How my poor heart now doth flutter,
Thou canst know, and thou alone.
To thee I ever go,

Woe! woe! woe! woe!

My heart is rent in twain.
When I would my matins keep,
I must weep, and weep, and weep;
My head will burst with pain.
My tears upon the window-sill

Fell down like morning dew,
As from the eglantine I plucked
These fresh-blown flowers for you.
Full bright within my little room,
The morning sun did shine,
Whilst I, bewailing still my doom,
Upon my bed did pine.

Oh! mother, save from shame and woe,
To thee I ever, ever go;

Oh! hear thy handmaid low."

dence in Leipsic, he informs us that he never once attempted to avail himself of them, except when forced to do so by dire necessity.

On his arrival in Strasbourg, however, he soon discovered that the want of this accomplishment, which he had succeeded in despising in the north, very considerably interfered with his enjoyment of the lighthearted life which prevailed in the sunny Alsace, and he therefore determined forthwith to supply the deficiency, by putting himself into the hands of a regular professor. This personage, he informs us, was a stiff old Frenchman, whose instructions would probably have proved little more amusing than those which Goethe had formerly received, had he not had the good fortune to be the father of two pretty daughters. So soon as the old gentleman had laid a firm foundation in the rudiments of the art, these fair assistants were called in to his aid, and the advancement of the pupil was thus most effectually secured.

"Instructed in the art from their youth, they were exceedingly dextrous, and by their aid even the most awkward scholars must soon have attained a certain proficiency. They were both very polite-spoke nothing but French, and I, on my side, did my best in order not to appear awkward and absurd in their eyes. I was fortunate enough to gain their good opinion, and they were always willing to dance a minuet to their father's little fiddle, and what, indeed, was a more difficult matter, even to drag me round and round in the

waltz. Their father seemed to have no great very well pleased to see it; don't you give yournumber of scholars, and they probably led rather self any concern about the matter. Her mental a tiresome and solitary life. On this account ailments always get better soonest when she they used often to ask me after my lesson was takes it into her head that she is ill; for as she over to remain with them and help them to chat- is not very anxious to die, she does anything ter away the time for a little; and this I was no- then that we choose to ask her. We have some wise loath to do. particularly as the younger one home-made medicines which she takes on such pleased me exceedingly, and they both behaved occasions, and the raging waves are laid by dethemselves in a very becoming way. I used grees. She is exceedingly gentle and lovable sometimes to read them a piece of a romance, when she suffers from such an imaginary disand they in their turn did the like. The elder ease, and seeing that she feels very well in realone, who was quite as pretty-perhaps prettier ity, and is suffering from nothing but passion, she than her sister, but for whom I had not by any imagines to herself all sorts of romantic deaths. means the same liking, behaved always more with which she frightens herself in a pleasant kindly, and was in every way more obliging than sort of way, pretty much as children do with the other. When I got my lesson she was al- ghosts. Last night she assured me in the most ways at hand, and often she was the means of passionate manner, that this time she certainly prolonging the hour, in consequence of which I should die, and told me that I was not to bring frequently considered it my duty to offer her the false and ungrateful friend to her bed-side till father two tickets, which he, however never she was quite near her end, when she was to rewould accept. The younger one, on the other proach him in the bitterest manner, and then give hand though she was not unfriendly, kept herself up the ghost. I told Emilie that I could not out of the way, and always waited till her father called her to relieve her sister."

charge myself with ever having expressed any affection for her sister, and added, that I knew of 'one who could very well bear witness to the fact. Emilie smiled and replied, I understand you perfirmly, we may all of us get into a bad scrape. fectly, and if we don't behave prudently and What would you say if I were to ask you to give

The reason of this conduct he soon discovered to be that the younger one was engaged to be married, whilst the heart of the elder, as she herself informed him, was up your lessons?" free. An old fortune-teller having made | her appearance one evening, the girls en- She then explained to him that on the gaged her to tell their fortunes. The result former evening, after his departure, the forfor the younger one was all that could be tune-teller had thrown the cards for him, wished; but when the fate of the elder one and that a person, whom she took to be hercame to be decided, the response of the ora- self, had been ever by his side, between him cle was, that "she loved, that she was not and her sister. She also informed him of beloved in return, and that another person her engagement, and of a growing affection stood between her and the object of her which she nevertheless felt for him, and affections." This she immediately applied showed him what a disagreeable position he to her own and her sister's relation to would find himself in between two sisters; Goethe, and a violent scene immediately en- one of whom he had made unhappy by his sued, which terminated in her going to bed affection, and the other by his coldness. in a pet, and in his rushing out of the The argument seemed unanswerable. house. Goethe consented to depart; but his farewell to the younger sister was suddenly in"The next day," he says. "I did not venture terrupted by the entrance of the elder, who, to return, but the day after. Emilie (the younger rushing into the room, exclaimed, "You one) sent me word by a boy who had already shall not be the only one who takes leave of brought me many a message from the sisters, and carried to them flowers and fruit in return, that I must positively come. I went at the usual hour, and found the father alone who had many im- "I tried to take hold of her hand and say someprovements to suggest in my gait, and carriage. thing friendly to her. but she turned herself and walking, and dancing, but on the whole away, and walked with great strides two or three seemed tolerably well satisfied with me. To- times through the room, and then threw herself wards the end of the lesson the younger sister down in the corner of the sofa. Emilie approachcame in and danced a most graceful minuet with ed her, but she beckoned her away, and then me, in which she showed herself off to the great- there was a scene which it is painful for me even est advantage, and the father assured us that he now to recollect, and which, though there was in had not often seen a handsomer or more expert reality nothing theatrical about it, but, on the pair upon his boards. When the hour was end- contrary, it was extremely suitable to the nature ed. I went as usual to the sitting-room, and the of a passionate young Frenchwoman, would still father left us, but Lucinde was not to be seen. require an actress of no common merit to reproShe is lying in bed,' said Emilie, and I am duce it worthily on the stage.

him."