"The electric excites the spirit to musical, fluent, streaming production. "I am of electric nature. I must break off with my unwitnessed wisdom, else I shall miss the rehearsal; write to Goethe about me, if you understand me; but I can answer nothing, and I will willingly let myself be instructed. by him." I promised him to write to you all, as well as I could understand it. He took me to a grand rehearsal, with full orchestra, - there I sat in the wide, unlighted space, in a box quite alone; single gleams stole through the crevices and knot-holes, in which a stream of bright sparks were dancing, like so many streets of light, peopled by happy spirits. There, then, I saw this mighty spirit exercise his rule. O Goethe! no emperor and no king feels such entire consciousness of his power, and that all power proceeds from him, as this Beethoven, who just now, in the garden, in vain sought out the source from which he receives it all; did I understand him as I feel him, then I should know everything. There he stood so firmly resolved, his gestures, his countenance, expressed the completion of his creation; he prevented each error, each misconception; not a breath was voluntary; all, by the genial presence of his spirit, set in the most regulated activity. One could prophesy that such a spirit, in its later perfection, would step forth again as ruler of the earth. A SONG FROM THE ARCADIA. BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. INCE Nature's works be good, and death doth serve SINCE As Nature's work: why should we fear to die? Since fear is vain but when it may preserve: Why should we fear that which we cannot fly? Fear is more pain than is the pain it fears, Our only eyes, which dimmed with passions be, Then let us hold the bliss of peaceful mind, |