• 135. Caroline to Friedrich Ludwig Wilhelm Meyer in Berlin: Lucka, 13 September 1793
[Lucka] 13 September [1793]
|309| Although I am no longer so keen on writing, the prospect that you are coming is a very welcome one to me indeed, and I would not for the world want to give it up. [1] There is no danger in it.
When you come to Leipzig, simply ask Göschen for the name of the village, and then the visit itself will cost you at most 2 days. G[öschen] knows you are familiar with my circumstances; I long ago found it advisable to inform him of that. You will converse with him a bit as is certainly proper, all the while bearing in mind that he himself is not really familiar with them. [2]
I have been sick, otherwise I would have written immediately, since I do want to see you — and if it does not happen after all, then I will have to believe that you are no more dependable than either your previous model or subsequent imitation. [3] If a multiplicity of names might also make me more interesting to you — I am now on my 4th. [4]
But enough — please do come — it would be one demonstration of your sentiments that you do owe me. [5]
Notes
[1] Meyer did indeed visit Caroline in Lucka between 16 and 22 October 1793 (map: Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]; illustration: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, Von Berlin nach Danzig: Eine Künstlerfahrt im Jahre 1773, von Daniel Chodowiecki. 108 Lichtdrucke nach den Originalen in der Staatl. Akademie der Künste in Berlin, mit erläuterndem Text und einer Einführung von Wolfgang von Oettingen [Leipzig 1923], plate 13):
[2] Bergisches Taschenbuch für 1798 zur Belehrung und Unterhaltung 1798; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung:
[3] Uncertain allusion. Back.
[4] As becomes clear from the birth record of her as yet unborn son, Caroline was living in Lucka under the fictitious name “Julie Krantz.” The allusion is presumably either to her fourth “given” name, namely, Julie (in addition to Caroline Albertine Dorothea), or to the last name, Krantz (Caroline Michaelis, Boehmer, Krantz). Back.
[5] In this last sentence, Caroline transitions from the formal form of address (Germ. Sie) to the informal (Germ. Du). Back.
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott