152a. Friedrich Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel in Hannover: Pillnitz, 4 July 1795 [*]
Pillnitz, 4 July 1795
Dearest brother, I wish you all the best here at your return and will now hasten to transition our own correspondence into its new life. [1] . . .
I am enormously glad to have you with us again, and am enormously glad concerning the happiness that awaits you, [2] and concerning the comfort you will be able to give our poor lady friend. [3] What she wrote me in her last letter about her mother not only did not weaken my irritation, it also gave me reason to be extremely concerned. [4] I fear these knots can be sundered only by cutting straight through them.
My friend, I know very little about how you think and feel about certain things; I do know that in difficult life situations in the past you have been able to unite masculine boldness with tender consideration quite successfully. But it may be that your life’s fate is now demanding more than ever of you. Do not hold it against me for reminding you of it, since you have perhaps merely resolved to enjoy what you have earned rather than to act or come to a decision. [5]
Please let me know quite soon your assessment of everything, what you are thinking, and what you want. You cannot imagine how uncomfortable is my anticipation. — Renounce completely prejudice or fortune, falsehood or truth. Karoline is not as unprejudiced as she believes herself to be. Her prejudice is the fear of being unwomanly. —
Do not remain in Hannover longer than is necessary, and consider how much she needs you now. [6] . . .
Notes
[*] Sources: Walzel, 223, 226; KFSA 23:236, 239. Back.
[1] Wilhelm initially went to Hannover rather than Braunschweig after his return to Germany from Amsterdam. See Friedrich’s letter to Wilhelm on 16 June 1795 (letter 150c), note 2. Here an overview of Braunschweig in 1640 (frontispiece to Wilhelm Görges, Vaterländische Geschichten und Denkwürdigkeiten der Vorzeit . . . der Lande Braunschweig und Hannover 1 [Braunschweig 1843]):
[2] With Caroline in Braunschweig. Back.
[3] Caroline. Back.
[4] See Friedrich’s letter to Wilhelm on 16 June 1795 (letter 150c). Back.
[5] Regarding marrying Caroline. Back.
[6] Hannover is located ca. 55 km northwest of Braunschweig (Rudolf Koch and Fritz Kredel, Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete [Leipzig 1937]; illustration: Friedrich Besemann [1796–1854], Hannover gegen Süden; Herzog August Bibliothek; Museums./Signatur Top 16 b:1.1):
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott