262a. Goethe to Wilhelm Schlegel in Jena: Weimar, 10 June 1800 [*]
Weimar, 10 June 1800
No matter how much I reflect on your affair, I cannot advise you to take it to the courts. I will explain the reasons the next time I speak with you.
But since you admittedly cannot remain completely silent concerning the resolution presented to you, I suggest sending the enclosed piece to the senate. Although you will easily discern its intent, I must at the same time entreat you not to change anything in it even though its style is perhaps not the best. Should you want to change it, however, I would like to see the altered draft before it is sent. [1] . . .
Goethe
Notes
[*] Source: Körner-Wieneke 107. — This letter is Goethe’s response to Wilhelm’s letter to him on 6 June 1800 (letter 261a) concerning Wilhelm’s dispute with the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung. See that letter as well concerning the background to this dispute. Back.
[1] The enclosed draft of the missive to the senate reads as follows (Weimarer Ausgabe 4:15:319–20):
Concerning my complaint lodged against the editors of the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung, Herr Hofrath Schütz and Herr Justizrath Hufeland, your esteemed Sirs have related to me your resolution, namely, that I am to address my complaint directly to Serenissimos nutritores [Latin, “Serene Highnesses and protectors (of the university), i.e., the Ernestine trustees].
Whether such fulfills the requisite obligation, and whether I might sooner expect that the presentation to the highest courts might be effected by a venerable senate itself, I will refrain from deciding, and will instead be content with the step I have already taken, all the more so as it is to be hoped that Serenissimi nutritores, having acquired knowledge of an action so contrary to their intentions, might be graciously moved ex officio to dispose further concerning said matter.
As Wilhelm’s letter to Goethe of 13 June 1800 makes clear (letter 262b), he copied the draft verbatim and delivered it to the Academic Senate. Back.
Translation © 2014 Doug Stott