152c. Friedrich Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel in Braunschweig: Dresden, 31 July 1795 [*]
[Dresden] 31 July [17]95
I am heartily glad you arrived safely, and I am imagining with the most animated joy that you are almost certainly already in Braunschweig, that your yearning has finally been satisfied, and that happier days have now come for poor Karoline. Could I but be with both of you for even a short time, be happy through your happiness, perhaps surprise you both when you least expect it, and share your friendship! . . .
Write me very soon, or at least give Karoline a few moments time to write me. Have you decided on Dresden or on Jena? [1] — You wrote about a possible rendez-vous at the latter locale. Unfortunately I would lack not only the money, but also absolutely the time. Moreover, it would only be a demi-mesure. After all, I will, I hope, soon be able to unite with you at the same place for a lengthier period of time. Nor could or would I spend any money on something of that sort as long as I still have outstanding debts, as has hitherto been the case. . . .
But I will now soon be able to write more. And then see you, and no longer have to write. I embrace you ardently. It is as if I finally had you back again now that you have returned to an appropriate circle of activity, and now that I can imagine you there with Karoline. . . .
Notes
[*] Walzel, 228–31; KFSA 23:242–44. — Wilhelm had in the meantime arrived in Braunschweig, where Caroline and Auguste were living with her mother and Luise Michaelis (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):
Here Braunschweig in 1640 (frontispiece to Wilhelm Görges, Vaterländische Geschichten und Denkwürdigkeiten der Vorzeit . . . der Lande Braunschweig und Hannover 1 [Braunschweig 1843]):
[1] Wilhelm had not decided on either, at least not as far as a permanent residence was concerned (Caroline was proscribed in Dresden in any case; see Friedrich’s letter to Wilhelm on 27 October 1794 [letter 148a]). In fact, as late as October 1795 he and Caroline were still considering emigrating to America. In any event, in May 1796 Wilhelm would indeed journey to Dresden himself, thence to Leipzig, Jena, and Weimar to prepare for his and Caroline’s move to Jena (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott