167b. Friedrich Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel in Jena: Leipzig, [Thursday] 28 July 1796 [*]
Leipzig, [Thursday] 28 July 1796
. . . The coachman assures me that my large suitcase will arrive in Jena on Monday. [1] I would like to ask you to accept it and to pay the 2 Thaler 12 Groschen Saxon. I am including the money.
Tomorrow morning I will be going to Weissenfels on foot. [2] I cannot yet specify the exact day I will arrive in Jena, but it may well be that I do not come until after my suitcase. [3] . . .
I would be very pleased if, immediately after you receive this, Karoline might write a couple of lines to me here in Weissenfels (in care of Saltern Director Hardenberg) to let me know whether Schiller has accepted “Caesar,” for ten-to-one I will still be here when the letter arrives. [4] . . .
Thursday evening late
I would really, really appreciate it if Karoline could write a few lines to me in Weissenfels letting me knowing whether “Caesar” has been accepted. For I cannot guarantee that I am going to like it particularly well here with Hardenberg. [5] . . .
Notes
[*] Sources: Walzel, 286–88; KFSA 23:324–25. Back.
[1] 1 August 1796. Back.
[2] Friedrich left Leipzig on 29 July on foot for Dürrenberg (near Weissenfels), where Friedrich von Hardenberg had professional responsibilities at the time. Concerning these locales, see the editorial note to Friedrich’s letter to Hardenberg on 23 July 1796 (letter 167a). Back.
[3] Friedrich was in Dürrenberg and Weissenfells 29 July–6 August, after which he continued on to Jena (Ludwig Ravenstein, Atlas des Deutschen Reichs [Leipzig 1883], no 5):
[4] “Caesar und Alexander: Eine welthistorische Vergleichung,” first published in Sämmtliche Werke, 15 vols., 2nd ed. (Vienna 1846), 4:200–36; KFSA 7:26–55. That is, Schiller did not accept and publish the essay. See esp. Friedrich’s letter Caroline on 2 August 1796 (letter 168) with note 6. Back.
[5] Friedrich was wary of Hardenberg’s Moravian inclinations. Back.
Translation © 2012 Doug Stott