KING OF PRUSSIA AND PROF. GELLERT. 99 struments of divination in order, she commanded. Godreda, one of her maidens, to sing the magical song called Vardlokurb, which she sung with so elear and sweet a voice as delighted the company, and in particular the prophetess, who declared that she then knew many things respecting the famine and sickness which before she was ignorant of. The famine would be of short continuance, and the sickness would abate. Each of the family then asked her what questions they pleased, and she told them every thing they desired to know. KING OF PRUSSIA AND PROFESSOR GELLERT. Conversation between the King of Prussia and Christian Gellert, Professor of Philosophy at Leipsic; extracted from a Letter, dated Leipsic, January 27, 1761. THE 18th of October last, about three in the afternoon, as Doctor Gellert, who was indisposed, was sitting at his writing-table, in his morning gown, he heard a rap at his chamber door, and desired the person to enter. The gentleman who made his appearance said to him, My name, Sir, is Quintus Julius; I have long wished to H 2 have have the honour I now enjoy, of beholding one of the greatest men in the republic of letters; it is not, however, in my own name, that I approach you; it is on the part of his Prussian Majesty, who is anxious to see you, and he has ordered me to invite you to call on him." Mr. Gellert, after some apologies on the ill state of his health, was at length induced to accompany Major Quintus, who introduced him to the King, when the following conversation took place: The King. You are Professor Gellert ?... ́ The King. The British envoy has spoken of you as a man of great merit.—Of what country Gellert. Of Hanichen, near Freyberg. The King. What is the reason that Germany has not hitherto produced any good writers? Gellert. Your Majesty need only cast your eyes on one this instant, whose writings have been judged worthy even by the French themselves, to be translated into their language, whence he has been honoured with the name of the German La Fontaine. The King. That is, undoubtedly, a great proof of merit.-Have you ever read La Fontaine ? Gellert. Yes, Sire, I have read him; not with view of imitating him; I am ambitious of being an original in my own manner. The The King. And I find that you have suc ceeded; but, after all, what is the reason that our Germany cannot boast of many such writers as you? Gellert. Your Majesty appears to be preju diced against the Germans. The King. Not at all, I assure you. Gellert. Or at least, against those that write. The King. It is true, I don't entertain a high opinion. How comes it that our country is not yet indebted to one good historian? Gellert. Sire, to many: Cramer, amongst the rest, has continued Bossuet: I need scarce mention the learned Mascow. The King. A German, the continuator of Bossuet!-how can that be? Gellert. He has not merely continued, but he has executed that difficult task with such success, that one of the abdest professors in your Majesty's states has not hesitated to pronounce the continuation, in point of style and arrangement, to be superior to that which Bossuet began. The King. Be it so: but how is it that Tácitus has not yet found a successful translator in Germany? Gellert. Tacitus is one of those writers that set translation almost at defiance; he is extremely difficult. Little can be said even in praise of the French translations. The King. On this point, I am of your opi nion. H 3 H3 Gellert. Gellert. Different causes have conspired, even to the present moment, to impede the progress of the Germans in the higher walks of literature. When Greece gloried in the triumphs of the arts and sciences, the Romans were occupied in the destructive arts of war, which almost extinguished the sparks of learning in their empire. In this respect, we may be compared to the Romans to this melancholy truth may be likewise added, that our writers are neglected by those that ought to patronize them; this was not the case under the brilliant reigns of Augustus and Louis XIV. The King. Saxony has, notwithstanding, produced two Augustuses. Gellert. Under the auspicious dawn The King. But can it be otherwise expected, when the public mind is torn asunder by such divisions? Gellert. That is not the point: I only wish that every sovereign should encourage genius in his own dominions. The King. Have you ever travelled out of Saxony? Gellert. I have been once in Berlin, The King. I think you ought to travel. Gellert. I do not feel myself disposed to travel; and if I even did, my circumstances would not permit me. The King. What is your ordinary disease? that of all men of letters, I presume, Gellert. Gellert. Be it so, since your Majesty has thought proper to give it that name: it would be excessively vain in me to say so myself. The King. I am not exempt from its effects myself; you should exercise more than you do; you should ride out, and take rhubarb once a week. Gellert. The remedy would be more dangerous than the disease: if the horse was spirited, I should risk my neck :-I am but an indifferent horseman. The King. In that case you should take a carriage. Gellert. I am not rich enough. The King. Too frequently the case with the votaries of the muse! Times are very bad. Gellert. Yes, Sire, very bad indeed; but your Majesty can render them better. The King. How? Gellert. By restoring the blessings of peace the Empire. to The King. How can I do that? Don't you know that I have three enemies in three crowned heads? Gellert. It may be so; I am little acquainted with modern history; the ancient is my favourite study. The King. Which of the epic poets, Homer or Virgil, do you prefer? |