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of the day in her company； wears out his health； and lavishes his
fortune； to afford continual proof that he is wholly devoted to
her。 Then comes a man of the world； a man of place and respectability；
and addresses him thus： 〃My good young friend； love is natural；
but you must love within bounds。 Divide your time： devote a portion
to business； and give the hours of recreation to your mistress。
Calculate your fortune； and out of the superfluity you may make
her a present； only not too often； on her birthday； and such
occasions。〃 Pursuing this advice； he may become a useful member
of society； and I should advise every prince to give him an
appointment； but it is all up with his love； and with his genius
if he be an artist。 O my friend！ why is it that the torrent of
genius so seldom bursts forth； so seldom rolls in full…flowing
stream； overwhelming your astounded soul？ Because； on either side
of this stream； cold and respectable persons have taken up their
abodes； and； forsooth； their summer…houses and tulip…beds would
suffer from the torrent； wherefore they dig trenches； and raise
embankments betimes； in order to avert the impending danger。
MAY 27。
I find I have fallen into raptures； declamation； and similes； and
have forgotten； in consequence； to tell you what became of the
children。 Absorbed in my artistic contemplations； which I briefly
described in my letter of yesterday； I continued sitting on the
plough for two hours。 Toward evening a young woman； with a basket
on her arm； came running toward the children； who had not moved
all that time。 She exclaimed from a distance； 〃You are a good
boy； Philip！〃 She gave me greeting： I returned it； rose； and
approached her。 I inquired if she were the mother of those pretty
children。 〃Yes；〃 she said； and； giving the eldest a piece of
bread； she took the little one in her arms and kissed it with a
mother's tenderness。 〃I left my child in Philip's care；〃 she said；
〃whilst I went into the town with my eldest boy to buy some wheaten
bread； some sugar； and an earthen pot。〃 I saw the various articles
in the basket； from which the cover had fallen。 〃I shall make
some broth to…night for my little Hans （which was the name of the
youngest）： that wild fellow； the big one； broke my pot yesterday；
whilst he was scrambling with Philip for what remained of the
contents。〃 I inquired for the eldest； and she bad scarcely time
to tell me that he was driving a couple of geese home from the
meadow； when he ran up； and handed Philip an osier…twig。 I talked
a little longer with the woman； and found that she was the daughter
of the schoolmaster； and that her husband was gone on a journey
into Switzerland for some money a relation had left him。 〃They
wanted to cheat him；〃 she said； 〃and would not answer his letters；
so he is gone there himself。 I hope he has met with no accident；
as I have heard nothing of him since his departure。〃 I left the
woman； with regret； giving each of the children a kreutzer； with
an additional one for the youngest； to buy some wheaten bread for
his broth when she went to town next； and so we parted。 I assure
you； my dear friend； when my thoughts are all in tumult； the sight
of such a creature as this tranquillises my disturbed mind。 She
moves in a happy thoughtlessness within the confined circle of her
existence； she supplies her wants from day to day； and； when she
sees the leaves fall； they raise no other idea in her mind than
that winter is approaching。 Since that time I have gone out there
frequently。 The children have become quite familiar with me； and
each gets a lump of sugar when I drink my coffee； and they share
my milk and bread and butter in the evening。 They always receive
their kreutzer on Sundays； for the good woman has orders to give
it to them when I do not go there after evening service。 They are
quite at home with me； tell me everything； and I am particularly
amused with observing their tempers； and the simplicity of their
behaviour； when some of the other village children are assembled
with them。
It has given me a deal of trouble to satisfy the anxiety of the
mother； lest （as she says） 〃they should inconvenience the gentleman。〃
MAY 30。
What I have lately said of painting is equally true with respect
to poetry。 It is only necessary for us to know what is really
excellent； and venture to give it expression； and that is saying
much in few words。 To…day I have had a scene； which； if literally
related； would； make the most beautiful idyl in the world。 But
why should I talk of poetry and scenes and idyls？ Can we never
take pleasure in nature without having recourse to art？
If you expect anything grand or magnificent from this introduction；
you will be sadly mistaken。 It relates merely to a peasant…lad；
who has excited in me the warmest interest。 As usual； I shall
tell my story badly； and you； as usual； will think me extravagant。
It is Walheim once more always Walheim which produces these
wonderful phenomena。
A party had assembled outside the house under the linden…trees；
to drink coffee。 The company did not exactly please me； and； under
one pretext or another； I lingered behind。
A peasant came from an adjoining house； and set to work arranging
some part of the same plough which I had lately sketched。 His
appearance pleased me； and I spoke to him； inquired about his
circumstances； made his acquaintance； and； as is my wont with
persons of that class； was soon admitted into his confidence。 He
said he was in the service of a young widow； who set great store
by him。 He spoke so much of his mistress； and praised her so
extravagantly； that I could soon see he was desperately in love
with her。 〃She is no longer young；〃 he said： 〃and she was treated
so badly by her former husband that she does not mean to marry
again。〃 From his account it was so evident what incomparable
charms she possessed for him； and how ardently he wished she would
select him to extinguish the recollection of her first husband's
misconduct； that I should have to repeat his own words in order
to describe the depth of the poor fellow's attachment； truth； and
devotion。 It would； in fact； require the gifts of a great poet
to convey the expression of his features； the harmony of his voice；
and the heavenly fire of his eye。 No words can portray the
tenderness of his every movement and of every feature： no effort
of mine could do justice to the scene。 His alarm lest I should
misconceive his position with regard to his mistress； or question
the propriety of her conduct； touched me particularly。 The charming
manner with which he described her form and person； which； without
possessing the graces of youth； won and attached him to her； is
inexpressible； and must be left to the imagination。 I have never
in my life witnessed or fancied or conceived the possibility of
such intense devotion； such ardent affections； united with so much
purity。 Do not blame me if I say that the recollection of this
innocence and truth is deeply impressed upon my very soul； that
this picture of fidelity and tenderness haunts me everywhere； and
that my own heart； as though enkindled by the flame； glows and
burns within me。
I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can： or perhaps； on
second thoughts； I had better not； it is better I should behold
her through the eyes of her lover。 To my sight； perhaps； she would
not appear as she now stands before me； and why should I destroy
so sweet a picture？
JUNE 16。
〃Why do I not write to you？〃 You lay claim to learning； and ask
such a question。 You should have guessed that I am well that
is to say in a word； I have made an acquaintance who has won
my heart： I have I know not。
To give you a regular account of the manner in which I have become
acquainted with the most amiable of women would be a difficult task。
I am a happy and contented mortal； but a poor historian。
An angel！ Nonsense！ Everybody so describes his mistress； and yet
I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is； or why she is
so perfect： suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses。
So much simplicity with so much understauding so mild； and yet
so resolute a mind so placid； and a life so active。
But all this is ugly balderdash； which expresses not a single
character nor feature。 Some other time but no； not some other
time； now； this very instant； will I tell you all about it。 Now
or never。 Well； between ourselves； since I commenced my letter；
I have been three times on the point of throwing down my pen； of
ordering my horse； and riding out。 And yet I vowed this morning
that I would not ride to…day； and yet every moment I am rushing
to the window to see how high the sun is。
I could not restrain myself go to her I must。 I have just
returned； Wilhelm； and whilst I am taking supper I will write to
you。 What a delight it was for my soul to see her in the midst
of her dear； beautiful children； eight brothers and sisters！
But； if I proceed thus； you will be no wiser at the end of my
letter than you were at the beginning。 Attend； then； and I will
compel myself to give you the details。
I mentioned to you th