fe his egotism
disappeared; he lost almost all that was personally dear to him, and he
ended by caring little for individuals, whilst the need of living
for the whole became ever stronger in him. With the most refined
self-seeking, he had desired the highest for himself; and at last,
regardless of himself, he gave himself up for the public weal and the
lowest. He had entered life as an idealist, and his ideal had not been
destroyed by the most fearful experiences, but rather ennobled,
exalted, and purified; he had sacrificed many men to his State, but no
man so much as himself.

Great and uncommon did this appear to his contemporaries; greater still
to us, who can perceive, even in the present time, the traces of his
activity in the character of our people, our political life, our arts,
and literature.

CHAPTER IX.

OF THE SCHOOLING OF THE GERMAN CITIZEN.
(1790.)

Many races of poets had passed away; their hearts had never been
stirred by vivid impressions of a heroes life; they celebrated the
victories of Alexander and the death of Cato in countless forms, with
chilling phrases and in artificial periods. Now the smallest story told
at the house-door by an invalid soldier caused transports, even that
the great King of Prussia had been seen by him at the cathedral and had
spoken five words to him. The tale of the simple man brought at once,
as if by enchantment, before the minds of his hearers the exalted image
of the man, the camp, the watch-fire, and the watch. How weak was the
impression produced by the artificial praise of long-spun verses
against such anecdotes which could be told in a few lines! They excited
sympathy and fellow-feeling, even to tears and wringing of hands. In
what lay the magic of these slight traits of life? Those few words of
the King were so characteristic, one could perceive in them the whole
nature of the hero, and the rough true-hearted tone of the narrator
gave his account a peculiar colouring which increased the effect. A
poetic feeling was undoubtedly produced in the hearer, but different as
heaven from earth to the old art. And this poetry was felt by every one
in Germany after the Silesian war; it had become as popular as the
newspapers and the roll of the soldiers' drum. He who would produce an
effect as a German poet, must know how to narrate, like that honest man
of the people, in a simple an