to inflict some hurt on
my moral nature, contributed very much to the bodily maladies under
which I lost some of the best years of my life: indeed, I should
perchance have been completely ruined by this loss, had not my
poetic talent here shown itself particularly helpful with its
healing power."

His next adventure was with the daughters of his dancing-master, both of
whom seemed inclined to draw unwarranted conclusions from the freedom of
his intercourse with them. The closing scene of this little drama must
be given in Goethe's own words:--

"Emilia was silent, and had sat down by her sister, who became
constantly more and more excited in her discourse, and let certain
private matters slip out which it was not exactly proper for me to
know. Emilia, on the other hand, who was trying to pacify her
sister, made me a sign from behind to withdraw; but as jealousy and
suspicion see with a thousand eyes, Lucinda seemed to have noticed
this also. She sprang up and advanced to me, but not with
vehemence. She stood before me and seemed to be thinking of
something. Then she said, 'I know that I have lost you; I make no
further pretensions to you. But neither shall you have him,
sister.' So saying, she took a thorough hold of my head, thrusting
both her hands into my locks and pressing my face to hers, and
kissed me repeatedly on the mouth. 'Now,' cried she, 'fear my
curse! Woe upon woe, for ever and ever, to her who kisses these
lips for the first time after me! Dare to have anything more to do
with him! I know Heaven hears me this time. And you, sir, hasten
now, hasten away as fast as you can.' I flew down the stairs, with
a firm determination never again to enter the house."

This conclusion, though doubtless very trying to an ardent young man who
enjoyed the adoration of women, seems to have been an eminently wise one
under the circumstances, and we believe the resolve was faithfully kept.
The dramatic Lucinda appears no more in his reminiscences.

Quite different was the next occupant of his heart. Frederika was the
daughter of a country clergyman whom Goethe was taken to visit by his
friend Weyland. The hospitality and agreeableness of the family had been
highly praised by this friend, also the beauty and charms of the
daughters. And indeed this Frederika does seem to have been a most
beautiful and charmin