we here may translate, DRYASDUST] doing the function of History,
and the Shakspeare and the Goethe neglecting it. 'Interpreting events;'
interpreting the universally visible, entirely INdubitable Revelation
of the Author of this Universe: how can Dryasdust interpret such things,
the dark chaotic dullard, who knows the meaning of nothing cosmic or
noble, nor ever will know? Poor wretch, one sees what kind of meaning
HE educes from Man's History, this long while past, and has got all the
world to believe of it along with him. Unhappy Dryasdust, thrice-unhappy
world that takes Dryasdust's reading of the ways of God! But what
else was possible? They that could have taught better were engaged
in fiddling; for which there are good wages going. And our damage
therefrom, our DAMAGE,--yes, if thou be still human and not
cormorant,--perhaps it will transcend all Californias, English National
Debts, and show itself incomputable in continents of Bullion!--

"Believing that mankind are not doomed wholly to dog-like annihilation,
I believe that much of this will mend. I believe that the world will not
always waste its inspired men in mere fiddling to it. That the man
of rhythmic nature will feel more and more his vocation towards the
Interpretation of Fact; since only in the vital centre of that, could
we once get thither, lies all real melody; and that he will become, he,
once again the Historian of Events,--bewildered Dryasdust having at last
the happiness to be his servant, and to have some guidance from him.
Which will be blessed indeed. For the present, Dryasdust strikes me
like a hapless Nigger gone masterless: Nigger totally unfit for
self-guidance; yet without master good or bad; and whose feats in that
capacity no god or man can rejoice in.

"History, with faithful Genius at the top and faithful Industry at
the bottom, will then be capable of being written. History will then
actually BE written,--the inspired gift of God employing itself to
illuminate the dark ways of God. A thing thrice-pressingly needful to
be done!--Whereby the modern Nations may again become a little less
godless, and again have their 'epics' (of a different from the Schiller
sort), and again have several things they are still more fatally in want
of at present!"--

So that, it would seem, there WILL gradually among mankind, if Friedrich
last some centuries, be a real Epic made of his History? That is to
say (presumably), it will become a perfected Me