lf village,
half city. For my part I am finished here, my business with General von
Mollendorf is accomplished. As I told you previously, I have had made
known to the king my refusal to allow recruiting in my duchy. I could
not consent for the present. In short, I have spoken as my secretary
Wolfgang Goethe has recorded.[Footnote: This memorial upon recruiting is
found. "Correspondence of the Grand Duke Carl August and Goethe," part,
i., p. 4.] General Mollendorf has waived his demand for the present--and
to-day we have had the concluding conference, and if it is agreeable to
my secretary, we might set off this afternoon and pass a day at Dessau,
and then on to Weimar."

"Oh, gladly will I do it; it seems as if a star from heaven had twinkled
to me to follow it, for at Weimar is centred all my happiness! I prefer
a lowly cabin there to all the splendor and palaces of a city."

"Then you agree with me, that this magnificently vile Berlin does not
enchain you in her magic net?"

"No, she holds me not, though it has been pleasant to take a peep into
it (like a child into a curiosity-box). I have seen 'Old Fritz.' His
character, his gold, and his silver, his marbles, his apes and parrots,
and even his town curtains please me. It is pleasant to be at the seat
of war at the very moment that it threatens to break forth. It has
gratified me to witness the splendor of the royal city, the life, order,
and abundance, that would be nothing if thousands of men were not ready
to be sacrificed; the medley of men, carriages, horses, artillery, and
all the arrangements. All are mere pins in the great clock-work, only
puppets whose motion is received from the great cylinder, Fredericus
Rex, who indicates to each one the melody they must play, according to
one of the thousand pins in the rotary beam."[Footnote: Goethe's own
words.--See Goethe's "Correspondence with Frau von Stein," part i., p.
168. Riemer, "Communications about Goethe," part ii., p. 60.]

"You are right to compare the great man to the chief cylinder in the
machine of state," nodded the duke "He rules and sets all in motion,
and cares not whether the rabble are suited or not. It has enraged me
sometimes to hear the fellows curse him, and yet I acted as if I heard
them not. Let us return to Weimar--mankind seems better there, Wolf."

"At any rate, more regardful of us than they are here, duke. The greater
the world the uglier the farce; no obscenities and fooleries of t