stant enough to see it in its
true relations and perspective. He measured his own powers as a man
does who is removed from the petty detail of small official duty. And
he returned to Weimar in 1788, determining wisely to give the rest of
his life to science and literature. The "determination" proved to be a
determination. And from this time, his life as a master of the thought
of his time may be said to begin.

He had received from the grand duke a title of nobility, and from that
time he is "von Goethe," instead of "Goethe" simple, without that
prefix of dignity. On his return from Italy he gave up all his
official work, except the direction of the mines and of the theatre.
It is interesting to remember that Goethe thus directed the work of
the mines in which Luther's father had been a workman. His interest in
natural science made him hold this position; and his charge of the
theatre was almost a matter of course in such a court as that of
Weimar. He was, however, relieved from the presidency of the council
and from the direction of the War Department. The duke retained for
him a place in the council "whenever his other affairs allowed him to
attend." It must be remembered that all such appointments were made
wholly at the wish of the duke, who was the absolute monarch of this
little state, until he gave to his people a liberal constitution in
1816.

It will be convenient to American readers to remember that the size of
the duchy is about the same as that of the State of Rhode
Island--about fourteen hundred square miles. In Goethe's time, the
population was less than a million. The city of Weimar had about ten
thousand inhabitants. To Weimar Goethe returned, resolved to give his
life, from that time forward, to science and literature. Before the
Italian journey he had done so in large measure. But after his return,
relieved from almost all duties of administration, he brings forward
finished works, with untiring enthusiasm, on many different lines,
many of which are among the masterpieces of the time. Schiller had
come to Weimar in 1794. Goethe and he had met before. There were
differences between these men so great that in some lines they had no
sympathy. All the more is it to the credit of both, that each
appreciated the other and that they lived and worked together as
friends. When Schiller proposed the literary journal called _The
Hours_, Goethe co-operated in the plan most cordially. And so long as
Schiller liv