Page:Dawn of the Day.pdf/201

Rh because they have a heart within them—might we not step aside with this small spoil—and forget all the rest? And might we not discover a similar arrangement with regard to the philosopher and statesman, selecting, laying to heart, and, above all, forgetting the rest? If only it were not so difficult to forget! There was once a very proud man, who absolutely refused to accept anything, whether good or evil, from others but himself; when he was in need of forgetting, however, he could not bestow it on himself, and was thrice obliged to conjure up the spirits; they came, they heard his request, and at last they said, “This is the only thing which it is not in our power to give." Ought not the Germans to profit by Manfred's experience? Why even conjure up the spirits? It is of no avail; never forget what we long to forget. And how great would be the balance of oblivion which would remain, were we to continue wholesale admirers of these three heroes! Hence it seems more advisable to avail oneself of the good opportunity which offers, and attempt something new, namely, to grow more honest towards our own selves, and to change our credulous authority—worship and fierce, blind animosity into conlditional consent and gentle opposition. But first of all let us be taught that an unconditional hero-worship is ridiculous, that a change of conception on this head would not be discreditable even to Germans, and that there is a profound and memorable saying, “Ce qui