Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/601

 But whether "lust" here was present or absent, this passion for Brandenstein was the kernel of Platen's psychic life in Munich, during many months. He haunted, usually in vain, the places where he could even get a look at Federigo, could see "that divine profile." He wrote Federigo epistles (all unsent) in verse, begging sympathy and "friendship", depicting what might be an intimacy between them. Page after page of the Diary has Brandenstein's "dear name", with little or nothing but thoughts for him, sighs for him. Several of the shorter and earlier poems of Platen that will be met in his published works relate to his love for this almost unknown comrade. Two highly characteristic Sonnets, written seven long years later, when much else had happened to Platen's heart—as we shall see—were the result of a chance glimpse of "Federigo". Both the young men were presently obliged to quit Munich, for the last chapter of the campaign against Napoleon. There was never any.further nearing, even after each had returned to Bavaria. But that made no difference. Platen was fettered. Occasionally he fancied that Captain Brandenstein might be interested in him, in turn; and equally timid or too proud to begin an acquaintance!—a notion lacking any sufficient ground, to say least. Most likely, Brandenstein never had the remotest of what was going on in the soul of that quiet, taciturn young Platen; probably did not think a dozen thoughts of Platen during all the stay in Munich! Platen could worship in mute yearning … "Never were his features so attractive to me as this evening … I followed him through the street …" And later he says, writing on the night when Platen himself was ordered away from Munich, … "All is over. I have come from'the Court-Concert. I have seen Federigo perhaps for the last time. Oh, I see too clearly he scorns me [!]—I must go without saying farewell … My heart is broken. I have been ready to go away from here, I was glad to do so, but now it seems to me as if I were