Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/638

 die Winternacht." Another long entry, Jan. 11, 1828 is highly expressive, the more because of its vagueness. Again, on Feb. 28, 1828 (in Rome) he records becoming acquainted with a young officer who "is the embodiment of all that I could ever see in the way of beauty"; to whom may, with some probability, be set down the origin of the "Ode 18." The person to whom is directed the passionate and jealous "Serenade" we cannot identify clearly. When down in Naples, presently, Platen achieved the interest and friendship, and unmistakeably the sexual intimacy, of a handsome young countryman, August Kopisch, a painter, living in Italy; and who, by the by, discovered or rediscovered for us the "Blue Grotto" at Capri. To him Platen addressed some verses to be found in the poems published. Kopisch was notably handsome, a charming fellow, and a good friend to Platen, first and last; though—thanks to Platen's own ineptness—their intimacy did not always run on glass, by any means. In the beginning of Platen's passion for Kopisch, we are amused to find him one night so sexually excited that he could not rest; and that instead of resorting to the monastic scourge, or to prayer he—takes a moonlighted bath in the waters of the Bay of Naples! The bond with Kopisch survived all stresses. Platen grew to account it among his happiest ties, during the short remnant of life that was left to him for ties of any kind. It seems to have been the last "love-friendship" of great inner hold over him, which he was to enjoy.

Our sense of a striking reserve of Platen's uranian confidences in the Journal constantly increases as the huge record draws to a close. Platen's residence in Italy became an unadmitted fact. He was now famous in his German Northland. But he hated its social atmosphere. Only for business, or to meet a few friends, or to visit his beloved mother (settled in Munich—a widow) had he ever inclination now to return to Germany. He found in Italy (as have