Page:Flower, fruit and thorn pieces - Noel translation.djvu/92

 76 truly is he proved the poet by his finished work, wherein the comic and tragic, like sunshine and shadow, are combined so as to give a true image of human life! Thus, too, should Richter be judged; and unless he is misled by his partiality, the translator believes that on this ground—for his Shakespearian touches—the readers of Jean Paul will pardon him the moments of ennui he may occasion them.

Neither must his peculiarities be altogether looked upon in the light of blemishes. His richness and redundancy of language and imagery must not always be condemned,—judged by the one principle of simplicity. The effect of his gorgeous descriptions is sublime, and may be compared to the richly ornamented Gothic spires of his fatherland. Who would criticise the cathedral by the standard of the Greek temple?

Enough, and too much, has perhaps been said on this subject. After all, Jean Paul Richter stands on firm ground; and his noble poet's soul may fearlessly encounter the judgment of every nation. Some he will please; others will criticise, perhaps lightly condemn; but still he stands upright, well able to endure any fierce storms of criticism,—a man of the loftiest intellect, of the tenderest sympathies,—a man whom we love even more than we admire,—"Jean Paul der Einzige"