Page:Novalis Schriften - Volume 2.djvu/29

★ 19 ★ spirit, who hears the delicate workings of its inner nature for itself, and subsequently moves his tongue or hand, will be a prophet, on the other hand, anyone who knows well how to write truths like these, but does not have sufficient ear and sense for it, will be bested by language itself and, like Cassandra of the Trojans will be mocked by the people. If I believe that I have specified the essence and function of poetry as clearly as possible, I still know that no person can understand it, and because I had wished to say it, no poetry can come into existence. But what about when I am obligated to speak? And would this linguistic compulsion to speak be the distinguishing characteristic of language's inspiration, language's activity within me? And if my will only wanted everything that obligated me, could this be poetry without my knowledge or belief and a secret of language made comprehensible? and so would I become a celebrated writer, because a writer is only a language devotee?—

2 (Fragment) From the cradle prejudice, weakness, and deprivation haunt us, allowing us feel the oppression of life in the entirety of its weight. All our wishes remain unfulfilled, our plans fail, our most beautiful hopes, our most flourishing prospects evaporate. Often it seems to me that am alone in the world, and the deities of plague seem to dwell around me and inside of me, chasing away the delight- often so glorious to me, so wonderful- that my imagination creates. It is certainly the saddest situation,