Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 14.djvu/32

16 CHAPTER V.

ITALY.

The long yearning of his life was at last fulfilled : he was in Italy. Alone, and shrouded by an assumed name from all the interruptions with which the curi- osity of admirers would have perplexed the author of " Werther," but which never troubled the supposed merchant Herr MoUer, he passed amid orange-trees and vineyards, cities, statues, pictures, and buildings, feeling himself " at home in the wide world, no longer an exile," The passionate yearnings of Mignon had grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength, through the early associations of childhood, and all the ambitions of manhood, till at last they made him sick at heart. For some time previous to his journey he had been unable to look at engravings of Italian scenery, unable even to open a Latin book, because of the overpowering suggestions of the lan- guage ; so that Herder could say of him that the only Latin author ever seen in his hand was Spinoza. The feeling grew and grew, a mental home-sickness which nothing but Italian skies could cure. We have only to read Mignon's song, " Kennst du das Land," which was written before this journey, to perceive how trance- like were his conceptions of Italy, and how restless was his desire to journey there.

And now this deep unrest was stilled. Italian voices were loud around him, Italian skies were above him, Italian Art was before him. He felt this journey

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