Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 4.djvu/215

Rh ments were brought nearer to our view and feelings when they were completely travestied into the modern style, and clothed with the vestments of present life, whether gentle or simple. How this mode of treatment gradually obtained favour will be likewise discussed hereafter; yet I may here simply remark, that it could not well be carried farther than it was by Lavater and his emulators, one of these having described the three holy kings riding into Bethlehem in such modern form, that the princes and gentlemen whom Lavater used to visit were not to be mistaken as the persons.

We will, then, for the present, allow the Elector Emeric Joseph to enter the Compostello incognito, so to speak, and turn to Gretchen, whom, just as the crowd was dispersing, I spied in the crowd, accompanied by Pylades and his mistress, the three now seeming to be inseparable. We had scarcely come up to each other and exchanged greetings, than it was agreed that we should pass the evening together; and I kept the appointment punctually. The usual company had assembled; and each one had something to relate, to say, or to remark, — how one had been most struck by this thing, and another by that. "Your speeches," said Gretchen at last, "perplex me even more than the events of the time themselves. What I have seen I cannot make out, and should very much like to know what a great deal of it means." I replied that it was easy for me to render her this service. She had only to say what particularly interested her. This she did; and, as I was about to explain some points, it was found that it would be better to proceed in order. I not unskilfully compared these solemnities and functions to a play, in which the curtain was let down at will, while the actors played on, and was then raised again, so that the spectators could once more, to some extent, take part in the action. Being very talkative