Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 5.djvu/129

Rh but he knew how to put on the armour, or rather the motley jacket, of his predecessor so very well, to adapt himself with such humour to his gestures, that he was certain to obtain applause from those who were interested in such matters.

The absurdities of the clowns especially constituted our whole happiness; and we praised Lenz as a favoured man, when he succeeded in rendering as follows the epitaph on the deer shot by the princess:

"Die schöne Princessin schoss und traf Eines jungen Hirschleins Leben; Es fiel dahin in schweren Schlaf Und wird ein Brätlein geben. Der Jagdhund boll! Ein L zu Hirsch So wird es denn ein Hirschel; Doch setzt ein römisch L zu Hirsch So macht es fünfzig Hirschel. Ich mache hundert Hirsche draus Schreib Hirschell mit zwei LLen."

The tendency toward the absurd, which is displayed freely and unrestrictedly in youth, but afterward recedes more into the background, without being on that account utterly lost, was in full bloom among us; and we sought, even by original jests, to celebrate our great master. We were very proud when we could lay before the company something of the kind, which was