Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 5.djvu/353

 SEVENTEENTH BOOK.

In resuming the history of my relation to Lilli, I have to mention the many very pleasant hours I spent in her society, partly in the presence of her mother, partly alone with her. On the strength of my w^ri tings, people gave me credit for knowledge of the human heart, as it was then called : and in this view our con- versations were morally interesting in every way.

But how could we talk of such inward matters without coming to mutual disclosures ? It was not long before, in a quiet hour, Lilh told me the history of her youth. She had grown up in the enjoyment of all the advantages of society and worldly comforts. She described to me her brothers, her relations, and all her nearest connections ; only her mother was kept in a respectful obscurity.

Little weaknesses, too, were thought of ; and among them she could not deny, that she had often remarked in herself a certain gift of attracting others, with which, at the same time, was united a certain peculi- arity of letting them go again. By prattling on, we thus came at last to the important point, that she had exercised this gift upon me too, but had been punished for it, since she had been attracted by me also.

These confessions flowed forth from so pure and childlike a nature, that by them she made me entirely her own.

We were now necessary to each other, we had grown into the habit of seeing each other; but how many a day, how many an evening till far into the

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