Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 5.djvu/88

74 ration of the primitive purity was not to be thought of.

I was scarcely able to console the extremely irritated man, whose pleasures had been so outrageously destroyed, much as I assured him that I myself looked upon them only as sketches, which we would talk over, and on which we would construct new drawings. In spite of all this he went off in a very ill humour; and Frederica thanked me for my attention to her father, as well as for my patience during the unmannerly conduct of the other guests.

But I could feel no pain nor ill humour in her presence. The party consisted of young and tolerably noisy friends, whom, nevertheless, an old gentleman tried to outdo, proposing even odder stuff than they practised. Already, at breakfast, the wine had not been spared. At a very well-furnished dinner-table there was no want of any enjoyment; and the feast was relished the more by everybody, after the violent bodily exercise during the somewhat warm weather; and if the official gentleman went a little too far in the good things, the young people were not left much behind him.

I was happy beyond all bounds at the side of Frederica,—talkative, merry, ingenious, forward, and yet kept in moderation by feeling, esteem, and attachment. She, in a similar position, was open, cheerful, sympathising, and communicative. We all appeared to live for the company, and yet lived only for each other.

After the meal they sought the shade; social games were begun, and the turn came to forfeits. On redeeming the forfeits, everything of every kind was carried to excess: the gestures which were commanded, the acts which were to be done, the problems which were to be solved, all showed a mad joy which knew no limits. I myself heightened these wild jokes by many a comical prank, and Frederica shone by many a droll thought; she appeared to me more charming than ever, all