he room, bounding up and down, shouting,
"Hurrah! hurrah! Long live the philosophers, vivat the philosophers!"

"They shall live--live--live,'' shouted the duke!

"Vivat the philosophers! hurrah! To the May-sports upon the Blockberg
they ride upon a little ass with golden horns--with Pharisaical mien,
praying with their eyes, 'I thank Thee, O Lord, that I am a philosopher,
that I am not as the world's children, vain, proud, and arrogant.' Hey,
good Carl Augustus, today a great revelation has been made known to me
by a philosopher. Wisdom flowed from his mouth. All the spiders in their
gray, self-woven nets, whispered and sang in his corridor, 'We weave at
the fountain of life, we spin the web of time.' The little mice crept
out from the corners, whispering, Hallelujah! Here lives the great
philosopher Moses, who has devoured wisdom, and is unknowing of earthly
vanities. Oh! the mice and the spiders waltz together upon the threshold
of the great philosopher. Hey, ha! a waltz we will dance!"

Goethe caught the duke with both arms around the waist, and tore around
in a giddy whirl, both laughing, both shrieking. Wolfshund, the duke's
dog, asleep in the corner, sprang up howling and barking at their wild
bounds and goat-like springs, and joined the dancers. As Goethe felt
the ribbon which confined his cue give way, he shook wildly his curly,
powdered hair and it fell in mad confusion. Both he and the duke now
sank exhausted to the floor, panting and laughing.

"Heaven be praised, Wolf," said the duke, "the must has once more
fermented, and sprung a few of the hoops of dignity?"

"Yes," answered Goethe, who suddenly assumed a grave, serious mien, "the
must has fermented, and I trust a fine wine will clear itself from it."

"Can you not set off, Wolf?" asked the duke, springing up. "Have you had
sufficient of the Berliners?"

"I have done with them," replied Goethe, "not only with the Berliners,
but it may be with all the rest of humanity. I feel, my duke, that the
bloom of confidence, candor, and self-sacrificing love fades daily;
only for you, and the friend whom I love, is there still attraction and
flagrancy. Oh! you dear ones, be charitable, and do not consent that
they fade for you. Let the goodness which I read in your eyes, my
dear Carl, and the sunny rays of friendship strengthen the poor
little blossom, that it does not entirely fade and wither away!" With
passionate earnestness he threw his arms around the du