a clear conscious dream of a higher existence. His
sensibilities, as well as his imagination, were very much decided from
the solemnity of his suffering, from his heartfelt love, and from the
pious longing for death, which he cherished. It is indeed very
possible, that deep sorrow at this time planted the death-seed in him;
unless perhaps it was his irrevocable destiny, to be so early torn
away.

He remained many weeks in Thuringia, and returned consoled and truly
exalted to his business, which he pursued more eagerly than ever,
though he regarded himself as a stranger upon earth. About this time,
some earlier, some later, but particularly during the fall of this
year, he composed most of those pieces, which have been published under
the title of "Fragments," as also his "Hymns to Night."

In December of this year, he went to Freiberg, where the acquaintance
and instruction of the renowned Werner awoke anew his passion for
physical science, and especially for mining. Here he became acquainted
with Julia von Ch.; and, strange as it may appear to all but his
intimate friends, he was betrothed to her, as early as the year 1798.
Sophia (as we may see from his works) remained the balancing point of
his thoughts; he honored her, absent as she was, even more than when
present with him; but yet he thought that loveliness and beauty could,
to a certain degree, replace her loss. About this time he wrote "Faith
and Love," the "Flower Dust," and some other fragments, as "The Pupils
at Sais." In the spring of 1799, Serbia's instructress died; which
event moved Novalis the more deeply, because he knew that sorrow for
the loss of her beloved pupil had chiefly contributed to hasten her
death. Soon after this event he returned to the paternal estate, and
was appointed under his father Assessor and chief Judiciary of the
Thuringian district.

He now visited Jena often, and there became acquainted with A. W.
Schlegel, and sought out the gifted Ritter, whom he particularly loved,
and whose peculiar talent for experimenting he greatly admired. Ludwig
Tieck saw him this year for the first time, while on a visit to his
friend Wm. Schlegel. Their acquaintance soon ripened into a warm
friendship. These friends, in company with Schlegel, Schelling, and
other strangers, passed many happy days in Jena. On his return, Tieck
visited Novalis at his father's house, became acquainted with his
family, and for the first time listened to the reading o