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palpable。
I know what you will say in reply； for I am ready to admit that
they are happiest； who； like children； amuse themselves with their
playthings； dress and undress their dolls； and attentively watch
the cupboard； where mamma has locked up her sweet things； and；
when at last they get a delicious morsel； eat it greedily； and
exclaim； 〃More！〃 These are certainly happy beings； but others
also are objects of envy； who dignify their paltry employments；
and sometimes even their passions； with pompous titles； representing
them to mankind as gigantic achievements performed for their welfare
and glory。 But the man who humbly acknowledges the vanity of all
this； who observes with what pleasure the thriving citizen converts
his little garden into a paradise； and how patiently even the poor
man pursues his weary way under his burden； and how all wish equally
to behold the light of the sun a little longer； yes； such a man
is at peace； and creates his own world within himself； and he is
also happy； because he is a man。 And then； however limited his
sphere； he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty；
and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes。
MAY 26。
You know of old my ways of settling anywhere； of selecting a little
cottage in some cosy spot； and of putting up in it with every
inconvenience。 Here； too； I have discovered such a snug； comfortable
place； which possesses peculiar charms for me。
About a league from the town is a place called Walheim。 （The reader
need not take the trouble to look for the place thus designated。
We have found it necessary to change the names given in the original。）
It is delightfully situated on the side of a hill； and； by proceeding
along one of the footpaths which lead out of the village； you can
have a view of the whole valley。 A good old woman lives there；
who keeps a small inn。 She sells wine； beer； and coffee； and is
cheerful and pleasant notwithstanding her age。 The chief charm
of this spot consists in two linden…trees； spreading their enormous
branches over the little green before the church； which is entirely
surrounded by peasants' cottages； barns； and homesteads。 I have
seldom seen a place so retired and peaceable； and there often have
my table and chair brought out from the little inn； and drink my
coffee there； and read my Homer。 Accident brought me to the spot
one fine afternoon； and I found it perfectly deserted。 Everybody
was in the fields except a little boy about four years of age； who
was sitting on the ground； and held between his knees a child about
six months old： he pressed it to his bosom with both arms； which
thus formed a sort of arm…chair； and； notwithstanding the liveliness
which sparkled in its black eyes； it remained perfectly still。
The sight charmed me。 I sat down upon a plough opposite； and
sketched with great delight this little picture of brotherly
tenderness。 I added the neighbouring hedge； the barn…door； and
some broken cart…wheels； just as they happened to lie； and I found
in about an hour that I had made a very correct and interesting
drawing； without putting in the slightest thing of my own。 This
confirmed me in my resolution of adhering； for the future； entirely
to nature。 She alone is inexhaustible； and capable of forming the
greatest masters。 Much may be alleged in favour of rules； as much
may be likewise advanced in favour of the laws of society： an
artist formed upon them will never produce anything absolutely bad
or disgusting； as a man who observes the laws； and obeys decorum；
can never be an absolutely intolerable neighbour； nor a decided
villain： but yet； say what you will of rules； they destroy the
genuine feeling of nature； as well as its true expression。 Do not
tell me 〃that this is too hard； that they only restrain and prune
superfluous branches； etc。〃 My good friend； I will illustrate
this by an analogy。 These things resemble love。 A warmhearted
youth becomes strongly attached to a maiden： he spends every hour
of the day in her company； wears out his health； and lavishes his
fortune； to afford continual proof that he is wholly devoted to
her。 Then comes a man of the world； a man of place and respectability；
and addresses him thus： 〃My good young friend； love is natural；
but you must love within bounds。 Divide your time： devote a portion
to business； and give the hours of recreation to your mistress。
Calculate your fortune； and out of the superfluity you may make
her a present； only not too often； on her birthday； and such
occasions。〃 Pursuing this advice； he may become a useful member
of society； and I should advise every prince to give him an
appointment； but it is all up with his love； and with his genius
if he be an artist。 O my friend！ why is it that the torrent of
genius so seldom bursts forth； so seldom rolls in full…flowing
stream； overwhelming your astounded soul？ Because； on either side
of this stream； cold and respectable persons have taken up their
abodes； and； forsooth； their summer…houses and tulip…beds would
suffer from the torrent； wherefore they dig trenches； and raise
embankments betimes； in order to avert the impending danger。
MAY 27。
I find I have fallen into raptures； declamation； and similes； and
have forgotten； in consequence； to tell you what became of the
children。 Absorbed in my artistic contemplations； which I briefly
described in my letter of yesterday； I continued sitting on the
plough for two hours。 Toward evening a young woman； with a basket
on her arm； came running toward the children； who had not moved
all that time。 She exclaimed from a distance； 〃You are a good
boy； Philip！〃 She gave me greeting： I returned it； rose； and
approached her。 I inquired if she were the mother of those pretty
children。 〃Yes；〃 she said； and； giving the eldest a piece of
bread； she took the little one in her arms and kissed it with a
mother's tenderness。 〃I left my child in Philip's care；〃 she said；
〃whilst I went into the town with my eldest boy to buy some wheaten
bread； some sugar； and an earthen pot。〃 I saw the various articles
in the basket； from which the cover had fallen。 〃I shall make
some broth to…night for my little Hans （which was the name of the
youngest）： that wild fellow； the big one； broke my pot yesterday；
whilst he was scrambling with Philip for what remained of the
contents。〃 I inquired for the eldest； and she bad scarcely time
to tell me that he was driving a couple of geese home from the
meadow； when he ran up； and handed Philip an osier…twig。 I talked
a little longer with the woman； and found that she was the daughter
of the schoolmaster； and that her husband was gone on a journey
into Switzerland for some money a relation had left him。 〃They
wanted to cheat him；〃 she said； 〃and would not answer his letters；
so he is gone there himself。 I hope he has met with no accident；
as I have heard nothing of him since his departure。〃 I left the
woman； with regret； giving each of the children a kreutzer； with
an additional one for the youngest； to buy some wheaten bread for
his broth when she went to town next； and so we parted。 I assure
you； my d