Modern Philology

VOLUMEXVI ,7uneI918 NUMBER2

LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE

In December, 1836, Longfellowtook up his workas Smith Pro-
fessorof Modern Languages at Harvard. This was a criticalperiod
in the political and social historyof America. On all sides were
signs of expansion. The difficulties of physicaland political exist-
ence having been surmounted,the conditionsof life became easier
and idealisticimpulseswere developed. There sprangup new ideas
in religion,education,literature,and art. Religiouslifewas marked
by more liberal currents,especiallyby the growthof Unitarianism
in New England. The risingtide of moral sentimentswept along
great reformsin social life,such as the temperancemovementand
the abolition of Africanslavery. The people who had looked to
England forguidancein intellectualand literarylines began to cast
their eyes to a wider horizon,includingthe continentof Europe.
The German institutionscame in for a large share of attention.
The efficiency of theirschools,the soundnessof theirlearning,their
intellectualaccomplishments, foundzealous admirersand advocates
among the little group of scholars who were familiarwith them.
Germanliteratureespeciallyclaimedincreasingattention. The rapid
growthofthisinterestwas phenomenal. It was a significant feature
of the culturethat was developingin America. Up to 1815 there
was almost no knowledgehere of German literature. There was
scarcelya book to be foundin New England for the study of the
Germanlanguage,when GeorgeTicknorwantedto take it up.'
I Life, Lettersand Journals of George Ticknor,Boston, I, 11-12.
571 1 [MODERN PHILOLOGY, June, 1918
2 W. A. CHAMBERLIN
Some littleimpulseto the study of Germanwas given by Mme
de Stall's De l'Allemagne,and a more powerfulstimulationcame
throughthe impact of the young Americanscholars,led by George
Ticknor and Edward Everett, who came back fromGerman uni-
versitiesenthusiasticover what they had learned. They formed
centersof influencein New England,and in some sporadicinstances
in the South and West.' German was introducedas a subject of
study at Harvard in 1825, with Charles Follen as instructor. He
became professorof Germanfiveyears later, continuinguntil 1835.
Harvard Libraryhad already receivedquite a collectionof German
books, consistingof many broughthome by Edward Everett,also
the libraryofProfessorEbeling,ofHamburg,purchasedforHarvard,
and of thirtyvolumesof Goethe's works,presentedby him through
his friend,JosephCoggswell.2
A stronginfluencein favor of German literaturecame through
the criticalwritingsof Carlyle. His worksbecame popular among
the intellectualclasses in this country,who thus became acquainted
withsome ofthe mostfamousGermanwriters. Lowell and his little
group of collegefriendsread Carlylein collegeand were fascinated
withhis writings.
ProfessorS. H. Goodnightshows by his survey3of American
periodicalshow rapidly the interestin German subjects increased
between 1820-40. But the friendlinessto German literaturewas
not altogether unanimous. There were grave doubts expressed
about the religiousand moral views of these works,and American
scholars,who wereknownto be delvingin this new domain,did not
escape suspicion. Some bitterdenunciationof the spiritand influ-
ence of German writingsappeared in literaryreviewsof this time.
Even scholars who were best preparedto judge in such a matter
were divided in their opinions. The strifecenteredlargelyabout
Goethe. As he was recognizedas the most conspicuous German
writer,so his characterand his worksweresubjectedto the sharpest
scrutiny,being alternatelyassailed and defended.
1 At University of Virginia and at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati.
2 For gift of Goethe's works, cf. Goethe-Jahrbuch,
XXV, 15-16.
3 German Literature in American Magazines Prior to 1846, by S. H. Goodnight,
University of Wisconsin Bulletin, No. 188, 1907.
"Carlyle's books were reprinted in America . . . . as fast as they were written.
Lowell read them attentively," etc. E. E. Hale's Lowell and His Friends, p. 21.
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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 3

It was just at this critical period that Longfellowbegan his

service at Harvard, undertakingthe most prominentposition in
modernlanguages in this country. His officekept him at Harvard
foreighteenyears,until 1854,by whichtime Germanliteraturewas
firmlyestablishedin public favor. As he occupied this influential
place duringthe two decades when Americanideals were being so
stronglymolded, it is of special interestto inquire what was his
feeling toward this vexing question of German literature,more
definitely,what was his attitudetoward Goethe.
Longfellowwas in Europe on his firstvisit, 1826-29, during
Goethe's lifetime,and at the time when the great poet received
Americansfrequentlyat his home in Weimar. Gattingen,where
Longfellowstudied for several monthsin 1829, was only a short
distancefromWeimar,so that he could easily have paid homage to
the prince of German poets, as several of his compatriotsdid.'
Probably his failureto improvethis opportunitywas owing to his
imperfectmasteryof Germanat that time,as well as to his sudden
call homeearlierthan he expected. So it happenedthat the prospec-
tive professor,who was destinedto be the foremostinterpreter to
the Americanpublic of Germanlifeforhis generation,did not enjoy
the inspirationof a personalacquaintancewiththe greatWeimarian.
Two reviews of Goethe's works,which appeared in the years
1838 and 1839 in prominentAmericanjournals,expressveryplainly
the contradictory opinionsthat were held of his characterand writ-
ings. They were both by scholars thoroughlyfamiliarwith the
subject they were discussing. One of these reviewerswas George
Bancroft,the famous historian. He had studiedat Gattingenand
had enjoyed a personal acquaintance with Goethe. Yet on his
firstreadingof Goethe's works,he was offendedby theirtaste, and
made a strong comment upon them in his journal.2 This first
impressionseems to have remainedwith him, althoughthe tone is
more moderatein a reviewin the NorthAmerican,of 1824. But in
this later review,in the ChristianExaminer,of Boston, 1839, he
makes a scathingdenunciationof Goethe's character. He will not
1 Goethe-Jahrbuch, XXV, 19-23, mentions visits by William Emerson, of
Ralph W., George H. Calvert, H. E. Dwight, and several more. brother,
2 The Life and Lettersof GeorgeBancroft,by M. A. DeW. Howe, Scribners,1908, p. 38.
59
4 W. A. CHAMBERLIN

concede to him either moral character or poetic excellence. He

said he was insincere,lax in principlesand practice,and imitative
in his art. Longfellow'scommenton this article was to call it a
"violentarticleagainstGoethe,"whichhe evidentlydid notapprove.1
The otherreviewwas fromthe pen of JohnL. Motley, another
eminenthistorianwho had studied in Germany.2 He takes up the
charges that were commonlyhurled at Goethe, and defendshim
againstindifferentism and immorality. In regardto the latterpoint,
he says:
In so faras thischargerestson thewantofa distinct moralaimin his
works,we regardhimas fullyjustified, on theground. . . . thatmorals
and estheticsconstitute two different
provinces.It is absurdto demand
ofan artistthathisworkshouldinculcatea moral. But on othergrounds
we do not knowthatGoethecan be entirely fromthe chargeof
justified
"lukewarmness ofmoralsentiments."
In a later article,3whichis a sort of continuationof the above,
Motley speaks more of the propertiesof Goethe's mind and char-
acter. What he findspre-eminentis his universalism. "We con-
sider all of these excellenciesand defectsof Goethe," (quoting his
words) "as all formingparts of one great characteristic. This
characteristic we have venturedto expressby the termuniversalism."
He characterizesFaust as the
eternaltypeof a mindin whichtheequilibrium betweenhumanambition
and humanabilityis destroyed;a mindwhichis disgusted withtheinsuffi-
ciencyofall humanknowledge. .... It is a mindwhichhasrefusedtopiece
out withfaith,thedeficiencies ofknowledge;in whichthesilverlink,call
it hope,faith,trust,oraughtelsebywhichalonethefinite maybe connected
withtheinfinite, has beenbroken.
The gist of Motley's articlesis here quoted, because his views were
evidentlyshared by Longfellowand met his approval. Of the last
one he speaks distinctlyas follows:4"Motley has said in it the best
thingon Faust (so far as it goes) that I have ever heard or read."
His agreementwithMotley in the firstarticlewill appear later.
These two articlesof the years 1838 and 1839 are rathertypical
of the views expressed concerningGoethe. The New England
1 Journal and Correspondence,I, 340.
2 New York Review, 1838.
8Ibid., V.
4 Journal and Correspondence,I, 338.
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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 5

consciencewas offended byhisliberality. Even hiswarmestdefenders

felt obliged to gloss over his defects. Longfellowdid not take a
prominentpart in this forensiccombat. But in the quieterway of
the professor, by his lectureson Germanliteratureand in his poetry
and romance,he was unobtrusively insinuatingthe spiritof German
poetry into the American mind.
His activitiesduringhis termof officewere divided betweenhis
teaching and writing. In both functionshe showed his zeal for
Germanliterature. As a professorhe was requiredto give lectures
on literature. They covered a broad field,embracingeven classic
as well as modernwriters.' The subjectsforhis coursein the summer
termof 1837,consistingof twelvelectures,show six of themdevoted
to Germanliterature,of whichthreetreatof Goethe's lifeand writ-
ings. No other German author, not even his favorite,Jean Paul
Richter,received so much attention. These lectures,as explained
by his biographer,2 his brother,were the so-called "oral" lectures,
in whichthe professorread passages which he had translatedfrom
the foreignworks and commentedon them. For those on Faust
he had an interleavedcopy of the drama,on whichhe wrotetransla-
tions of choice passages. He makes rathernumerousreferencesin
his Journaland Correspondence to his lectureson Faust. He writes
to his father,August23, 1837,that he would commencethe autumn
term with lectureson Goethe's Faust. He had already referredto
his lectureson Goethe in the previous term. June7, 1838, he was
readingDie Wahlverwandtschaften and writinga lectureon Goethe's
characterand work. In the autumntermof 1839, he spent appar-
ently more than two months on Faust, as thereis a referenceon
September 8 to an "introductorylecture," and on November 13,
he thoughtover his "last lectureon Faust fortomorrow."
Some of these lectureswere woven into his romance,Hyperion,
from which his sentimentsregardingGerman literatureare clear.
The chapteron Goethe,3whilenot in just the formof his lecture,is
doubtlessexpressiveof his attitudetoward him. It is put into the
formof a dialogue between Paul Flemmingand the Baron. The
harsh criticismsof Goethe fromthe British criticsare mentioned.
The pointsforand against him are noted, withthe balance leaning
1 Ibid., I, 261. 2 Ibid., I, 286. 3 Hyperion, Book II, chap. 8.
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towardindulgenceratherthan condemnation. Everystrokeagainst

him is parried by some justification. His so-called indifferentism
is justifiedas his calm, philosophicframeof mind in the midst of
turbulentelements. His sensualityis explained as his realism in
depictingemotions according to nature. He was an artist, who
describeslife as he perceivesit, even the immoralside. Menzel's
attack on him is accounted too savage and is unjustifiable,as it is
inconsistentin its blame. The great poet, subjected to the attacks
of pettywriters,remindsthe Baron of the sick lion, whomeven the
jackass abuses in his weakness. Both speakers agree that he was
a gloriousspecimenofa man. He remindstheAmericanofBenjamin
Franklin,in his love of science,his philosophicnature,and his prac-
tical sense. Heine's characterizationof Goethe, in his Romantische
Schule,is quoted with approbation,in whichhe was likenedto the
giant oak, whose branches spread themselvesover the forestof
smallertrees. He toweredmajesticallyaloft,stretchingout toward
heaven, untilthe starslooked like his goldenfruit.
From thischapterit is clearthat Longfellow,whilenot insensible
to Goethe's faults,was prone to excuse and pass over them. His
viewpointis explainedin thechapteron " Lives ofScholars," in which
he says: "We must pardon much to men of genius. A delicate
organizationrendersthem keenlysusceptibleto pain and pleasure.
And then they idealize everything;and in the moonlightof fancy,
even the deformity of vice seemsbeautiful." This is the view taken
by Motley in the above-mentionedarticle (p. 4) in the New York
Review,withwhomLongfellowmust have been in agreement.
The gentle,indirectway in the formof a romance by which
LongfellowintroducedGoetheto the publicreacheda largeraudience
than the more learned articles and reviews. It is difficultfor us
today to realizethe immensepopularityof his Hyperionin the early
days. But its emotionalism,its romanticatmosphere,the intimate,
unconventional,self-revealing styleof the poet, appealed powerfully
to the community. ProfessorJ. M. Hart2 emphasizesthis renown,
saying that Hyperion representedGerman literatureto America
in the fortiesand fiftiesofthe last century. " It influencedthe New
1 Hyperion, Book I, chap. 7.
2 The Nation, Jan. 9, 1908.

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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 7

England mind profoundly. It used to be a Harvard classic before

the war." Since that was the case, greatcreditis due to Longfellow
for the more favorablereceptionwhich was graduallyaccorded to
Goethe in this country.
Anothertouchstoneof his relationto Goethe is supplied by his
judgment of Menzel's attack on the Weimar poet. Menzel's
Historyof GermanLiteraturewas translated-in1840 by Longfellow's
friend,ProfessorC. C. Felton. Longfellowknew of Felton's work
and probablyencouragedhim in it, althoughhe knew that it con-
tainedthe bitterestattack on Goethe. Did Longfellowthenapprove
of this denunciation? We can answer that question by his own
direct and unequivocal statement,which he made in a review' of
Felton's work. He called Menzel an "assailant of the literaryidol
of Germany," and the "champion of Goethe's foes." "We are
not now called upon or disposed to take sides in the contest," he
continues,"it is sufficient
forus to say, that we condemntheviolence
of the author,and dissent fromhis opinion." Aftercommending
the workin general,he makes special reservationas follows:
In sayingthismuch,we do notmeanto say thatwe coincidewithMr.
Menzelinall hisviews,especially
inhisestimate ofmanyofthegreatmenof
Germany;in ouropinionhisremarks uponGoethe,Johannes Muellerand
Vossbetraytoo muchofpersonaland malignant to admitthesup-
feeling
positionoftheirbeingfaircriticisms.
Quite the opposite was his estimate of Lewes' Life of Goethe.
Under date of December16, 1855,2he wroteof this workas "a very
cleverand judicious book. The best we have had as yet,givingthe
greatGermanas he reallywas."
Numerous allusionsto Goethe's works in Longfellow'sJournal
and Correspondence show his continuedinterest. On one occasion3
he is readingFaust and comparingseveraltranslations. On another4
he was with Sumner and Hillard and had a "long discussionon
Goethe-his art and poetry."5 He heard Emerson's lecture on
Goethe, which he calls good, but not pre-eminent. Under date of
June 8, 1846, he writes: "In the morningbeforegoingto college,I
read the firstpart of Goethe's 'Italienische Reise.' . ... It is
1 New York Review, 1840.
2 Journal and Correspondence, II, 299.
3 Dec. 8, 1839. F4 eb. 9, 1846. 6 Jan. 22, 1846.
63
8 W. A. CHAMBERLIN

writtenin his usual lucid,simplestyle." His lectureson Faust were

given frequently,probablyevery year. Here is an entryfromhis
Journal,whichreveals the conscientiousprofessor:' "Today a new
class in collegewantingto read Faust. And I cannot in conscience
say No. Inclinationto do everythingfor the youngsterprompts
me to say Yes; accordinglyI do say Yes." May 27, 1851,he writes:
"Closed the firstpart of Faust at lecture. I am more than ever
struckwiththe greatnessof this poem. Next week I shall take up
the secondpart ofFaust, withextracts-the firstsceneand the whole
of the last act." There is a similarreferencein the last year of his
professorship.
Thus far Longfellow'srelation to Goethe has been considered
from the external standpoint,in such expressionsof opinion as
Longfellowmade in public and private. This evidenceis conclusive
of his friendlyfeelingtoward Goethe. But the expositionof his
relationshipwouldnot be completewithouttakingintoconsideration
the intimatesympathiesofthetwopoetswithone anotheras revealed
in the spiritof theirworks.
Competent critics of American literature, such as Barrett
Wendell,2George E. Woodberry,"Paul More,4and others,concede
to Longfellowthe creditof interpreting the spiritof European cul-
ture to America. Wendell, after referringto his faithfulservice
as professorat Harvard, emphasizesthe largerwork accomplished
by the poet: "Longfellow'strue missionwas not to strugglewith
unwillinghearers; it was ratherto set forthin words whichshould
findtheirway to the eager readersof a continentthe spiritas dis-
tinguishedfromthe letterofthe literatureswithwhichas a professor
he conscientiously dealt so long."
Higginson notices that "Longfellow was to all Americans,at
thattime,one ofthetwoprimeinfluences throughwhichthetreasures
of Germanliteratureand especiallyof Germanromancewereopened
to Englishreaders."''

1 Mar. 29, 1850.

2 Wendell's Literary History of America, p. 381.
3 Cf. Harper's Magazine, CVI, 427.
4 Cf. Shelburne Essays, V, 139.

6 T. W. Higginson's Old Cambridge,p. 133.

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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 9

As regardsGerman literature,Longfellowwas able to interpret

its spirit,forhe foundhimselfin vital sympathywithit.' At a time
whenhis heartwas peculiarlysusceptiblehe was broughtinto touch
with Germanpoetry,and he became so imbued withits spirit,that
he was transformedby its influence. The "treasures" which he
imported into American literatureenriched his own mind and
broadenedhis outlookupon life.
A greatchangeis observablein his poetryafter1836. His early
poems show a refinement of form,but are artificial,cold and imper-
sonal in sentiment. But after that year his poetry was suffused
withfeeling. It touchesthe deep and instinctivepassionsof human-
ity,now stirring to actionwithits vigorousthought,again expressive
of the tender longings and aspirations of the soul. The poet's
sympathiesforthe joys and sorrowsof mankindhave been enlarged.
Henceforthhis vocation as a poet is secure, for he has found the
sourceofall truepoetryand has been movedby the deepestemotions.
The new spiritin his poetrycorrespondsto the greatchangein his
life which occurred in Germany. He went abroad in the early
summerof 1835,accompaniedby his youngwife,witheverypromise
ofhappiness. But by the unexpecteddeath ofhis wifein Rotterdam
in Novemberof that year, his hopes were shattered. At one blow
his life was shaken to its depths. His plans of life were seriously
interrupted,his spiritwas broken. He was left alone in a foreign
land, forcedto break with the past, to enterupon the futurewith
uncertaintyand gloom. Whithershould he look forsupport? Not
to his friends,fortheywerefar distantfromhim; not to his hopes,
fortheywere blasted; not to his philosophy,whichwas inadequate
forsuch soul-stirring experiences. He turnedforreliefto the study
of German poetry,"buried himselfin books," workinghis way up
fromthe mediaeval minnesingers to the "sunny lands" of the con-
temporarybards.2 The gradual recoveryof his normal disposition
was effectedby the restorativeinfluenceof German ideals. His
religiousand intellectualcharacterwas broadened and his courage
aroused by communionwiththe Germanpoets. In the sad months
1 Cf.
HI. S. White, Goethe in A merika, "Kein englischer Dichter ist so von dem
Geiste der poetischen Seite der deutschen Literatur erfuellt wie Longfellow," Goethe-
Jahrbuch, V, 234.
2
Hyperion, end of Book I.
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at Heidelberg,Goethe, Jean Paul, and Uhland were favoritecom-

panions of his lonely hours. He gave also large attentionto the
Romantic poets, Tieck, Novalis, des Knaben Wunderhorn,Mueller,
and the rest, and there are many marks of their influencein his
poetry. But concedingto Romanticisma strongimpulseupon him,
it did not dominatehim. He learnedfromthe Romanticpoets that
the simple,unaffected, spontaneousoutburstof emotionis the very
essenceofpoetry. But his Americanspirit,his practicalmind,could
not be satisfiedwiththeirvisionaryideals. He turnedforguidance
ratherto Goethe,withwhoseprincipleshe was in deepersympathy.
By nature and trainingthere was much in his characterthat cor-
respondedto Goethe's. He came to him thereforeforsupportand
foundin his teachingsencouragement to rise superiorto his sorrow.
The account of his bitterstrugglewithhis griefup to his restoration
throughthe principleof action is related in Hyperion. That book
testifiesto the benignantforceswhich effectedhis restorationand
confirmsthe thoughtof Goethe's guidance. It was suggestedby
WilhelmMeister,1which it stronglyresemblesin theme and plan.
Goethe's hero, strivingfor self-cultivation,sets out on his travels,
on whichhe is broughtinto associationwitha troupeof actors,with
the nobility,and withall sortsof people. The talented,enthusiastic
young man, whose artistictemperamentis almost too pronounced
forpracticalpurposes,is led to a moresensibleview of lifeby asso-
ciatingwithmenofworldlyexperience,and finallyby his attachment
forthe calm,well-poisedNatalie. The workgivesan epitomeof the
social conditionsin Germanyat the close of the eighteenthcentury.
It relatesmanypeculiarincidentsand the views on varioussubjects
which occupied public attention. It was the clearestrevelationat
the timeit appeared of the author'sworldlywisdom.
SimilarlyHyperionportraysthe career of a young man who is
gropingafterimprovement.2It is Longfellow'sself-revelation.In
his own words,"it is a sincerebook, showingthe passage ofa morbid
mindinto a purerand healthierstate."3 The hero,Paul Flemming,
1 The influence of Wilhelm Meister upon Longfellow is strongly stated by Professor
F. L. Pattee in the article, " Longfellow and German Romance," Poet Lore, 1906, pp. 59-77.
2 Cf. Morin's Les Sources de l'cuvre de Longfellow,pp. 214-15. He says: "Le h~ros,
Paul Flemming, qui n'est autre que l'auteur lui-m~me, est une sorte de Wilhelm Meister."
3 Letter to Greene, June 10, 1841. Given in Journal and Correspondence.
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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 11

has a refined,sensitivenature,as comparedwith the good-natured

Baron, the man-of-the-world type, whose companionship'with
Flemming is most beneficent. But more importantthan his influ-
ence is finallythe recuperativeeffectof the friendshipwith Mary
Ashburton. The plan is imitativeof Goethe also, bringingin many
incidents and discussions which are digressionsfrom the main
interests. But he lacked the skillto fitthemin as aptly as Goethe.
Its styleis patternedafterJean Paul, as the criticsquicklydiscerned.
Its mood is Romantic,showinghow deeply affectedthe author was
by the Romantic writers. The "atmosphere" is the chiefthing,
with only a slenderplot. But whilethe authoris swayed by these
variousinfluences, whenhe comes to the main point,to the message
of his work,he manifestshis relationshipto Goethe. The turning-
pointin his hero'srestorationis furnishedby the mottoon the chapel
wall at St. Gilgen:1 "Look not mournfullyinto the Past. It
comes not back again. Wisely improvethe Present. It is thine.
Go forthto meet the shadowy Future, withoutfear, and with a
manly heart." This is the philosophy of Goethe. It is the
message that WilhelmMeister receives in the scroll of the secret
lodge, althoughit is therehiddenunderoracularexpression:"Art is
long,lifeshort,judgmentdifficult, the opportunityfleeting. Acting
is easy, thinkingis hard; to act accordingto reflectionis uncom-
fortable..... .The heights attract us, but not the steps; the
summit in view, we gladly wander in the plain."2 This is the
keynote of Goethe's philosophy,most fullyrevealed in his Faust.
Longfellowfound it inspiringadvice, which he was -glad to act
upon.
But Longfellow'sgiftwas more lyricalthan narrative. So his
best effortsare the songs and short poems, many of which have
become household words. No other American poet has equalled
himin the powerto put in beautiful,emotionalphrasesthe common,
homelysentiments. In these lyricsis the clearestrevelationof his
soul. We turnto them,then,forthe study of the poet's innerlife,
and find in them many evidences of his sympathywith German
ideals.
1 Book IV, chap. 8.
2 Wilhelm Meister, Book
VII, chap. 9.
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The firstcollectionof his songsafterhis Germansojourn,Voices

of the Night,containssome of his best-knownlyrics. They became
popularat once. They wereeagerlygatheredas the best fruitsthat
Romanticismhad producedin America. The title was significant,
suggestiveof Novalis' Hymnenan die Nacht,and therewere other
evidencesoftheauthor'sromanticmood. In the Preludehe declared
the change whichhad come over him. He had gained a new view
of lifeand art, had foundthe sourcesof true poetryand its themes.
Its springsare in the heart. Reviewingtheinclinationsofhis youth,
his delightin the silent woodlands and in lonely musings,he bids
farewellto such fanciesand turnsto the real objects of the poet's
mind,saying:
The landofsongwithintheelies,1
Wateredbylivingsprings.
Lookthenintothineheart,and write!
Yes, intoLife'sdeepstream!
Allforms ofsorrow and delight,
All solemnVoicesoftheNight,
That can soothetheeoraffright,
Be thesehenceforththytheme.
This thoughtofpoetryas theingenuous,instinctiveoutpouringof
the heartwas thefoundationprincipleof the Romantictheory. But
it was not originalwith them. They got it fromGoethe's works,
and he fromHerder. Herder had announcedit in his firstessays,
Fragmente iiberdie neueredeutsche and had put the younger
Literatur,
poets on the righttrack in urgingthem to study the folk-songs.
Goethe needed but the hintin orderto come to the real essence of
poetry,and henceforthhis worksbecame, accordingto his famous
words,"parts of a greatconfession." In the wordsof Faust:
Wennihr'snichtfuehlt,
ihrwerdet'snichterjagen,
Wennes nichtaus derSeeledringt[vss.535-36],
and later:
Das Pergament,ist das derheil'geBronnen,
WorauseinTrunkdenDurstaufewigstillt?
Erquickunghastdu nichtgewonnen,
Wennsie dirnichtaus eignerSeelequillt[vss.566-69].
1 Cf. his words in Hyperion: "Glorious indeed is the world of God around us, but
more glorious the world of God within us. There lies the Land of Song; there lies the
poet's native land," etc.
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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 13

Longfellow'sdiscoveryof thisgreattruth,whichreactedso favorably

on his developmentas a poet, was one of the most importantresults
of his Germanstudies. Goethe was his guide in this path too.
The most popular song Longfellowever wrote,the "Psalm of
Life," was containedin this collection. Its receptionby the public
was marvellous. Its effectwas like a trumpetcall to action. It
strucka new notein Americanliterature,so stimulatingand so whole-
some, that it caught the popular feeling and rang through the
English-speakingworld. Its centralthoughtis the realityof life:
Lifeis real! Lifeis earnest!
Consequentlythereis need of action:
Trustno Future,howe'erpleasant!
Let thedead Past buryitsdead!
Act,-act in thelivingPresent,
Heartwithinand God o'erhead.
This is merelythe poetic turn of the truthwhich he made the
mottoof his Hyperion. His usingit thereas the turning-pointin his
recoveryand here in this poem, which as the title signifieswas a
characterizationoflife,showshow importantit was in his mind. He
regarded it as the keynote of success, the conclusion of worldly
wisdom. The same sentimentin different formappears in several
others of his finestpoems. The "nobility of labor" is one such
phrase,whichhe names as the lesson fromHans Sachs, the cobbler-
poet. Still moreclearlyhe puts it in "The Village Blacksmith":
Somethingattempted,
something done,
Has earneda night'srepose.

Thusat theflaming
forgeoflife
Ourfortunesmustbe wrought.
It is the advice he gives "To a Child":
Stillletit everbe thypride
To lingerby thelaborer'sside,etc.
In his old age, in his class-dayode "MorituriSalutamus," one ofthe
finestcoupletsis:
BetterlikeHectorin thefieldto die,
Thanlikea perfumed Paristurnand fly.
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In all of these expressionsit is seen how closelyakin he was to

Goethe. They are like echoes of Goethe's worldlywisdom,'whose
cornerstonewas the principle of courageous action, of ceaseless
striving.2 That is the key-noteof Faust.
Das istderWeisheit letzterSchluss:
Nurderverdient sichtFreiheitwiedas Leben,
Der taeglichsie erobernmuss[vss.11574-76].
In the moral conceptionsof life,the two poets were much alike.
A comparisonof theirviews will show this similarity. We turnfirst
to Faust, in whichis foundthe fulleststatementof Goethe'sreligious
life. The poem is a drama,portrayingthe struggleof good and evil
in man. Mephistophelesis the embodimentof evil, as Faust is the
representativeof mankind. The outcomeof the struggleis assured
fromthe beginning. The author's beliefin the rightnessof things
is certainthat God willnot condemnto perisha man who is earnestly
striving. It is the Lord's assurance,in the Prolog:
Ein guterMenschin seinemdunklenDrange,
Ist sichdes rechtenWegeswohlbewusst.
Positive religionhas not any hold on Faust. He has put all that
behindhim,whenhe resortedto magic. Only once is he stirredby
any religiousfeeling,and that is by the Easter chant,whichreminds
himof his childishreverence(vss. 771 ff.). He has no positivename
forthe Ultimate Cause, but is in doubt whetherto call it "word,"
"mind," "energy," or "deed" (vss. 1224 ff.). To Gretchen's
direct question, whetherhe believes in God (vs. 3426), he replies
in effect,that feelingis all that is necessary. He did not have any
strongconvictionsor vivid notionsabout the futurelife. He has
the attitudeof an agnostictoward the beyond. He was concerned
about the presentworldand would take his chancesabout the here-
after. In thismood he is readyto wagerwithMephistopheles,with
his soul at stake.
Das Druebenkannmichwenigkuemmern;
Schlaegstdu erstdieseWeltin Truemmern,
Die andremagdarnachentstehn.
Aus dieserErdequillenmeineLeiden;
Kann ichmicherstvonihnenscheiden,
Dann mag,was willundkann,geschehn [vss.1660-66].
1 The Psalm of Life was firstread to his class at Harvard at the conclusion of a
lecture on Goethe, in July, 1838.
2 Cf.
Faust, vs. 4685; (vs. 941); vss. 11471-86.
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 ATTITUDETOWARD
LONGFELLOW'S GOETHE 15
Even to the last his eyes are fixedon this world,and he scoffsat the
man who looks into eternity:
Nach druebenistdieAussichtunsverrannt;
Tor! werdorthin dieAugenblinzelnd richtet,
SichueberWolkenseinesgleichen dichtet!
Er stehefestundsehehiersichum;
Dem Tuechtigen ist dieseWeltnichtstumm.
Was brauchter in die Ewigkeitzu schweifen!

Im Weiterschreiten
find'er
Qual undGlueck,
Er, unbefriedigt Augenblick![11443-52].
jdden
After he has "stormed throughlife," wreckingone person after
another (Gretchen,Valentin,theirmother,Philemon,and Baucis),
pursuinghis sensual pleasures,thereis no wordofsincererepentance,
no evidence of contrition. The only change at the last is that he
shows some altruistictraits. He has not become entirelymaterial-
istic. Some idealism remains. This Titan of ambition, whose
mightyimpulsewas stirred
Zumhoechsten Daseinimmerfortzu streben[vs.4685]
conceives of a channel for his activitywhich will bless others,by
reclaimingsome territoryfrom the sea bottom and transforming
it into habitable land. His goal lies in the distant future,but
fortunatelyit includesthe welfareof othersbesides himself. He is
saved by divine mercy,apparentlyby reason of this small proofof
idealisticstriving:
Werimmerstrebend sichbemueht,
Den koennen wirerloesen
[vss.11936-37].
This is in briefa summaryof the ethical teachingof Faust. It
is easy to understandwhy such epithetsas "Pagan" were hurled
at Goethe,whenhe expressedso littleofChristianbelief. It explains
why the New England orthodoxleaders were suspiciousof his influ-
ence and doubted the effectof his workson Young America. His
religionseemed materialistic,vague, a refinedheathenism. At best
it was only deisticand took no account of Christ.
Longfellowsaw the deficiencyof Goethe's moral doctrinesas
judged by the Christianstandards. He thought'theywerea revival
1Letter to Ward, Journal and Correspondence,I, 331.
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of Horace's philosophy,a pleasant Epicureanism,as expressedin his

Ode to Thaliarchus:
Dissolvefrigus,
lignasuperfoco
Largereponens, atquebenignius
Depromequadrimum Sabina,
0 Thaliarche,
merumdiota.
whichis summarizedby E. C. Wickham:' "It is midwinter. Well,
pile on morelogs, and bringout largersuppliesof wine. When the
gods will,springwill come back. Do not look forward. Each day
that you get is so much gained. Enjoy it. Love and dance and
play whileyou can, forold age is coming." This is an insufficient
characterizationof Goethe's ethicalspirit. It leaves out of account
at any rate his earneststrivingforideals. But a modernview
evenI
of his ethics,such as is given by ProfessorCalvin Thomas, a noted
commentatorof Faust, is not much morefavorable. His comment
on Faust's salvation is:
Evidentlyhis "striving"mustbe understood in a ratherabstractway
ofhisidealism,whichis indeedthedominant traitofhischaracter,
butnot
themainspring ofall thathe does. Nevertheless, thathe shouldbe saved
in virtueofthisquality,ratherthanby faithor goodworks,accordswith
thedeepestconvictions ofourpoet. To liveone'slifein a largeand eager
way, withjoy for its joys and pain forits pains,withoutstagnationor
embitterment, withmindand soulunsatedand insatiable,"stillachieving,
stillpursuing"to theend-thisseemedto himworthwhileforitsownsake.
Thisis thesenseofoneofhisfavorite mottoes:"UeberGraebervorwaerts."
He didnotdeemit necessary to groundthegoodnessoflifeuponissuesthat
arebeyondthegrave-tolivebeingtheall-sufficient endand aimofliving.2
Now therewas muchin this optimisticview oflifethat appealed
to Longfellow. His youthfellin that periodwhentherewas a break-
ing away fromthe strict,sternorthodoxyof New England Congre-
gationalism.3He was broughtup in a pious regardforreligionand
to cherishfaithin God. But he recoiledfromthe hard Calvinistic
creed of the prevailing church. He interpretedreligious beliefs
broadly and was by nature peaceful and charitabletoward those
of other faith. He hated dogmatism. He sided with the party
1 Wickham's The Works of Horace, I, 59.
2 Introduction to Second Part of Faust, p. lxxii.
8"In the congregation of the First Parish of Portland, the moderate calvinism of
the old preachers . . . . had gradually passed into the early form of Unitarianism,"
Journal and Correspondence, I, 13.
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 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOETHE 17

of defectionfromthe orthodoxchurch. It is easy to understand,

consequently,his sympathywith the German poets and especially
with Goethe's systemof belief. Its liberalitywas more in accord
withhis views and seemedmoreprogressivethan the straiterAmeri-
can orthodoxy. His religious ideas were colored by Goethe's
thought. His expression,for instance,of the intimaterelation of
God and Nature,
AndthePoet,faithful and far-seeing,
Sees alikein starsand flowers,a part
Oftheself-same, universal being,
Whichis throbbing in hisbrainand heart,
sounds very much like Goethe's attractivepantheisticconception
of the "All-embracing,all-preservingOne." His beliefin the divine
naturein everyhuman heart,whichGod will strengthen even in the
darkenedsoul, is beautifullyput in the Introductionto Hiawatha:
Ye whoseheartsarefreshand simple,
Whohavefaithin God and Nature,
Whobelieve,thatin all ages
Everyhumanheartis human,
That in evensavagebosoms
Therearelongings, yearnings,
strivings
For thegoodtheycomprehend not,
That thefeeblehandsandhelpless,
Groping blindlyin thedarkness,
TouchGod'srighthandin thatdarkness,
Andareliftedup and strengthened.'
He had a deepersense,however,than Goetheofthe personalrelation
of God, so that he emphasizedhis wise,benignantcharacter,as ofan
omniscient,loving Father.2
The quotation fromHiawatha indicates that he did not sym-
pathize with the idea of total depravity. He viewed sin rather
leniently.' Never having experiencedits destructiveinfluencein
his own moral life,not knowingthe sway of degradingpassions,he
had no deep conviction of its heinousnessin God's sight. He
picturessin as the balefulworkof outwardforces,beleagueringthe
1 I have found many suggestions, in my summary of Longfellow's ethical views in
President A. H. Strong's American Poets and Their Theology,chapter on Longfellow.
2 Cf. the poems: "The Reaper and the Flowers," "The Two Angels," etc.
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 18 W. A. CHAMBERLIN

soul, whichtriumphsthroughfaith. But theseforcesare phantoms,

the productsof our fear,morethan actualities:
DownthebroadVale ofTearsafar
The spectralcampis fled;
Faithshinethas a morningstar,
Ourghastlyfearsare dead.'
In The GoldenLegendhe has copied Goethe's dramaticimpersonation
of evil, when he shows LucifertemptingPrince Henry. The spirit
of evil appears in several changingformsin the poem,but moreas a
craftydeceiverthan as a maliciousseducer. PrinceHenry'sselfish-
ness is not depictedin its baseness,but onlyas a temporaryinsanity
and weakness. At the last his eyes are opened to see his conduct
in its rightlight, in time to counteractit, and then he is easily
pardonedand rewardedby completeand miraculousrestorationfor
the enduranceof the trial of his faith. We must guard ourselves
against laying too much stresson the ethical ideas of this poem as
signalizinghis own views,remembering that he was reproducingthe
mediaevalthought. Likewisein "Pandora" he gives us the classical
mythologicalconceptionsof sin and retribution, whichmay not have
fairlyrepresented his own convictions. But it is taken as evident,
that his liberalityofthoughtled himaway fromthe strictinterpreta-
tion of the Christiandoctrines,as they were generallyheld in his
time,and that he was influencedby Goethein thisrespect.2
But in his poetry he went much furtherthan Goethe along
Christianlines. Otherwisehis poetrywould not have had the power
in Americanlife that it has exercised. Lacking the strongconvic-
tion of Tennyson'sfaithand the passionate appeal of Whittier,his
poems are however shot through with expressionsof Christian
thought,which have given them the greatest popularityof any
Americanpoetryyet written. He was not an agnostic,disregarding
the claims of the futurelife,but he was a sincere,humblebeliever,
trustingthe wisdomand love of God, whenhe could not understand
his ways. Such poemsas "The Reaper and the Flowers," "The Two
Angels," and others,expresshis faithin Providence. And his sub-
lime belief in immortalitycomes out in beautifulexpressionmore
1 "The Beleaguered City."
2 "4Indeed we mark a growing tendency toward a pagan view of the world and of
religious things, as the years go on. German influences were strong, and to some extent
Goethe was the poet's model," American Poets and Their Theology, pp. 239-40.
74
 LONGFELLOW'S ATTITUDE TOWARDGOETHE 19

than once in such poems as "Resignation," "God's-Acre," "Auf

Wiedersehen." One mightindeed search in vain throughall litera-
ture, outside of the Bible, for a more comfortingpicture of death
than is given in his "Resignation," writtenafterthe death of his
littledaughter:
Thereis no Death! Whatseemsso is transition;
This lifeofmortalbreath
Is buta suburbofthelifeelysian,
Whoseportalwe call Death.
The two poets resembledone anotherin the philosophiccalmness
in regardingthe vicissitudesoflife. WithGoethe thisserenitycame
aftera ratherstormyyouthfulperiodof stress,and was the effectof
his classicism. It was the evidence of the harmonybetween the
soul and body, whichhe thoughtwas foundin its perfectionin the
classic age. But Longfellow'speaceful frame of mind was more
temperamentaland was also in partthe act ofhis will,the triumphof
will over feelings. Thus he singsin an early poem,' one whichhad
great powerover the mindsof his readers,of
The staroftheunconquered will,
and in anotherpoem:2
Be still,sad heart! andceaserepining;
Behindthecloudsis thesunstillshining.
But his resignationrose to a higherlevel than Goethe's, where it
rested on faithin the good effectsof sorrow. He recognizedthat
sorrowmay be accepted as a wise dispensation,and expressesthis
belief in "The Goblet of Life." What a passion of anguish was
suppressedbeneath his placid face can only be imaginedfromthat
pictureof the crossupon his heart,that was foundamong his papers
afterhis death. A moretouchingpictureof the sublimeendurance
of griefhas probablyneverbeen written:
In thelongsleeplesswatchesofthenight,
A gentleface-thefaceofonelongdead-
Looksat mefromthewall,whererounditshead
The night-lamp castsa haloofpale light.
Herein thisroomshedied; and soulmorewhite
Neverthrough martyrdom offirewas led
1 "'The Light of Stars."
2 " The Rainy Day."
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20 W. A. CHAMBERLIN

To itsrepose;norcan in booksbe read

The legendofa lifemorebenedight.
Thereis a mountain in thedistantWest
That,sun-defying,in itsdeepravines
Displaysa crossofsnowuponitsside.
Suchis thecrossI wearuponmybreast
Theseeighteen years,through all thechanging
scenes
Andseasons,changeless sincethedayshedied.
From this comparisonof the two poets,it seemsclear that Long-
fellow'sviews of art and of moral and religiouslifewere coloredby
his absorptionofGerman,particularlyGoethe's,thought. Hence we
can easily understand his friendlyattitude toward his colleague.
He could overlookor at least regardindulgentlythose ideas which
were judged so harshlyby others. His liberalityof mind was con-
firmedand strengthenedby intercoursewith German literature.
Consequentlyhe welcomedthe advent ofthisliteratureinto America
as means of broadeningthe horizonofhis comrades. He interpreted
the message in his own way in words that thrilledhis countrymen
and othersfarbeyondthe bordersof his country. They understood
him, though they may never have heard the name of Goethe.
Throughouthis periodof serviceas professorat Harvard he labored
quietly in the lecturehall, to impartthe ideals of German culture
to his hearers. Throughhis poetryhe reacheda vastlylargercircle
withhis messageof cheerful,beneficentactivity. What was accom-
plishedcan be best judged in the enlargementof Americanthought
and ideals that tookplace duringhis generation. When he began his
career,art and literaturein this countrywas in its infancy. It was
stillprovincialin character,forthe mostpart crudein its utterance.
But throughhisefforts and thoseofhis colleagues,newlightstreamed
in, illuminingthe paths of life. Institutionsand movementswere
revived by the quickeningbreath fromabroad. The spiritof the
land, withoutbeingless American,became freer,brighter, and purer.
In thistransformation Longfellow'sservicewas invaluable. To him
morethan to any othersingleinfluenceis due the creditofpopulariz-
ing on thisside of the ocean some of the mostinspiringideals of that
upward-striving age.
W. A. CHAMBERLIN
DENISON UNIVERSITY
76