Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-06-08
Great Mems Love Letters
GOETHE TO CHARLOTTE Won STEIN

~ OhAhAO1IE WIN
Goethe, the German poet, was a man
of very great sentiment. and his love af-
fairs were numerous, but that between
himself and Charlotte Won Stein seems to
have been unusually deep and durable
and tender. It had more influence upon
him than any other. and there was much
mystery in its sudden termination
Goethe first became acquainted with
Frau Won Stein on his arrival at Weimar
toward the close of the year 1775. She
was then 80 years of age and had been
married IL years. Won Stein was master
of the horse to the Duke OF Weirnar and
his official duties kept him most of ths
time at court. Charlotte herself was ia,
miliar with court life, having been fot
seven years previous to her marriage
maid of honor to the dukes mother.
Goethe at that time was a little more
than 26 years old, but his literary repu-
tation had already been established. Per
sonally he was of almost godlike beauty.
Lewes in his biography says of him that
at 20, when he entered restaurant,
people laid down their knives and forks
| to look at him" This personal beauty he
is said to have retained until his death.
When Frau Won Stein expressed the
| desire to meet Goethe to Dr.. Zimmerman
| the doctor wrote to her: But, my poor
| friend, you dc not reflect You desire to
| see him, and you do not know how dan
| gerous to you this lovabde and charming
man may become?" Goethe's lorss had
been notorious and his engagement to
Anna Sehonemann, which had just then
| been broken OF, was only the last Of a
series of like affairs which began when he
was Is years of age.
In Frau Won Stein Goethe loved for the
/ frGt &c
and a lady of rank. The etiquette of the
| court, the observance of which to Frau
1 Won Stein was second nature. wearied him
| immensely. He hated the entertainments
i which he was obliged to attend and was
irritated because mis- loved took pleasure
/ in them and was gracious and complais-
/ ant to the men she met.
The ten years and eight months which
| elapsed between Goether's first acquaint-
ance with Frau Stein at the end of ITS
and his departure for Italy in September,
i 1885, may be called the golden period of
4 their intercourse Of his $50 published
j letters to her, s21 were written during
this period, and as the few extracts that
follow will show, they embody the most
ardent emotions Of which lovers soul is
capable.
/ These are some of the most senti.
mental of the passages in the early cor
respondence: Il see well, dear lady, when
one loves thee it is as if seeu were sown
and springs unnoticed, unfolds and stands
, theTe-and God gives HIS blessing to it
Amen y To-day will I not see YOU Your
presence yesterday made such a wonder
full impr ession on me that do not know
whether It be veal or woe with me If
the affair. Farewell, dearest LADY,
Failing to check him otherwise, Frau
Il Stein after ho1-
pealed to his regard for her reputation
$ and have begged him to consider VIVA
} the world would say of his attentions II
reply he writes:
And SO relation. the pufest, the mos
beautiful, the truest that have ever hat
with woman, except my sister, that ais
: Is Interrupted. was prepared for it.
d Will not see you Your presence vii
make me sad. If 7 cannot live with yeu
yeur love helps me as little as the love o
my absent ones in which I am so rich
And all that on account OF the world
The world, which can be nothing to ms
9 will not allow thee to be anything t
: me-"
She must have replied seothingiy fo
Goethe next writes her: You are Away
II the same, always endless love and good
/" ness. Forgive that make you suffer
# Will, hereafter, strive to bear it alone
His most passionate appeal of all, how
ever. was written on Oct. 7, when h
says: Farewell, best one You go, an
u God knows what will happen. I eugf
10 to have been thankful to fate which i.
IS me clearly feel the first moment 1 sa
you again how dear I hold YOU I ougi
to have been satisfied with it. and new,
IL have seen you more Forgive me; I $,
~ now how my presence plaques you