62 Goethe's Visit to Beireis. QJAN. 



subject, as it is here described, for a prize-picture ; to see what artists 

 there were who, still uninfected by the preponderating perversion for 

 gaudiness, felt inclined to direct eye and talent on the rugged freshness 

 of real life. 



As regarded the history of art, Beireis, at the dissolution of the 

 monasteries, had obtained some pictures that were important : I viewed 

 them attentively, and marked much in my note-book. Here I find 

 stated, that, except the one first shewn, which might pass for a genuine 

 Byzantic, the rest, without exception, seemed to be of the fifteenth, 

 perhaps of the sixteenth century. For a more accurate estimation, I 

 wanted thorough knowledge ; and for using what knowledge I had, the 

 chronology and nomenclature of our wondrous Collector led me, step by 

 step, out of the course. 



For, in a word, as personally, so likewise in possessions, he insisted, 

 once for all, on being unique ; and as that Byzantic piece was ascribed 

 by him to the fourth century, so, farther, he pointed out an uninterrupted 

 series from the fifth, sixth, &c. to the fifteenth, with an assurance and 

 conviction, such that thought died away within one, as is wont to hap- 

 pen, when the palpably untrue is confidentially imparted to us as a thing 

 known to every one wherein neither the self-deception, nor the shame- 

 lessness, in such a degree, seems possible. 



Such surveying and considering was pleasantly interrupted by festive 

 entertainments. Here the ancient man continued joyfully to play his 

 youthful part j he joked with the mothers, as if they at one time had 

 felt a kindness for him ; and with the daughters, as if he meant to offer 

 them his hand. No one answered these speeches and proposals with 

 any displeasure ; even the ablest male personages of the company treated 

 his fooleries with some regard ; and out of all, it became apparent that 

 his house, his natural and artistic treasures, his ready money and sleep- 

 ing capital, his riches, actual, or exaggerated by bragging, were a lure 

 in the eyes of many ; whence too much respect for his merits seemed to 

 plead excuse for his singularities. 



And surely there was none more adroit and dexterous to excite 

 legacy-hunting than he ; nay, it seemed a maxim with him to create for 

 himself hereby a new artificial family, and the un-pious piety of a num- 

 ber of individuals. 



In his sleeping-room hung the portrait of a young man, of the sort 

 such as you see hundreds, nowise distinguished, neither attractive nor 

 repelling : this he was wont to shew his guests lamenting the mis- 

 chance that this young man, on whom he had spent much, for whom 

 his whole fortune was intended, should have proved false and ungrateful 

 towards him ; so that he had been forced to throw him loose, and was 

 now in vain looking after another, with whom to commence a similar 

 and luckier connexion. 



In this statement there was something roguish ; for as each, on look- 

 ing at a lottery-scheme, draws the head prize for himself, so to each 

 auditor there seemed, at least for the moment, a star of hope to shine 

 forth ; nay, I have known prudent men that allowed this will-o'-wisp, 

 for a considerable time, to lead them hither and thither. 



The greater part of the day we used to spend with him ; and at night 

 he regaled us, from Chinese porcelain and silver, with ewe-milk curds 

 and cream (fetter schqfmilch), which he praised, and pressed on you 

 as a highly nourishing diet. Had you once got some relish for this 

 strange food, it is not to be denied that you liked it well, and could also 

 recommend it as wholesome. 



