1832.] Goethe t Visit to Beireis. 59 



by his presence every feast. Not large, of handsome and agile make, as 

 you still saw him, those legends of his fencing feats might be let pass ; 

 an incredibly high-arched brow, quite in disproportion to the under 

 sharp-peaked parts, betokened a man of singular qualities ; and, for so 

 advanced an age, he might well boast of an especially brisk and unassumed 

 spirit of activity. 



In company, and especially at table, he gave his gallantry this quite 

 peculiar turn that he unconstrainedly represented himself as whilom 

 adorer of the mothers/as actual wooer of the daughters or nieces ; which 

 oft-repeated tale all took in good part ; for if no one would make pre- 

 tence to his hand, fain would many a one have pretended to some share 

 in his testament. 



Introduced as we were, he offered us all manner of hospitality. A 

 lodging in his house we declined; but thankfully passed great part of the 

 day with him, looking at his curiosities. 



Very much of his earlier property, that still in name and fame main- 

 tained itself entire, was in the sorrowfullest case. The Vaucanson 

 Automatons we found altogether paralyzed. In an old garden, sat the 

 Flute-player, in humblest apparel ; but he flute-played no longer. 

 Beireis shewed us the original cylinder, whose first simple tune had not 

 satisfied him ; and, on the other hand, a second cylinder, which, with 

 aid of organ-builders kept years long in his house, he had undertaken 

 instead thereof. This, however, as the organ-builders went away too 

 soon, could not be completed, nor put in its place ; whereby the Flute- 

 player continued dumb as at first. The Duck, all disfeathered, stood 

 there as a skeleton ; still ate its oats quite briskly, but digested no longer. 

 With all this, Beireis was nothing discomposed ; but talked of these 

 antiquated, half-ruined articles with such contentment and impressive 

 emphasis, as if, since that time, the higher mechanique had produced 

 nothing new of consequence. 



In a large hall, devoted to Natural History, the remark also occurred, 

 that whatever preserves itself was in good preservation with him. Thus 

 he shewed us a very small Loadstone that carried a large weight j a 

 genuine Phrenite, from the Cape, of great beauty ; and other minerals, in 

 excellent specimens. 



But a row of stuffed Birds, standing crowded in the middle of this 

 hall, were crumbling to pieces by moth-eating, so that worms and fea- 

 thers lay heaped on the very foot-boards. He remarked this too, and de- 

 clared that it was a stratagem ; for all the moths in the house drew hither, 

 and the other apartments were clean of such vermin. In regular series 

 came then the Seven Wonders of Helmstadt to light : the Leberkiihn 

 Preparations, as well as Hahn's Arithmetical Mill. Of the former, some 

 truly admirable specimens were pointed out j by the latter, complex sums 

 of various sorts were computed. The Magic Oracle, however, was dumb. 

 Beireis had sworn that this obedient clock, which at his command, while 

 at a distance from it, stood still, or went on, should never again be wound 

 up. An officer to whom, relating such wonders, the lie had been given, 

 was declared to have perished in a duel ; since which time the proprietor 

 had firmly determined never more to expose his admirers to such peril, 

 nor drive the unbelieving to such inconsiderate cruelties. 



After what has here been stated, some observations may be allowable. 

 Beireis, born in the year 1730, felt himself as a man of talent, capable of 

 far-extending acquirement, and fitted for manifold action. Following the 

 course of his time, he cultivated himself into what we name a Polyhistor, 



