168 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



aqueous theory, could not restrain a manifestation of anger. As 

 if to prove that even a genius of the highest order is not always 

 permitted to comprehend Nature in all her aspects, Groethe could 

 never be induced to abandon these views, which the researches 

 of modern science had rendered obsolete through the trium- 

 phant establishment of the theory of volcanic agency. His 

 indignation found vent in some expressions of Mephistopheles. 

 It cannot, however, be admitted for an instant, as Boas and 

 Saupe have both assumed, in conformity with earlier writers, 

 that the following epigrams bear any reference to Alexander 

 von Humboldt : 



161. Creation ~by Fire. 



Poor columns of basalt ! "Tis said, ye were by fire thus moulded, 

 And yet none saw thee ever by the flames enfolded. 1 



163. Short-lived Pleasures. 



At length beneath the floods primeval is their fate fast sealed, 

 And thus the strife so long enkindled is for ever healed. 2 



At that time Humboldt was an avowed advocate of the aqueous 

 theory, as may be seen from his ' Mineralogical Observations 

 on some Basalts of the Khine.' It was only when travelling in 

 the New World that he became a convert to the volcanic theory. 



Groethe's whole nature was so organised that he could 

 scarcely fail to hold Werner's views with regard to the aqueous 

 theory, which taught that in the long intervals separating the 

 primeval catastrophes everything was slowly formed by the 

 ' moisture of life.' He says : c I have spent several years of 

 my life in studying the mutual connection of the stratified 

 formations. The views I formed coincided with Werner's 

 doctrine, and I continued to hold them even after I had good 

 reason to believe that they left many. problems unsolved.' 



1 161. Schdpfung durch Feuer. 



( Arme basaltische Saulen ! Ihr solltet dem Feuer gehoren, 

 Und doch sah euch kein Mensch je aus dem Feuer eutstehn.' 



2 163. Kurze Freude. 



1 Endlich zog man sie wieder ins alte Wasser herunter, 

 Und es loscht sich nua bald dieser entziindete Streit.' 



