192 ALEXANDEE VON HUMBOLDT. 



to interest his understanding than his moral sense ; she fails to 

 awaken in him the same fervour and sweet sadness with which 

 we moderns are inspired.' 



It is thus apparent that even when adopting the abstract 

 form of thought, characteristic of philosophy, in questions re- 

 lating to the rudiments of beauty, or the laws of morality, 

 everything beautiful or great still remains to the poet an object 

 principally for the affections. He is not satisfied merely to see 

 with the eyes, to hear with the ears, and to think with the 

 mind ; his heart must overflow with feelings of the purest and 

 noblest character. 



The enthusiastic character of Schiller's love of nature is 

 apparent in the following lines : 



As with a lover's fervency 

 Pygmalion once a statue clasped, 

 Till o'er the marble's icy coldness 

 The warmth of feeling spread a glow ; 

 So in the heat of youthful ardour 

 Nature was held in my embrace, 

 Till a responsive look of feeling 

 Was seen reflected in her face. 1 



This feeling dictated also his exhortation : c If thou wilt step 

 out of thine artificial circle to enjoy the contemplation of 

 Nature, she will appear before thee in her profound peacefulness, 

 her childlike beauty, innocence, and simplicity ; linger, then, 

 before that image, cherish the feelings she inspires, for they 

 are worthy of the most exalted humanity. Eeceive them with- 

 in thyself, and strive to combine her infinite perfections with 

 thine own prerogative of immortality, that from the union of 

 the two divinity may spring.' This passage shows that pro- 

 portion and number must appear to the poetic mind as the 

 uninviting skeleton of every creature and every work of art. 



* Wie einst mit flehendem Verlangen 

 Pygmalion den Stein umschloss, 

 Bis in des Marmors kalte Wangen 

 Empfindung gliihend sich ergoss ; 

 So schlang ich mich mit Liebesarmen 

 Um die Natur, mit Jugendlust, 

 Bis sie zu athmen, zu erwarmen 

 Begann an meiner Dichterbrust.' 



