252 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



him frequently, and always met with an amicable re- 

 ception. He had two daughters. Sara Elizabeth, the 

 elder one, was a beautiful girl. A certain baron had paid 

 his addresses to her, though without success. I saw her, 

 was amazed, smitten, and fell in love. My caresses and 

 representations won her heart. She promised her con- 

 sent and vowed to be mine. But, as a poor man, I was 

 much perplexed to ask her of her father. At last I 

 ventured. Moraeus consented and refused. He loved 

 me, but not my uncertain and adverse fate. He finally 

 declared that his daughter should remain unmarried 

 three years longer, and at the expiration of that time 

 he would give his ultimate decision.' 



The diary gives the account of this affair with a 

 slight variation. For both we have Linnaeus's own 

 authority. In one place he is speaking to an acquaint- 

 ance, in the other to himself, or to posterity. 



' Dr. John Moraeus, physician of the town, who was 

 looked up to as a man of considerable fortune (for his 

 situation in life), and who saw the progress of Linnaeus 

 both with astonishment and jealousy, had determined 

 never to bring up any one of his children to the practice 

 of medicine. Linnaeus, however, in spite of all this, 

 and though a mere student, after having spoken to the 

 eldest daughter, presented himself to her father, and 

 asked his consent to marry her, which Moraeus, to the 

 great surprise not only of Linnaeus but of others, 

 agreed to ; however, he could not obtain the consent of 

 her mother.' 



