ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 123 



be the subject broached, he seems quite at home in 

 it, and showers upon us treasures in profusion 

 from his stores of knowledge. He resembles a 

 living fountain, whence flow many streams, yield- 

 ing to all comers a quickening and refreshing 

 draught. He will remain here a few days, and 

 I already feel that I shall have lived through years 

 in the time." 



That Humboldt valued this friendship is shown 

 by the dedication to Goethe of the first part of his 

 " Travels in America." 



The project of foreign travel was long delayed 

 by sickness, war, and various disappointments. 

 But, in life, obstacles are the common lot of mor- 

 tals, and he alone is wise who breasts them cheer- 

 fully, patiently, and persistently. Humboldt said, 

 << It is impossible not to feel the severity of this 

 disappointment; but it is the part of a man to 

 work, and not to yield to unavailing regrets." 



" Hard ! well, and what of that ? 



Didst fancy life one summer holiday, 



With lessons none to learn, and naught but play ? 



Go, get thee to thy task. Conquer or die ! 



It must be learned. Learn it then, patiently." 



At last, in 1799, when Humboldt was thirty, the 

 long contemplated journey to South America was 

 about to be realized. He had already published 

 some astronomical treatises on the determination 

 of latitudes, trigonometrical measures of the Alpine 

 ranges, etc. ; had given lectures in Paris, before 



