134 



say, like Alfonso to Tasso, " And so at length I hold it 

 in my hands, and call it in a certain sense my own."* 

 This is poetical, and very courteous. 



With heartiest gratitude, 



Yours, A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



xcv. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, Wednesday, 4th June, 1845. 



I recognise at once, by the elegance of style, the 

 guardian genius of my weak literary efforts. I had 

 not seen the delicious sheet which contained Neander'sf 

 explanation as well. In the last moments of my pre- 

 paration for departure, I offer you my warmest thanks 

 for one of the most important of the many life-like 

 sketches that we owe to your all-enlivening pencil. 



You represent with earnestness and grandeur that 

 which has often suffered from the detraction of an 

 insolent popular enthusiasm, expressed in burlesque 

 prose. This noble process of purification gives one 

 great delight. 



If Sussmilch permit, I will finish the " Kosmos," 

 although at the entrance to many sciences (such as 

 Universal History, Geology, and the mechanism of 

 the heavens) dark apparitions stand threatening, en- 

 deavouring to prevent me from reaching the interior. 



What a remarkably pleasant person Madame de 

 Hormayr is ! 



With unchangeable esteem and affection, 



Yours, A. HUMBOLDT. 



* Goethe's "Tasso," Act L, Sc. 3. TR. 

 t The eminent theological historian. TR. 



