153 



the latter is to take the initiative and call upon the 

 Minister, as being induced to do so by expressions of 

 Your Majesty. That Massmann's great merits in elu- 

 cidating the poetry of the Hohenstaufen period, and 

 the talent which he evinced in the lecture room, can 

 have been forgotten, surprises me greatly. 



In Gervinus' " History of German Literature" I find 

 the following works noticed with approbation : Mass- 

 mann's "Monuments of the German Language/' 1828 ; 

 his " Poems of the Twelfth Century/' his " Legends/' 

 and " Songs of Chivalry." How should a man be 

 dangerous to the young, whom the King of Bavaria 

 had appointed tutor to his princes, and from whom 

 the Prince Koyal boasts to have received the most 

 beneficial incitements to intellectual freedom, and 

 the fulfilment of his future duties as a ruler? The 

 times we live in are not melancholy, but earnest. 

 The sphere of influence and action becomes narrowed 

 so soon as we allow suspicion to prevent us from adopt- 

 ing the best powers at our command. Enthusiastically 

 attached to your person, to the splendour of your reign, 

 and glory of the fatherland, I feel deeply afflicted when 

 your noblest intentions are in danger of being mis- 

 understood. Certainly there are very estimable people 

 who, from mere affection towards Your Majesty, would 

 be glad to see me either under the Column in Tegel, or 

 once more on the other side of the Bhine, With grate- 

 ful devotion, Your Majesty's most faithful, 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 

 Berlin, March 29th, 1846. 



(The King wrote on the back of this letter :) 

 Heartiest thanks, dearest Humboldt. M. Bodel- 



