THE REALISTIC IDYE. 63 



tungsart grossen Einfluss auf die Men.schen haben kann, denn sie 

 ist die einzige, in die die jetzigen Menschen (d. h. Landsleute und 

 die niedern Stande die niclits init der grossen Welt zu schaffen 

 liaben) vollig hineinpassen." 



Tlie idyls of Voss' clearly reveal how for a long time he kept 

 groping about seeking for proper idyllic material. They show a 

 gradual improvement in choice and treatment of the sub- 

 ject-matter, until he finally found the proper sphere in which he 

 accomplished his best work. Most of his idyls are based on real 

 life, such as had come within his own experience, wherefore they 

 have the effect of an autobiography. In his very first productions 

 he celebrates the theme, which like a thread runs through so 

 many of his later idyls, and finds its highest expression in Luise, 

 namely his love for Ernestine Boie. In Der Morgen^ and Selmas 

 Geburtstag behind the names Selma and Selino we at once recog- 

 nize Voss and his betrothed. But the immaturity of the beginner 

 and the beginner's tendency to follow extraneous influence, are 



1 The Idyls of Voss most natiirally fall into four groups, corresponding to 

 Voss's residence at Gottingen, Wandsbeck, Otterndorf and Butin. These idyls 

 appeared first in various periodicals. They are as follows: 



1. The Gottingen period 1774 — 5: Der Morten; Selmas Geburtstag, Die 

 Leibeignen (in two parts) . 



2. The Wandsbeck period 1776—8: Die Bleiclierin, De Wiaterawencl, 

 Die Elbfalirt, Der Bettler; De Geldbapers, Das Stitndcben, Der Riesenbiigel; 

 Der Abendscbmaus, Der Hagestolz. 



3. The Otterndorf period 1780: Der bezauberte Teufel, Die KirscbeDpSUc- 

 kerin,Der siebzigste Geburtstag. 



4. The Eutin Period; 



Der Geburtstag nS2 ^ Combined in 



Der BrUutigaws Besuch 1783 i Luise 1795. 

 Luise 1784. J 



Die Heutnad 1784, Philamon uud Baucis, 178.5, Die Erieichterten 

 1800, Fragment einer Fisclieridylle (language indicates a late date). 

 The first important publication of Voss works was Johann Heinrich Voss, 

 vermisclite Gedicbte und prosaische Aufsiitze, Frankfort und Leipzig, 1784. 



8 In Der Morgen the sentimental lyrical element is unduly prominent, and 

 Klopstock's angels haunt the poem. So Selma's guardian angel flies to console 

 the absent Selino: 



"Und ihr Seraph entflog auf goldnen iltherischen Schwingen 

 Hin zum ferneu Selino." 



