66.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _April 6th, 1842_.
Since the inquisitorial sentence against Bruno (Bauer) has been so
presumptuously published, I deem it my duty to retain your Strauss no
longer. I return you that remarkable book, which caused me to indulge
in much meditation. Accept my best thanks. The method of the author is
excellent; it makes us acquainted with the whole history of the faith
of our time, particularly so with the jesuitical trick of so many
people who declare publicly their belief in and their adherence to all
the dogmas of the Christian mythology, after the fashion of
Schleiermacher, and after having “drained the chalice,” are followed
to the grave by a solemn cortege of court equipages, although in fact
they had always discarded the orthodox belief and substituted for it
pseudo-philosophical interpretations.
What displeases me very much in Strauss is his frivolous manner of
speaking of natural sciences, which makes him accept without hesitation
the formation of organism from inorganisms, and which enables him to
easily believe in the origin of man as springing from the primitive sod
of Chaldea. That he seems to think very little of the blue regions on
the other side of the grave I might cheerfully forgive him; the more so,
as we are the more agreeably and willingly surprised when we expect
little. As for you, you fortunate man, it could have caused no surprise.
How purely Spanish and revolting in the present inquisitorial formula
was the sentence that “The culprit would _admit_ himself.” Neque aliud
aut qui eadem saevitia usi sunt, nisi dedecus sibi atque reges illis
gloriam peperere.
I send you a copy of “Don Juan.” It shows beauty of language, also a
rich imagination. I am anxious to hear how you are pleased with it.
The constitutional Roi des Landes[34] _repeatedly_ said yesterday at
dinner in the presence of forty people: The professors of Goettingen had
talked of their patriotism in an address to him. Professors, he said,
have no country at all. Professors, prostitutes, and dancers may be had
every where for money; they go to the highest bidder. What a shame to
call such a fellow a German Prince!
With faithful attachment, yours,