On the 24th of November, 1851, Varnhagen wrote in his diary: “Backbiters
are busy with Humboldt. Littleness and mediocrity, conscious of their
nothingness beside him, combine their envy and spite, and thereby hope
to be something. The one comes to the other with smiles, and makes him
the confidant of the dislike he entertains, and of the foibles and
defects he claims to have detected. The other welcomes the suggestion,
responds with similar remarks, they clasp each other’s hands, and are
fast friends in enmity of the hero. Those who pretend to be the most
faithful lend themselves to such intrigues. Singly they amount to
nothing, but when lumped together they constitute a stumbling-block,
which obstructs the light of day, interferes with what is good, and
destroys life and spirits: such vermin tormented Goethe, and now they
torment Humboldt. I know these fellows by experience; in Rahel’s time I
have seen my fill of it! The brothers, the nieces, how glad they would
be to make common cause with the most inferior beings, to place their
united mediocrity above the genial power of heart and mind, by which
even they were yet constantly lighted and warmed! Humboldt’s weak points
are well known, he does nothing in secret, men see him as he is; but his
greatness is unimpaired, the greatness of his mind and the equal
greatness of his heart. And eighty years—what a bulwark! Who will dare
assail it?”
146.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _January 28th, 1852_.
Here is my Cosmic present, my dear friend! I choose not to bring it
myself lest it should seem that I dare not come without it. Cast a look
at p. 1–25, Mars p. 511, and the concluding passage p. 625–631.
I may call to-morrow, Thursday, at one o’clock, may I not? I shall be
sure to come.
With the old attachment, which will never grow cold,