Keep the letter of the Grand Duke, which ends nicely, and in good taste.
201.
KARL ALEXANDER, GRAND DUKE OF SAXE-WEIMAR, TO HUMBOLDT.
WEIMAR, _April 3d, 1857_.
A misunderstanding is the key to my behavior towards ——. I believed and
expected that he, after he had, in January, I believe, asked the
permission to search our archives, would immediately come hither. Then
only of course I would have paid his expenses. Just in these last days I
wondered neither to hear nor to see anything of ——.
Then arrived the second letter of your Excellency, which, asking
explanation of me, gives explanation; and I hasten to answer it by
saying that —— may come in about ten days, and I would be prepared in
any case to make the payment, the amount of which your Excellency
yourself named. According to understanding, both of us, I and the
traveller, would consider ourselves entirely free yet, and therefore
observe due discretion on the proper cause of this journey.
Dante would have spoken still more truly if he had said: “Viver ch’ è un
correr a l’eterna gioventù.” You prove it, for eternally your immortal
spirit rejuvenates, its excellence is also a proof of this.