"I wouldn't for worlds utter a blasphemy she could understand. Do you
think Shakespeare explained himself to Ann Hathaway? But she doubtless
served well enough as artist's model; raw material to be worked up
into Imogens and Rosalinds. Enchanting creatures! How you foggy
islanders could have begotten Shakespeare! The miracle of miracles.
And Sterne! _Mais non_, an Irishman like Swift, _Ça s'explique._ Is
Sterne read?"
"No; he is only a classic."
"Barbarians! Have you read my book on Shakespeare's heroines? It is
good; _nicht wahr?_"
"Admirable."
"Then, why shouldn't you translate it into English?"
"It is an idea."
"It is an inspiration. Nay, why shouldn't you translate all my books?
You shall; you must. You know how the French edition _fait fureur_.
French, that is the European hall-mark, for Paris is Athens. But
English will mean fame _in ultima Thule_; the isles of the sea, as the
Bible says. It isn't for the gold pieces, though, God knows, Mathilde
needs more friends, as we call them--perhaps because they leave us so
soon. I fear she doesn't treat them too considerately, the poor little
featherhead. Heaven preserve you from the irony of having to earn your
living on your death-bed! _Ach_, my publisher, Campe, has built
himself a new establishment; what a monument to me! Why should not
some English publisher build me a monument in London? The Jew's books,
like the Jew, should be spread abroad, so that in them all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed. For the Jew peddles, not only old clo',
but new ideas. I began life--tell it not in Gath--as a commission
agent for English goods; and I end it as an intermediary between
France and Germany, trying to make two great nations understand each
other. To that not unworthy aim has all my later work been devoted."
"So you really consider yourself a Jew still?"
"_Mein Gott!_ have I ever been anything else but an enemy of the
Philistines?"