Faust' is a work too generally known, and requires too particular a comment to be dwelt on here. It is sufficient to say that it repre sents the agony of a student who is toiling after knowledge beyond his reach, and who afterwards deserts his studies and plunges into a course of sensuality. This remarkable work exhibits all Gothe's various tendencies as it were concentrated into one focus; and beyond any other recent work has exercised the skill of commentators and critics.
A new form of the old poem of 'Reynard the Fox,' In hexameter number of small dramatic pieces, and, above all, the delightful biography entitled 'Dichtung and Wahrheit : Aus meinem Leben; (Truth and Poetry: from my Life), possess the highest merit.
The later writioge of Goths; such as the second part of 'Faust,' Pandora,' &c., differ widely from his earlier works. They are gene rally imitations of antique forms, whether or not they possess the true poetic spirit is a matter of warm dispute. Oriental scholars greatly admire his ' West-eastern Divan,' a collection of poems in the Persian style; and there are some beauties in the novel 'Die Wahlverwandechaften ' (' The Affinities').
To understand Gothe's greatness, we must observe that he may almost be regarded as the creator of German literature. Before his time little had been written in the language that was characterised by a decided superiority of thought or style. During the whole of his long life he was In correspondence with the chief authors of his day, and he thus exercised no small direct influence on the literary labours of others.
The universality of Gothe'e genius is one of the most striking parts of his literary character. No writer ever attempted such a variety of kinds, and succeeded In all. In 'Glitz' we find an historical dramatist going beyond Shakspere in irregularity ; in ' Werther,' that species of sentiment which used to be called 'German' some thirty years ago; and In ' Iphigenia; the strictest attention to Greek rules of art, and a polished elegance which an Athenian would have admired. Not withstanding his ardent pursuit of every branch of literature, he was scarcely less distinguished for proficiency in every species of natural science, to which a number of scientific works, with his Theory of Colours' at their head, bear testimony ; and not only was he a writer on science, his speculations on the metamorphoses in plants, and on osteology, are now admitted to be suggestive of truths as important as they were original.
GOthe was enthusiastic in his admiration of the beautiful wherever it could be found, whether in poetry, painting, architecture, music, engravings, statues, or gems, and has left numberless aphorisms of the igreatest value to those who cultivate the fine arts. No petty jealousy seems to have stood in the way of this admiration for the beautiful; to the works of every class and of every country he gave what he considered their due tribute of praise.
Giithe has been blamed for having mingled too little in practical life, and for not attending sufficiently to the interests of his country ; but probably he knew his capacities better than his judges, and felt that by cultivating the taste of his countrymen ho was conferring a more important benefit than by mixing in politics. A very good poet may be a very bad politician. In life and opinions he was a decided aristocrat, though raised from a comparatively humble station. While he admitted the insincerity, he admired the elegance of the court ; and as he always shone in polished society, it is no great wonder that he preferred it.
Though many of his poems are highly metaphysical, he had never penetrated deeply into the philosophical writings of his countrymen. The works of Spinosa had a great influence on his religious opinions : he loved to consider the Deity rather in than beyond nature, and of this pantheistic tendency many of his works are exponents.
There is perhaps no author in the world whose mind we have such an opportunity of studyiug accurately as that of Gotha. Not only have we his numerous works, every one of which illustrates some peouliar mental state; not only have we a biography by himself, which has been elucidated and annotated by singularly minute and painstaking commentators, but there is also a host of publications containing corre spondences, characteristics, and conversations, all throwing light on this great man's character, and exhibiting him in every possible relation. His correspondence with Schiller, with Zelter, with a child (Bettina Brentano), the little tracts which have been translated by Mrs. Austin and published under the name of 'Characteristics of Gothe; and the conversations with Eckermanu (a sort of German Boswell), are replete with amusement and instruction.
Several complete editions of Gothe's works have been published by Cotta of Stuttgardt and others; and an excellent and cheap edition, in 5 vols. royal Svo, st Paris.