Early Greek Philosophy & Other Essays

THE END

1

A reference to Goethe's ballad, The Minstrel, st. 5:

"I sing as sings the bird, whose note

The leafy bough is heard on.

The song that falters from my throat

For me is ample guerdon." TR.

2

A quotation from Goethe's "Faust": Part I., lines 91, 92, and 95, 96. – TR.

3

Cf. Napoleon's word about Goethe: "Voilà un homme!" – TR.

4

Mira in quibusdam rebus verborum proprietas est, et consuetudo sermonis antiqui quædam efficacissimis notis signat (Seneca, Epist. 81). – TR.

5

The German poet, Lessing, had been married for just a little over one year to Eva König. A son was born and died the same day, and the mother's life was despaired of. In a letter to his friend Eschenburg the poet wrote: "… and I lost him so unwillingly, this son! For he had so much understanding! so much understanding! Do not suppose that the few hours of fatherhood have made me an ape of a father! I know what I say. Was it not understanding, that they had to drag him into the world with a pair of forceps? that he so soon suspected the evil of this world? Was it not understanding, that he seized the first opportunity to get away from it?.."

Eva König died a week later. – TR.

6

In German the tree – der Baum – is masculine. – TR.

7

In German the plant – die Pflanze —-is feminine – TR.

8

Cf. the German die Schlange and schlingen, the English serpent from the Latin serpere.– TR.