47.HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Friday,March 29th, 1840.
Friday,March 29th, 1840.
Friday,March 29th, 1840.
Friday,March 29th, 1840.
Decide, master of eloquence and euphony: I had it thus, “As far as humanity (civilisation) extended on earth!”
Now, it pleases me better to put: 1, “It has influenced rulers and nations equally, as far as civilization and commerce extend” (extend, not extended, which latterI abhor); or, 2, “As far as civilization and commerce ennobled mankind;” or, 3, “Made mankind susceptible;” or, 4, “United mankind.”
Would No. 4 (the last), not be the better? Perhaps you have an inspiration. Put clandestinely, to-night at Staegemann’s, a bit of paper in my hand. Perhaps the first conception is the best.
A. Ht.
A. Ht.
A. Ht.
A. Ht.
“Humanity” I give up at any rate, having just read so many mockeries regarding it in the last volume of Campe’s dictionary.
“Sed quamquam, primo statim beatissimi sæculi ortu, Nerva Cæsarres olim dissociabiles miscuerit, principatum ac libertatem; augeatque quotidie felicitatem imperii Nerva Trajanus.” Tacitus in Agricola, cap. 3. Also, of the same old Nerva (noble and gifted with literary taste):
“Quod si vita suppeditet, principatum divi Nervæ, et imperium Trajani, uberiorem securioremque materiam senectati seposui:rara temporum felicitas, ubi sentire quæ velis, et quæ sentias dicere licet.” Tacit. Hist. I. 1. I, of course, in order to avoid all detail, shall give only the numerical quotations, sic: Tacit. Vita Ag. c. 3 Hist. I. 1.
Ht.
Ht.
Ht.
Ht.