Count Platen is an excellent classical scholar, remarkable for the elegance and correctness of his German verse. His metrical proficiency exceeds that of all his predecessors, even of Schlegel himself. Some time ago he attracted great attention from the enthusiastic confidence with which he promised great performances. Rückert is an Oriental scholar of vast acquisitions, whose metrical skill is equal to that of Platen, and who lays juster claims to originality. His versified translations from Eastern models, have excited astonishment even in Germany, and can scarcely be equalled in any other European language. Many of his original poems are as perfect in their sphere, as those of Uhland. But even the most celebrated productions of some of these poets, would probably disappoint the English student; the range of German lyric poetry is more limited than our own, and its construction is much more artificial; its character is often too ornamental, and its end and aim too exclusively artistic. The political fever of modern times has not failed in Germany as in other countries, to affect the literature of the day. We shall briefly notice the man whose writings betray its influence in every page, and who may be said to represent the new German school-Henry Heine. It would be useless to deny the talent of this author, but it is perverted or unhealthy. The extravagance of his conceptions, though it may attract at first, is so forced and unnatural, as finally to disgust the reader. General extravagance we can admire, without seeking to chill it with criticism, for there is no assignable limit to the range of the imagination; but Heine is a comedian who is always conscious of the presence of the public. In all his works, there is a constant craving after effect. He is but a pseudo-poet-there where he is thought to have succeeded best, we hold that he has juggled most. Even the quaint pathos of his "Book of Songs," (which has found so many admirers,) we cannot but regard as a solemn mockery. His four volumes of Reisebilder, (Pictures of Travel,) contain many startling, and some witty antitheses, but nothing which leaves a permanent or gratifying impression. His works may furnish a little temporary amusement, but they are not perennially refreshing, like the genuine creations of genius. His book on German literature contains, amongst many inaccuracies, some brilliant ideas, happily expressed; but he would seem to have no settled opinions on the subject of which he treats, and to write merely for the purpose of saying smart things, or of gratifying personal pique. On the French he has lavished flattery, which would be coarse from any lips, but which is unnatural from those of a German, and which, its objects will regard as no great compliment. The vanity of Heine is such, that perhaps no other writer of any age or country has indulged in such indefatigable admiration of himself. It is impossible to define distinctly the object of Heine's writings; their tendency sometimes appears to be republican, though at others, he asserts that he is a most devoted advocate of monarchy. The anti-christian tendency of his writings, is, however, very evident throughout, nor does he take much pains to conceal it. It is unnecessary to mention some small disciples of a new little German school, who have chiefly distinguished themselves by a servile admiration of the French, and a propensity to sneer at their own country. One individual who is sometimes coupled with this group, is Boerne, lately dead, a critic, and the author of a work in several volumes, entitled "Letters from Paris," (1830-4,) the subject-matter of which was the politics of the day. The notoriety which this production has obtained, is rather to be attributed to its levity and boldness, qualities hitherto unknown in German political discussion, than to any intrinsic importance. Boerne, like Heine, was of Jewish extraction. Thus, then, we are compelled to close our history of German literature with some of the least illustrious of its names. And to illustrate better the whole subject, we shall append a most important, however painful remark, emanating from Mr. Carlyle, one of its best informed as well as warmest friends. "In Richter alone, among the great (and even sometimes truly moral) writers of his day, do we find the immortality of the soul expressly insisted on; nay so much as incidentally alluded to. This is a fact well meriting investigation and reflection, but here is not the place for treating it. The two venerable Jacobis belong in character, if scarcely in date, to an older school; so also L does Herder, from whom Richter learned much, both morally and intellectually, and whom he seems to have loved and reverenced beyond any other. Wieland is intelligible enough; a sceptic in the style of Bolingbroke and Shaftesbury, what we call a French or Scotch sceptic, a rather shallow species. Lessing also is a sceptic, but of a much nobler sort; a doubter, who deserved to believe." * German Romance, with Biographical and Critical Notices, vol. iii. p. 16. CHAPTER VII. HISTORICAL, POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITERS OF GERMANY. It would be an act of injustice to pass over in total silence many other names which have ornamented the literature of Germany in various departments less popular among general readers. To illustrate properly the merits of her scientific, historical, antiquarian, theological and statistical writers would demand an entire volume; we shall content ourselves in this place with a bare enumeration. John von Müller stands at the head of the historians: his "Universal History" abounds in profound reflections, and is the fruit of elaborate research, produced in an eloquent and condensed form*: his History of Switzerland has not yet found a translator into our language, but is still more valued in Germany. The works of Heeren, Raumer, and of Niebuhrt, are well known amongst us. Luden, Leo, and Wachsmuth, are less familiar. All nations assign the palm to German commentators on the ancient writers; to German philologists, lexicographers, etymologists and grammarians: in that country, indeed, the old classical taste finds its fondest home, and perhaps its last stronghold. Adelung, Boeckh, Grimm, Heyne, Von Hammer, William von Humboldt, Schveighäuser, Bekker, and Wolff, are illustrious members of the above class. • Translated by Dr. Prichard, of Bristol, who is well known as an original writer. Its only blemish is the reserved, timid, and mysterious tone in which the author treats of religion. Nearly all the works of Heeren have been translated into English, and have been published by Mr. Talboys of Oxford, who has been very instrumental in clothing many standard German works in an English dress. Raumer's most important work (History of the Hohenstauffen) is promised in English, but has not yet appeared. Of Niebuhr's work on Rome there are two translations, of which the most complete is by Thirlwall and Hare. A pleasing life of the father of Niebuhr, -distinguished by his travels in Arabia, and written by the historian, his son,has been translated by Staehle in one of the numbers of the "Library of Useful Knowledge." The theological writers are not to be regarded with such cordial respect, because, however extensive may be their attainments, and however acute their criticism, it is impossible to deny that some of the most eminent, as well as many of the less conspicuous, have distorted and defaced the plain language of the New Testament, and have endeavoured to substitute in its place a spurious and feeble interpretation of Christianity,-destroying the force of its miracles, introducing natural causes in the room of supernatural agency, and degrading our Saviour from his divine birth. A few theologians still, however, maintain an unequal contest in favour of the genuine doctrines, which are the only solid foundation of virtue and happiness: and the best wish which a friend of Germany can cherish is, that this small but noble band may daily increase and extend its influence. Gesenius, Griesbach, Michaelis, Mosheim, Paulus, Schleiermacher, Tholuck and Wegschneider are some of the most remarkable names in the theological catalogue*. In the cultivation of systematic geography and of statistics, the Germans will readily be acknowledged to be unrivalled. The great work of Busching set an example for future geographers, but it has nowhere been so ably followed as among his own countrymen, who have advanced in rapid succession. Hassel, Stein, Ritter, Crome, Meusel, Malchus, and Schnabel, are all classic names in geography and statistics. Burdach, Bickes, Cannabich, Casper, Finke, Hoffman, Julius, Lichtenstern, Memminger, Mittermaier, and some others, deserve most honourable mention also under this head. Intimately connected and blended with the statistical and geographical writers are those who have devoted themselves to political philosophy and state-economy. To this class belong Schubert, author of the "Manual of the Universal State-economy of Europe," (Handbuch der Allgemeinen Staatskunde von Europa,) Poelitz; Von Rotteck and Welcker, who are publishing an extensive Dictionary of Political Science (Staats-Lexikon) at Altona; Malchus, Rau, and not a few others. • More information on this head will be found in our chapter on Religion. The German divines have obtained more translators in the United States than in England. |