ALIDE
AN EPISODE OF GOETHE'S LIFE.
BY
EMMA LAZARUS,
AUTHOR OF "ADMETUS, AND OTHER POEMS," ETC.
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
TO MY FRIEND,
MRS. HOOPER,
THIS STORY
IS AFFECTIONATELY AND GRATEFULLY
INSCRIBED.
PREFACE
It seems hardly necessary, but it may prevent misunderstanding, to statethat I have incorporated in the ensuing pages whole passages from theautobiography of Goethe. Wherever it has been possible, he has beenallowed to speak for himself, and thus no imagination has been exercisedin the portrayal of his character. "Alide Duroc," on the contrary, is apurely imaginary creation, though her story is that of Frederika Brion.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER IDr. Julius Steck
CHAPTER IIThe Parsonage
CHAPTER IIIAlide
CHAPTER IVA Moonlight Walk
CHAPTER VGoethe
CHAPTER VIFirst Love
CHAPTER VIIIn Strasburg
CHAPTER VIIIHappiness
CHAPTER IXAfter-thoughts
CHAPTER XQuiet Pleasures
CHAPTER XIIn the Shadow of the Cathedral
CHAPTER XIIHamlet
CHAPTER XIIIThe Clouds gather
CHAPTER XIVA Strange Interview
CHAPTER XVDrifting Apart
CHAPTER XVIParting
CHAPTER XVIIFreedom
CHAPTER XVIIILetters
Epilogue
ALIDE
CHAPTER I
DR. JULIUS STECK
"If it were not that I must play true to my clerical gown, Max, I couldfor very delight in the glory of this October afternoon caper one of mylately-learned waltzes on the roadside. Gods! what a gift life is onsuch a day as this! Do, you not feel this mountain air tingling like winethrough your veins? My blood is all aglow within me—my heart is aslight as flame." It was a rich, vibrant, sonorous voice, and yet it hada boyish ring of merriment that seemed in no wise to belong to thesoberly-clad student who walked demurely by his companion's side throughthe quiet, shining meadows.
"Julius Steck!" exclaimed his comrade, who spoke with a lazy,good-humored drawl, "for the love of sport remember who and what youare. A learned young bachelor of divinity to begin by