It is a miserable work, and not worth the trouble of talking about, for no earnest man will read it!" "Pardon me, sire; your majesty has graciously permitted me to enter the lists as knight and champion of German literature, and sometimes to defend the German Muse, who stands unnoticed and unknown under the shadow of your throne; while the French lady, with her brilliant attire and painted cheeks, is always welcomed.

I beg your majesty to believe that, although this romance may have done some harm, it has, on the other hand, done infinite service.

A great and immortal merit cannot be denied to it." "What merit ?" demanded the king, slowly taking a pinch of snuff; "I am very curious to know what merit that crazy, love-sick book has." "Sire, it has the great merit to have enriched the German literature with a work whose masterly language alone raises it above every thing heretofore produced by a German author.

It has emancipated our country's literature from its clumsy, awkward childhood, and presented it as an ardent, inspired youth, ready for combat, upon the lips of whom the gods have placed the right word to express every feeling and every thought--a youth who is capable of probing the depths of the human heart." "I wish all this might have remained in the depths," cried Frederick, annoyed.

"You have defended the German Muse before; but you remember that I am incorrigible.