Goethe and Schiller's Xenions · Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
NOTES.
Notes. [1] Page 30, Note 1.--The name “Huss” means “goose.” When Huss was condemned to die at the stake he said: _“Nach mir wird kommen ein Schwan, Den sollen sie ungebraten lah’n.”_ [After me a swan will rise, Whom they will not roast likewise.] This doggerel with its grim humor on so tragic an occasion is commonly and naturally regarded as foretelling the coming of Martin Luther. [2] Page 55, Note 2.--Professor Wolf was the first to prove that the Iliad and the Odyssey consisted of a number of epic poems by different poets, which were collected under the name of Homer. For Goethe’s feeling with regard to criticism see the translator’s book _Goethe_, page 273. [3] Page 60, Note 3.--This distich is addressed to Karl Philip Moritz, author of an interesting novel in the form of an autobiography, _Anton Reiser_. [4] Page 61, Note 4.--This is addressed to F. H. Jacobi, who had written two philosophical novels, _Woldemar_ and _Allwill_. The difference between him and Moritz is sufficiently characterized in this and the preceding distich. [5] Page 63, Note 5.--This satirizes the sensuous novels of Timotheus Hermes. [6] Page 64, Note 6.--Directed against Platner, whose philosophy was a declamation of platitudes. The distich is true of almost all the debates that take place in literary clubs after the reading of a paper.
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