第15部分(第2/5 页)

ice　ever　loved。　The　false　and　worthless　world　views　virtually　all　terary　characters　falsely　and　worthlessly。　Who　of　my　many　slanderers　and　snake�tongued　enemies　had　ever　reproached　me　that　I　am　destined　to　play　the　role　of　chief　lover　in　a　second�class　theater？　And　yet　it　is　true。　If　the　scoundrels　had　had　wit；　they　would　have　painted　“the　production　and　direction”　on　one　side；　and　me　lying　at　your　feet　on　the　other。　Look　to　this　picture　and　to　that　in　English—　they　would　have　written　underneath。　But　dumb　scoundrels　they　are　and　dumb　they　will　remain；　in　all　eternity。

Momentary　absence　is　good；　for　in　constant　presence　things　seem　too　much　alike　to　be　differentiated。　Proximity　dwarfs　even　towers；　while　the　petty　and　the　monplace；　at　close　view；　grow　too　big。　Small　habits；　which　may　physically　irritate　and　take　on　emotional　form；　disappear　when　the　immediate　object　is　removed　from　the　eye。　Great　passions；　which　through　proximity　assume　the　form　of　petty　routine；　grow　and　again　take　on　their　natural　dimension　on　account　of　the　magic　of　distance。　So　it　is　with　my　love。　You　have　only　to　be　snatched　away　from　me　even　in　a　mere　dream；　and　I　know　immediately　that　the　time　has　only　served；　as　do　sun　and　rain　for　plants；　for　growth。　The　moment　you　are　absent；　my　love　for　you　shows　itself　to　be　what　it　is；　a　giant；　in　which　are　crowded　together　all　the　energy　of　my　spirit　and　all　the　character　of　my　heart。　It　makes　me　feel　like　a　man　again；　because　I　feel　a　great　passion；　and　the　multifariousness；　in　which　study　and　modern　education　entangle　us；　and　the　skepticism　which　necessarily　makes　us　find　fault　with　all　subjective　and　objective　impressions；　all　of　these　are　entirely　designed　to　make　us　all　small　and　weak　and　whining。　But　love—not　love　for　the　Feuerbach�type　of　man；