Speakingfirstoftheircognatequalities，letusremark，notwithoutemotion，onequiteextraneouspointofagreement;thefactthattheWritersofbothhavedepartedfromthisworld;theyhavenowfinishedtheirsearch，andhadalldoubtsresolved:whilewelistentothevoice，thetonguethatutteredithasgonesilentforever。Butthefundamental，all—pervadingsimilarityliesinthiscircumstance，wellworthyofbeingnoted，thatboththesePhilosophiesareoftheDogmaticorConstructivesort:eachinitswayisakindofGenesis;
　　anendeavourtobringthePhenomenaofman'sUniverseoncemoreundersometheoreticScheme:inboththereisadecidedprincipleofunity;theystriveafteraresultwhichshallbepositive;theiraimisnottoquestion，buttoestablish。
　　This，especiallyifweconsiderwithwhatcomprehensiveconcentratedforceitishereexhibited，formsanewfeatureinsuchworks。
　　Underallotheraspects，thereisthemostirreconcilableopposition;
　　astaringcontrariety，suchasmightprovokecontrasts，weretherefarfewerpointsofcomparison。IfSchlegel'sWorkistheapotheosisofSpiritualism;Hope'sagainistheapotheosisofMaterialism:intheone，allMatterisevaporatedintoaPhenomenon，andterrestrialLifeitself，withitswholedoingsandshowings，heldoutasaDisturbance（Zerruttung）producedbytheZeitgeist（SpiritofTime）;intheother，MatterisdistilledandsublimatedintosomesemblanceofDivinity:theoneregardsSpaceandTimeasmereformsofman'smind，andwithoutexternalexistenceorreality;theothersupposesSpaceandTimetobe'incessantlycreated，'andrayed—inuponuslikeasortofgravitation。'
　　Suchistheirdifferenceinrespectofpurport:nolessstrikingisitinrespectofmanner，talent，successandalloutwardcharacteristics。Thus，ifinSchlegelwehavetoadmirethepowerofWords，inHopewestandastonished，itmightalmostbesaid，atthewantofanarticulateLanguage。ToSchlegelhisPhilosophicSpeechisobedient，dexterous，exact，likeapromptlyministeringgenius;hisnamesaresoclear，sopreciseandvivid，thattheyalmost（sometimesaltogether）becomethingsforhim:withHopethereisnoPhilosophicalSpeech;butapainful，confusedstammering，andstrugglingaftersuch;orthetongue，asindoatishforgetfulness，maunders，low，long—winded，andspeaksnotthewordintended，butanother;sothatherethescarcelyintelligible，intheseendlessconvolutions，becomesthewhollyunreadable;
　　andoftenwecouldask，asthatmadpupildidofhistutorinPhilosophy，"ButwhetherisVirtueafluid，then，oragas？"Ifthefact，thatSchlegel，inthecityofDresden，couldfindaudienceforsuchhighdiscourse，mayexciteourenvy;
　　thisotherfact，thatapersonofstrongpowers，skilledinEnglishThoughtandmasterofitsDialect，couldwritetheOriginanProspectsofMan，maypainfullyremindusofthereproach，thatEnglandhasnownolanguageforMeditation;thatEngland，themostcalculative，istheleastmeditative，ofallcivilisedcountries。
　　ItisnotourpurposetoofferanycriticismofSchlegel'sBook;insuchlimitsaswerepossiblehere，weshoulddespairofcommunicatingeventhefaintestimageofitssignificance。Tothemassofreaders，indeed，bothamongtheGermansthemselves，andstillmoreelsewhere，itnowiseaddressesitself，andmaylieforeversealed。WepointitoutasaremarkabledocumentoftheTimeandoftheMan;canrecommendit，moreover，toallearnestThinkers，asaworkdeservingtheirbestregard;aworkfullofdeepmeditation，whereintheinfinitemysteryofLife，ifnotrepresented，isdecisivelyrecognised。
　　OfSchlegelhimself，andhischaracter，andspiritualhistory，wecanprofessnothoroughorfinalunderstanding;yetenoughtomakeusviewhimwithadmirationandpity，nowisewithharshcontemptuouscensure;andmustsay，withclearestpersuasion，thattheoutcryofhisbeing'arenegade，'
　　andsoforth，isbutlikeothersuchoutcries，ajudgmentwheretherewasneitherjury，norevidence，norjudge。Thecandidreader，inthisBookitself，tosaynothingofalltherest，willfindtracesofahigh，far—seeing，earnestspirit，towhom'AustrianPensions，'andtheKaiser'scrown，andAustriaaltogether，werebutalightmattertothefindingandvitallyappropriatingofTruth。LetusrespectthesacredmysteryofaPerson;rushnotirreverentlyintoman'sHolyofHolies！Werethelostlittleone，aswesaidalready，found'suckingitsdeadmother，onthefieldofcarnage，'coulditbeotherthanaspectaclefortears？A
　　solemnmournfulfeelingcomesoveruswhenweseethislastWorkofFriedrichSchlegel，theunweariedseeker，endabruptlyinthemiddle;
　　and，asifhehadnotyetfound，asifemblematicallyofmuch，endwithan'Aber—，'witha'But—'！ThiswasthelastwordthatcamefromthePenofFriedrichSchlegel:
　　aboutelevenatnighthewroteitdown，andtherepausedsick;atoneinthemorning，TimeforhimhadmergeditselfinEternity;hewas，aswesay，nomore。
　　StilllesscanweattemptanycriticismofMr。Hope'snewBookofGenesis。
　　Indeed，underanycircumstances，criticismofitwerenowimpossible。
　　Suchanutterancecouldonlyberespondedtoinpealsoflaughter;andlaughtersoundshollowandhideousthroughthevaultsofthedead。OfthismonstrousAnomaly，whereallsciencesareheapedandhuddledtogether，andtheprinciplesofallare，withachildlikeinnocence，pliedhitherandthither，orwhollyabolishedincaseofneed;wheretheFirstCauseisfiguredasahugeCircle，withnothingtodobutradiate'gravitation'towardsitscentre;
　　andsoconstructaUniverse，whereinall，fromthelowestcucumberwithitscoolness，uptothehighestseraphwithhislove，werebut'gravitation，'directorreflex，'inmoreorlesscentralglobes，'—whatcanwesay，except，withsorrowandshame，thatitcouldhaveoriginatednowheresaveinEngland？Itisageneralagglomerateofallfacts，notions，whimsandobservations，astheylieinthebrainofanEnglishgentleman;asanEnglishgentleman，ofunusualthinkingpower，isledtofashionthem，inhisschoolsandinhisworld:allthesethrownintothecrucible，andifnotfused，yetsolderedorconglutinatedwithboundlesspatience;andnowtumbledouthere，heterogeneous，amorphous，unspeakable，aworld'swonder。Mostmelancholymustwenamethewholebusiness;fulloflong—continuedthought，earnestness，loftinessofmind;notwithoutglancesintotheDeepest，aconstantfearlessendeavouraftertruth;
　　andwithallthisnothingaccomplished，buttheperhapsabsurdestBookwritteninourcenturybyathinkingman。AshamefulAbortion;which，however，neednotnowbesmotheredormangled，foritisalreadydead;
　　only，inourloveandsorrowingreverenceforthewriterofAnastasius，andtheheroicseekerofLight，thoughnotbringerthereof，letitbeburiedandforgotten。
　　Forourselves，thelouddiscordwhichjarsinthesetwoWorks，ininnumerableworksofthelikeimport，andgenerallyinalltheThoughtandActionofthisperiod，doesnotanylongerutterlyconfuseus。Unhappywho，insuchatime，feltnot，atallconjunctures，ineradicablyinhishearttheknowledgethataGodmadethisUniverse，andaDemonnot！AndshallEvilalwayspros，erthen？
　　OutofallEvilcomesGood？andnoGoodthatispossiblebutshallonedaybereal。DeepandsadasisourfeelingthatwestandyetinthebodefulNight;
　　equallydeep，indestructibleisourassurancethattheMorningalsowillnotfail。
　　Nay，already，aswelookround，streaksofadayspringareintheeast;
　　itisdawning;whenthetimeshallbefulfilled，itwillbeday。Theprogressofmantowardshigherandnoblerdevelopmentsofwhateverishighestandnoblestinhim，liesnotonlyprophesiedtoFaith，butnowwrittentotheeyeofObservation，sothathewhorunsmayread。
　　Onegreatstepofprogress，forexample，weshouldsay，inactualcircumstances，wasthissame;theclearascertainmentthatweareinprogress。
　　AboutthegrandCourseofProvidence，andhisfinalPurposeswithus，wecanknownothing，oralmostnothing:manbeginsindarkness，endsindarkness:mysteryiseverywherearoundusandinus，underourfeet，amongourhands。Neverthelesssomuchhasbecomeevidenttoeveryone，thatthiswondrousMankindisadvancingsomewhither;thatatleastallhumanthingsare，havebeenandforeverwillbe，inMovementandChange;—as，indeed，forbeingsthatexistinTime，byvirtueofTime，andaremadeofTime，mighthavebeenlongsinceunderstood。Insomeprovinces，itistrue，asinExperimentalScience，thisdiscoveryisanoldone;butinmostothersitbelongswhollytotheselatterdays。Howoften，informerages，byeternalCreeds，eternalFormsofGovernmentandthelike，hasitbeenattempted，fiercelyenough，andwithdestructiveviolence，tochaintheFutureunderthePast;andsaytotheProvidence，whosewayswithmanaremysterious，andthroughthegreatdeep:Hithertoshaltthoucome，butnofarther！A
　　whollyinsaneattempt;andformanhimself，coulditprosper，thefrightfulestofallenchantments，averyLife—in—Death。Man'staskherebelow，thedestinyofeveryindividualman，istobeinturnsApprenticeandWorkman;orsayrather，Scholar，Teacher，Discoverer:bynaturehehasastrengthforlearning，forimitating;butalsoastrengthforacting，forknowingonhisownaccount。
　　ArewenotinaworldseentobeInfinite;therelationslyingclosesttogethermodifiedbythoselatestdiscoveredandlyingfarthestasunder？Couldyoueverspell—bindmanintoaScholarmerely，sothathehadnothingtodiscover，tocorrect;couldyoueverestablishaTheoryoftheUniversethatwereentire，unimprovable，andwhichneededonlytobegotbyheart;manthenwerespirituallydefunct，theSpecieswenownameManhadceasedtoexist。
　　Butthegods，kindertousthanwearetoourselves，haveforbiddensuchsuicidalacts。AsPhlogistonisdisplacedbyOxygen，andtheEpicyclesofPtolemybytheEllipsesofKepler;sodoesPaganismgiveplacetoCatholicism，TyrannytoMonarchy，andFeudalismtoRepresentativeGovernment，—wherealsotheprocessdoesnotstop。PerfectionofPractice，likecompletenessofOpinion，isalwaysapproaching，neverarrived;Truth，inthewordsofSchiller，immerwird，nieist;neveris，alwaysisa—being。
　　Sad，truly，wereourconditiondidweknowbutthis，thatChangeisuniversalandinevitable。LaunchedintoadarkshorelessseaofPyrrhonism，whatwouldremainforusbuttosailaimless，hopeless;ormakemadlymerry，whilethedevouringDeathhadnotyetingulfedus？Asindeed，wehaveseenmany，andstillseemanydo。Neverthelesssostandsitnot。TheveneratorofthePast（andtowhatpureheartisthePast，inthat'moonlightofmemory，'
　　otherthansadandholy？）sorrowsnotoveritsdeparture，asoneutterlybereaved。
　　ThetruePastdepartsnot，nothingthatwasworthyinthePastdeparts;
　　noTruthofGoodnessrealisedbymaneverdies，orcandie;butisallstillhere，and，recognisedornot，livesandworksthroughendlesschanges。Ifallthings，tospeakintheGermandialect，arediscernedbyus，andexistforus，inanelementofTime，andthereforeofMortalityandMutability;yetTimeitselfreposesonEternity:thetrulyGreatandTranscendentalhasitsbasisandsubstanceinEternity;standsrevealedtousasEternityinavestureofTime。
　　ThusinallPoetry，Worship，Art，Society，asoneformpassesintoanother，nothingislost;itisbutthesuperficial，asitwerethebodyonly，thatgrowsobsoleteanddies;underthemortalbodyliesasoulwhichisimmortal;
　　whichanewincarnatesitselfinfairerrevelation;andthePresentisthelivingsum—totalofthewholePast。
　　InChange，therefore，thereisnothingterrible，nothingsupernatural:
　　onthecontrary，itliesintheveryessenceofourlotandlifeinthisworld。
　　Todayisnotyesterday:weourselveschange;howcanourWorksandThoughts，iftheyarealwaystobethefittest，continuealwaysthesame？Change，indeed，ispainful;yeteverneedful;andifMemoryhaveitsforceandworth，soalsohasHope。Nay，ifwelookwelltoit，whatisallDerangement，andnecessityofgreatChange，initselfsuchanevil，buttheproductsimplyofincreasedresourceswhichtheoldmethodscannolongeradminister;ofnewwealthwhichtheoldcofferswillnolongercontain？Whatisit，forexample，thatinourowndayburstsasunderthebondsofancientPoliticalSystems，andperplexesallEuropewiththefearofChange，buteventhis:theincreaseofsocialresources，whichtheoldsocialmethodswillnolongersufficientlyadminister？ThenewomnipotenceoftheSteam—engineishewingasunderquiteothermountainsthanthephysical。Havenotoureconomicaldistresses，thosebarnyardConflagrationsthemselves，thefrightfulestmadnessofourmadepoch，theirrisealsoinwhatisarealincrease:increaseofMen;
　　ofhumanForce;properly，insuchaPlanetasours，themostpreciousofallincreases？
　　Itistrueagain，theancientmethodsofadministrationwillnolongersuffice。
　　Musttheindomitablemillions，fullofoldSaxonenergyandfire，liecooped—upinthisWesternNook，chokingoneanother，asinaBlackholeofCalcutta，whileawholefertileuntenantedEarth，desolateforwantoftheploughshare，cries:Comeandtillme，comeandreapme？IftheancientCaptainscannolongeryieldguidance，newmustbesoughtafter:forthedifficultyliesnotinnature，butinartifice;theEuropeanCalcutta—Blackholehasnowallsbutaironesandpaperones。—Sotoo，Scepticismitself，withitsinnumerablemischiefs，whatisitbutthesourfruitofamostblessedincrease，thatofKnowledge;afruittoothatwillnotalwayscontinuesour？
　　Infact，muchaswehavesaidandmournedabouttheunproductiveprevalenceofMetaphysics，itwasnotwithoutsomeinsightintotheusethatliesinthem。MetaphysicalSpeculation，ifanecessaryevil，istheforerunnerofmuchgood。ThefeverofScepticismmustneedsburnitselfout，andburnouttherebytheImpuritiesthatcausedit;thenagainwilltherebeclearness，health。
　　Theprincipleoflife，whichnowstrugglespainfully，intheouter，thinandbarrendomainoftheConsciousofMechanical，maythenwithdrawintoitsinnersanctuaries，itsabyssesofmysteryandmiracle;withdrawdeeperthaneverintothatdomainoftheUnconscious，bynatureinfiniteandinexhaustible;
　　andcreativelyworkthere。Fromthatmysticregion，andfromthatalone，allwonders，allPoesies，andReligions，andSocialSystemshaveproceeded:
　　thelikewonders，andgreaterandhigher，lieslumberingthere;and，broodedonbythespiritofthewaters，willevolvethemselves，andriselikeexhalationsfromtheDeep。
　　OfourModernMetaphysics，accordingly，maynotthisalreadybesaid，thatiftheyhaveproducednoAffirmation，theyhavedestroyedmuchNegation？
　　Itisadiseaseexpellingadisease:thefireofDoubt，asabovehinted，consumingawaytheDoubtful;thatsotheCertaincometolight，andagainlievisibleonthesurface。EnglishorFrenchMetaphysics，inreferencetothislaststageofthespeculativeprocess，arenotwhatwealludetohere;butonlytheMetaphysicsoftheGermans。InFranceorEngland，sincethedaysofDiderotandHume，thoughallthoughthasbeenofascepticometaphysicaltexture，sofarastherewasanyThought，wehaveseennoMetaphysics;butonlymoreorlessineffectualquestioningswhethersuchcouldbe。InthePyrrhonismofHumeandtheMaterialismofDiderot，Logichad，asitwere，overshotitself，oversetitself。Now，thoughtheathlete，touseouroldfigure，cannot，bymuchlifting，liftuphisownbody，hemayshiftitoutofalamingposture，andgettostandinafreeone。SuchaservicehaveGermanMetaphysicsdoneforman'smind。ThesecondsicknessofSpeculationhasabolishedbothitselfandthefirst。FriedrichSchlegelcomplainsmuchofthefruitlessness，thetumultandtransiencyofGermanasofallMetaphysics;andwithreason。Yetinthatwidespreading，deep—whirlingvortexofKantism，sosoonmetamorphosedintoFichteism，Schellingism，andthenasHegelism，andCousinism，perhapsfinallyevaporated，isnotthisissuevisibleenough，ThatPyrrhonismandMaterialism，themselvesnecessaryphenomenainEuropeanculture，havedisappeared;andaFaithinReligionhasagainbecomepossibleandinevitableforthescientificmind;andthewordFree—thinkernolongermeanstheDenierofCaviller，buttheBeliever，ortheReadytobelieve？Nay，inthehigherLiteratureofGermany，therealreadylies，forhimthatcanreadit，thebeginningofanewrevelationoftheGodlike;asyetunrecognisedbythemassoftheworld;butwaitingthereforrecognition，andsuretofinditwhenthefithourcomes。ThisagealsoisnotwhollywithoutitsProphets。
　　Again，underanotheraspect，ifUtilitarianism，orRadicalism，ortheMechanicalPhilosophy，orbywhatevernameitiscalled，hasstillitslongtasktodo;neverthelesswecannowseethroughitandbeyondit:inthebetterheads，evenamongusEnglish，ithasbecomeobsolete;asinothercountries，ithasbeen，insuchheads，forsomefortyorevenfiftyyears。WhatsoundmindamongtheFrench，forexample，nowfanciesthatmencanbegovernedby'Constitutions';bytheneversocunningmechanisingofSelf—interests，andallconceivableadjustmentsofcheckingandbalancing;inaword，bythebestpossiblesolutionofthisquiteinsolubleandimpossibleproblem，GivenaworldofKnaves，toproduceanHonestyfromtheirunitedaction？WerenotexperimentsenoughofthiskindtriedbeforeallEurope，andfoundwanting，when，inthatdoomsdayofFrance，theinfinitegulfofhumanPassionshiveredasunderthethinrindsofHabit;andburstforthall—devouring，asinseasofNetherFire？Whichcunningly—devised'Constitution，'constitutional，republican，democratic，sansculottic，couldbindthatragingchasmtogether？
　　Weretheynotallburntup，likepaperastheywere，initsmolteneddies;andstillthefire—searagedfiercerthanbefore？ItisnotbyMechanism，butbyReligion;notbySelf—interest，butbyLoyalty，thatmenaregovernedorgovernable。
　　Remarkableitis，truly，howeverywheretheeternalfactbeginsagaintoberecognised，thatthereisaGodlikeinhumanaffairs;thatGodnotonlymadeusandbeholdsus，butisinusandaroundus;thattheAgeofMiracles，asiteverwas，nowis。Suchrecognitionwediscernonallhandsandinallcountries:ineachcountryafteritsownfashion。InFrance，amongtheyoungernoblerminds，strangelyenough;where，intheirloudcontentionwiththeActualandConscious，theIdealorUnconsciousis，forthetime，withoutexponent;
　　whereReligionmeansnottheparentofPolity，asofallthatishighest，butPolityitself;andthisandtheotherearnestmanhasnotbeenwanting，whocouldaudiblywhispertohimself:'Goto，Iwillmakeareligion。'
　　InEnglandstillmorestrangely;asinallthings，worthyEnglandwillhaveitsway:
　　bytheshriekingofhystericalwomen，castingoutofdevils，andother'giftsoftheHolyGhost。'WellmightJeanPaulsay，inthishistwelfthhouroftheNight，'thelivingdream';wellmighthesay，'thedeadwalk。'Meanwhileletusrejoiceratherthatsomuchhasbeenseeninto，wereitthroughneversodiffractingmedia，andneversomadlydistorted;thatinalldialects，thoughbuthalf—articulately，thishighGospelbeginstobepreached:ManisstillMan。ThegeniusofMechanism，aswasoncebeforepredicted，willnotalwayssitlikeachokingincubusonoursoul;butatlength，whenbyanewmagicWordtheoldspellisbroken，becomeourslave，andasfamiliar—spiritdoallourbidding。
　　'Wearenearawakeningwhenwedreamthatwedream。'
　　Hethathasaneyeandaheartcanevennowsay:WhyshouldIfalter？
　　Lighthascomeintotheworld;tosuchasloveLight，soasLightmustbeloved，withaboundlessall—doing，all—enduringlove。Fortherest，letthatvainstruggletoreadthemysteryoftheInfiniteceasetoharassus。Itisamysterywhich，throughallages，weshallonlyreadherealineof，thereanotherlineof。DowenotalreadyknowthatthenameoftheInfiniteisGood，isGod？HereonEarthweareSoldiers，fightinginaforeignland;thatunderstandnottheplanofthecampaign，andhavenoneedtounderstandit;seeingwellwhatisatourhandtobedone。LetusdoitlikeSoldiers;withsubmission，withcourage，withaheroicjoy。'Whatsoeverthyhandfindethtodo，doitwithallthymight。'
　　Behindus，behindeachoneofus，lieSixThousandYearsofhumaneffort，humanconquest:beforeusistheboundlessTime，withitsasyetuncreatedandunconqueredContinentsandEldorados，whichwe，evenwe，havetoconquer，tocreate;andfromthebosomofEternitythereshineforuscelestialguidingstars。
　　'Myinheritancehowwideandfair！Timeismyfairseed—field，ofTimeI'mheir。'