Chapter 35: To all my friends

 

The game of cat and mouse

 

On January 14th, 1805, Schiller would finish his translation of "Phaedra" and would tender it to the Duke Charles August, as from now on, this one wanted to have a close look at his writings.

 

However, as the new year has started, the Duke wanted also to make sure that the quality of Schiller's work was still satisfactory. Duke Charles August knew very well, that Schiller wanted only to stay in Weimar with very much reluctance. As he went through the pages, he then realized, first with surprise then with rage, that Schiller‘s' translation was not so well done.

 

He would notice so many misinterpretations in his work, which he very much suspected of being deliberate.

 

            - "Reckless poet! Imprudent counselor!"

 

Duke Charles August was swearing against Schiller, as he was noting on a piece of paper all the translations which he deemed wrong in the copy given him by Schiller.

 

The next morning, Schiller would be called upon at the palace and the Duke would declare to him very clearly, that his translation was not the best. Schiller would take the document on which the Duke has made all his notes and would also suggest to him, that he is staying in Weimar, against his will. Immediately after his meeting with the Duke, Schiller go to the Weimar theater and as Goethe was still ill at home he would put the translation on his desk with the following note:

 

            Dear Mister Goethe,

            Please read this translation and notify me if further corrections should be added to it.

            Yours sincerely,

            Schiller

 

Afterward, back at home, Schiller would not find any more energy or motivation, to continue his work on "Demetrius". Even Ulrich, who was used to see him very busy with his writing, could not help but to remark his idle evasiveness, after a few days:

 

            - Mister Schiller, you have not done any work for a couple of days. Is there something wrong?" would he then have the courage to ask him.

            - "Really nothing, my dear Ulrich! I just wanted to take a few days to care about all my correspondence."

 

Ulrich, however, has noticed, that he has not even answered to his letter for the last week. He was, however, still very busy making a manuscript of "Phaedra" for the publisher, and would not but finish this pressing work. As he went through the pages of "Phaedra", he would be totally surprised by the incestuous drama being told there:

 

-        "Ah! These Greeks! They want to dissolve our world!" would he then think to himself, quite irritated. "Why do these court people want to import all these strange mores in our country!? Why?"