Looking down on the same lake from its southern ridge, he writes these
lines, the concentrated expression of distracted emotions:--
Wenn ich, liebe Lili, dich nicht liebte,
Welche Wonne gaeb' mir dieser Blick!
Und doch, wenn ich, Lili, dich nicht liebte,
Faend' ich hier und faend' ich dort mein Glueck?
If I, loved Lili, loved thee not,
In this prospect, ah! what bliss;
Yet, Lili, if I loved thee not,
Where should I find my happiness?
In the cloister of the church at Einsiedeln he saw a beautiful gold
crown, and his first thought was how it would become the brows of
Lili. On the night of June 21st the two travellers reached the hospice
in the pass of St. Gothard--the term of their journey. Next morning
they saw the path that led down to Italy, and, according to Goethe's
account, Passavant vehemently urged that they should make the descent
together. For a few moments he was undecided, but the memories of Lili
conquered. Drawing forth a golden heart, her gift, which he wore round
his neck, he kissed it, and his resolution was taken. Hastily turning
from the tempting path, he began his homeward descent, his companion
reluctantly following him.
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