Leipsic, and after a short tour settled for some time in Alsace, where
the beautiful Gretchen won his heart, and obtained for herself in Faust
and Egmont, a more lasting monument than brass. On leaving Alsace, he
returned home; but soon left it again to practise in the Imperial
Chamber at Wezlar. Here he witnessed the tragical event that gave rise
to his romance of the Sorrows of Werter. In 1775, he went to Weimar, on
an invitation from the Grand Duke, and remained there till the end of
his life, loaded with all the honours a German sovereign could bestow,
ennobled, a privy councillor, and for many years of his life prime
minister; "a treatment of genius hitherto unknown in the annals of
literature, or of Mecaenaship; and a splendid exception to the
indifference with which rulers generally regard intellectual
excellence."

In 1786, Goethe travelled in Italy, from whence he went to Sicily, and
then returned to Rome, where he gave himself ardently up to the study of
antiquities. At the end of three years he returned to his own country,
and settled at Weimar, which was then called the Athens of Germany. Here
were at that time a number of celebrated men, at the head of whom were
Goethe, Wieland, and Schiller. In this congenial society, Goethe resided
till his death. A view of his house, with an account of an interview
with the poet, about five years since, by Dr. Granville, will be found
in _The Mirror_, vol. xviii. After the deaths of Wieland and Schiller,
the reputation of Goethe greatly increased. To form some idea of the
sort of worship that was paid to him in his own country, in his
lifetime, it is only necessary to read the chapter of Madame de Staël's
_Germany_, dedicated to that subject. The admirers of Goethe formed a
sort of sect, a body amongst themselves, over whom, says Madame de
Staël, the influence of Goethe was really incomprehensible. Among the
honours paid to him by the illustrious men of Europe, must not be