Pagina 45 di 483

I closed not my eyes that night. My internal being was in a state

of insurrection and turmoil; I felt that order would thence

arise, but I had no power to produce it. By degrees, after the

morning's dawn, sleep came. I awoke, and my yesternight's

thoughts were as a dream. There only remained a resolution to

return to my ancient studies and to devote myself to a science

for which I believed myself to possess a natural talent. On the

same day I paid M. Waldman a visit. His manners in private were

even more mild and attractive than in public, for there was a

certain dignity in his mien during his lecture which in his own

house was replaced by the greatest affability and kindness. I

gave him pretty nearly the same account of my former pursuits as

I had given to his fellow professor. He heard with attention the

little narration concerning my studies and smiled at the names of

Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus, but without the contempt that

M. Krempe had exhibited.