312 Roller observation. Outside of the Farbenlehre, Goethe's interest in Aristotle centers mainly in the Poetics, particularly in the prob- lem of the " catharsis," which Goethe explains in a way advan- tageous to his own literary work (p. 118). In 1814 in a letter to the publisher Uwarow, Goethe remarks in favor of the late Greek literature which in his opinion is altogether too much neglected for the great classic period. Notwithstanding his regret over this neglect, coming to the literature of the decadence we find a great decrease of Goethe's interest, and only here and there is he drawn to an author as Theocritus or to some work as Daphnis and Chloe by Longus, although he does give much time to Pausanias and the Philostra- ti, owing to his interest in painting. Plutarch, however, stands out markedly from the rest, probably receiving more attention than any other Greek prose writer except Plato and Aristotle. Dr. K. noted in the diary alone ninety-eight entries indicating the reading of Plutarch, " showing an amount of time devoted to Plutarch that is hardly paralleled in the case 'of any Greek author except Homer." Plutarch was " easily one of Goethe's favorites" whom he read, not with any critical intent, but for pure enjoyment, and "Plu- tarch stands almost alone in this respect" (p. 131, 135). Some of the most extravagant terms of praise uttered by Goethe on all Greek literature are lavished upon the pastoral romance Daphnis and Chloe by Longus. He reads it for the first time in 1807 in Amyot's translation; in 1814 he calls it a masterpiece: "ein Meisterstlick poetischer Entfaltung eines gegebenen reichhaltigen Gegenstandes. " In 1831 he says he has often read it and marveled at it; reason, art, and taste find their highest expression in it. The memory of it makes him eager to read it again. He advises to read it once every year: " Man tut wohl, es alle Jahre einmal zu lesen, um immer wieder daran zu lernen und den Eindruck seiner groszen Schonheit aufs neue zu empfinden" (pp. 142-144). Goethe's admiration for Latin literature when compared with that for the Greek, is, on the whole, very moderate. Virgil must yield to Longus' Daphnis and Chloe. The Bible, Virgil, and Horace, serve him as chief sources of mottoes for every occasion. His interest in Ovid is long-lived; beginning in his boyhood it continues through his whole life. He gets to know the Metamorphoses as a young boy when he studies indus- triously the first books especially. As a boy his head was full of the characters of the Metamorphoses] he was in the habit of learning by heart the opening lines of larger works, such as the Bible, the Aeneid, and the Metamorphoses. He is fond of the Metamorphoses, and reads it at various times, especially in his
old age (p. 173). For a period of about eight years (1806-1813)
