Page:The Midsummer Night.djvu/16

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and did not rely on his judgment alone, but afterwards read it to other friends at Bulow's request, and the pleasure they all derived from this poetic trifle fully justified the impression it had made on him.

For a long time Bulow pressed Tieck in vain to let the "Sommernacht" be printed, but he was not able to overcome his dread of the interpretation which ill-natured criticism might put upon his compliance. At last, on Bulow's perseverance, Tieck gave him to understand that if he published it on his own responsibility he would not object.

Bulow gladly availed himself of this reluctant permission, and gave this little gem to the world in the "Rheinisches Taschenbuch" for 1851.

It is certainly a wonderful production considering the age at which it was written, and would not, I think, have been deemed unworthy of him at any time.

It is interesting as evidence of how deeply and early the foundation was laid of Tieck's enthusiastic devo-