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SKETCHES. 363
bosom of even my own native country, all forming an army
of millions, billions, trillions of volumes. They marched
towards me, and I heard them say in a voice like thunder: —
“ Behold in us a power upon earth: we are mighty under
the sun; citizens in all enlightened countries; beloved by
all enlightened nations ; at home in the enlightened home
of all enlightened nations; enjoying the friendship of old
and of young, of professors and of students, of octogena-
rian matrons, and of maidens still in their teens. He who
would combat us, must first be prepared to conquer all
these.”
What a terrible prospect; enough to make even a Napo-
leon beat a retreat! What, then, could such a dwarf as I
am,do’ Must I not lay down arms, rescue or no rescue,
and own myself vanquished? Or shall I, like another
Charles XII, fight against the Turks (the novels must, in
that case, represent the Turks, although they, as I believe,
are not guilty of writing novels), and gain immortal glory
even by my own overthrow? This would be a prospect
which might inspire me with courage. I might try it, but
the worst of it is, that — yes, I feel it— I would then have
to fight against niyself also.
I hold the firm belief, namely, that what has occupied
mankind for a long period, must have some reason in it,
some common sense, something connected with what is
eternally true and rational. And as now mankind, since
more than a century, writes and reads novels, and as this
taste for them, instead of decreasing, is increasing more
and more, and is spreading further and further, therefore,
my friend! I hope that you will see the conclusive argu-
inent yourself.
And then, after carefully sounding my own soul, was
there nothing in it, which spoke in favor of the worth of
the novel; of the many delightful moments, the warm
feelings, the beautiful pictures, which it has given me to
enjoy? And did I uot, amongst the many weeds which
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