[1] Page 30, Note 1.--The name “Huss” means “goose.” When Huss was condemned to die at the stake he said: _“Nach mir wird kommen ein Schwan, Den sollen sie ungebraten lah’n.”_ [After me a swan will rise, Whom they will not roast likewise.] This doggerel with its grim humor on so tragic an occasion is commonly and naturally regarded as foretelling the coming of Martin Luther. [2] Page 55, Note 2.--Professor Wolf was the first to prove that the Iliad and the Odyssey consisted of a number of epic poems by different poets, which were collected under the name of Homer. For Goethe’s feeling with regard to criticism see the translator’s book _Goethe_, page 273. [3] Page 60, Note 3.--This distich is addressed to Karl Philip Moritz, author of an interesting novel in the form of an autobiography, _Anton Reiser_. [4] Page 61, Note 4.--This is addressed to F. H. Jacobi, who had written two philosophical novels, _Woldemar_ and _Allwill_. The difference between him and Moritz is sufficiently characterized in this and the preceding distich. [5] Page 63, Note 5.--This satirizes the sensuous novels of Timotheus Hermes. [6] Page 64, Note 6.--Directed against Platner, whose philosophy was a declamation of platitudes. The distich is true of almost all the debates that take place in literary clubs after the reading of a paper. [7] Page 71, Note 7.--Goethe wrote this in criticism of Reichardt’s praise of the French Revolution. [8] Page 77, Note 8.--This and the following three distichs are directed against Nicolai, who was the owner of a large publishing-house, but at the same time a mediocre author, shallow and conceited. [9] Page 85, Note 9.--The Stolberg brothers had been liberal, but suddenly turned Roman Catholic. [10] Page 86, Note 10.--The pious Count Leopold Stolberg, exaggerating the value of Christian art while deprecating classic taste, said that he would give a whole collection of Greek urns for one Faience vase painted in the manner of Raphael. [11] Page 87, Note 11.--The censure is true in its general application; but the Xenion is aimed at a man (Johann Heinrich Jung, whose _nom de plume_ was Heinrich Stilling) who did not deserve this castigation. See _Goethe_, page 16. [12] Page 88, Note 12.--A severe description of Johann Caspar Lavater. See _Goethe_, page 28. [13] Page 89, Note 13.--Also directed against Reichardt. (See Note 7.) [14] Pages 94 and 102, Note 14.--Schiller renders “Hades” by “Hell” which here retains the classical meaning and does not imply the idea of punishment.