[Cover Illustration] Other works by the same author: “The Fugitive” “The Little Conscript” “One of Us” “The Tether” “The Jugglers” T H E S U B L I M E J E S T E R _“Calm is my soul, and clear,_ _like the mountains in the morning._ _But they think me cold,_ _and a mocker with terrible_ _jests.”_ _—Also Sprach Zarathustra_ _By_ E Z R A B R U D N O New York NICHOLAS L. BROWN 1924 Copyright, 1924 By NICHOLAS L. BROWN _All Rights Reserved_ Printed in U. S. A. PART ONE: A Poet in the Making Chapter One: The Heritage ” Two: Hedwiga ” Three: The Judengasse ” Four: A Nightingale in a Crow’s Nest ” Five: Hilda ” Six: Eugenie PART TWO: A Fighter in the Making Chapter One: The Salon ” Two: Miriam ” Three: The March to Calvary ” Four: Vagabondage PART THREE: A Cynic in the Making Chapter One: A Happy Exile ” Two: Marguerite ” Three: The Jest of the Gods AUTHOR’S NOTE. _In creating Albert Zorn, the central figure in this romance, I have followed the life and career of Heinrich Heine. I have chosen him not only because he singularly typifies the poet with the “_Weltschmerz_” in his heart, nor because his was an arresting personality, but because he is preeminently the symbol of the spirit of his age and his people—the symbol of the spirit of all ages and all peoples. For, whenever and wherever a Samson arises, the smug, hypocritical, pharasaical Philistines are ever ready to fetter him and put out his eyes—and often there is a Delilah to betray him._ _E. B._ PART ONE A POET IN THE MAKING THE HERITAGE. I.