A history of criticism and literary taste in Europe, from the earliest texts to the present day. Volume 3 (of 3), Modern criticism

Note 774 — Chapter III · GOETHE AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES.

Reading edition

One of the unluckiest is on The Second Maiden’s Tragedy (i. 320), where he observes on the lines—

“If you can construe but your doctor’s bill,

Parse your wife’s waiting-women.”

“Parse? Was kann es bedeuten?”

“Pierce ist dem aufmerksamen Auge

leserlich genug.”

Here one can only open one’s eyes at the question, and smother one’s reply.