—
box 36/6
Panphlets offorints
178
The Germanic Reviem
One poein of this same year actually bears the title“ Der
Blasierte“:
Dem Sang der Liebe matten Ohrs er lauschte,
Und seelenlos die Freude ihn umquoll.“
In the end he takes his own life:
VEr hatte sich gelangweilt und ging schlafen.“
The sentiments expressed in these poems may have been to
some extent an affectation, but the constant reiteration of them
seems to indicate that Schnitzler was subject to similar moods
during these ycers. Specht,“ in recalling the first meeting with
him, at approximately this date, in a fasiiionable drawing-room
where the young poet was playing the part of the lover in an
amateur performance of some comedy, describes him as follows:
"Ich sehe ihn lässig flircend, ein wenig blasiert, ein wenig
weltschmerzlich und gar nicht wenig affektiert.“ Schnitzler
was as a matter of fact passing through a mental and emotional
crisis. It was the time when he had to come to a decision
whether to give up his chosen calling, the medical profession,
or to launch out on a literary career, and the resulting conflict
was only intensified by his father’s sceptical opposition to his
literary ambition. Aletter from Schnitzler to Theodor Herzl,
dated August 5, 1862, but referring to an earlier period, cor¬
roborates this: “ Ich erinnere mich noch meines letzten Zusam¬
mentreffens mit Ihnen—auf irgend einem Ball in einer Nacht,
wie Sie schon lange, aber schon sehr lange ein berühmter Mann
waren, während ich an mir, an meinem Beruf—an beiden—
verzweifelnd, von niemandem ernst genommen, meinen Ehrgeiz
als guter Gesellschafter und Demimondainer (in Bourgets Sinne)
40
zu befriedigen suchte.“
A note of weariell resignation is contained in the poem
An die Alten“ which may have been inspired by the conflict
with his father:
Thr habt es überwunden!
Ven eurem stillen Winkel aus
Blickt ihr zur Straße nun hinaus
Und habt euch dreingefunden.
* Op. cit., Z1.
Jüdischer Almanach, Wien. 1900, p. 102f. Cited by Reik, op. cif., 15..
heche
ee
M0
box 36/6
Panphlets offorints
178
The Germanic Reviem
One poein of this same year actually bears the title“ Der
Blasierte“:
Dem Sang der Liebe matten Ohrs er lauschte,
Und seelenlos die Freude ihn umquoll.“
In the end he takes his own life:
VEr hatte sich gelangweilt und ging schlafen.“
The sentiments expressed in these poems may have been to
some extent an affectation, but the constant reiteration of them
seems to indicate that Schnitzler was subject to similar moods
during these ycers. Specht,“ in recalling the first meeting with
him, at approximately this date, in a fasiiionable drawing-room
where the young poet was playing the part of the lover in an
amateur performance of some comedy, describes him as follows:
"Ich sehe ihn lässig flircend, ein wenig blasiert, ein wenig
weltschmerzlich und gar nicht wenig affektiert.“ Schnitzler
was as a matter of fact passing through a mental and emotional
crisis. It was the time when he had to come to a decision
whether to give up his chosen calling, the medical profession,
or to launch out on a literary career, and the resulting conflict
was only intensified by his father’s sceptical opposition to his
literary ambition. Aletter from Schnitzler to Theodor Herzl,
dated August 5, 1862, but referring to an earlier period, cor¬
roborates this: “ Ich erinnere mich noch meines letzten Zusam¬
mentreffens mit Ihnen—auf irgend einem Ball in einer Nacht,
wie Sie schon lange, aber schon sehr lange ein berühmter Mann
waren, während ich an mir, an meinem Beruf—an beiden—
verzweifelnd, von niemandem ernst genommen, meinen Ehrgeiz
als guter Gesellschafter und Demimondainer (in Bourgets Sinne)
40
zu befriedigen suchte.“
A note of weariell resignation is contained in the poem
An die Alten“ which may have been inspired by the conflict
with his father:
Thr habt es überwunden!
Ven eurem stillen Winkel aus
Blickt ihr zur Straße nun hinaus
Und habt euch dreingefunden.
* Op. cit., Z1.
Jüdischer Almanach, Wien. 1900, p. 102f. Cited by Reik, op. cif., 15..
heche
ee
M0