A.M.K.

To my dearest friend

Whatever my heart and mind should wish to create, O! you who share all my feelings, may it be dedicated to you! While our opinions differ in many respects, your heart beats in tune with my own—and therefore you are my friend.

I glanced about myself: my soul became lacerated by the sufferings of humanity. I directed my gaze to my inner being and beheld that the woes of man come from man, and often only because we do not inspect closely what surrounds us. Can nature treat its children so meanly, I said to myself, that it has hidden truth forever from a person who strays innocently from the right path? Can it be that this fearsome stepmother has created us to feel woes alone and never bliss? My reason flinched at this idea, and my heart thrust it far away. I found man’s consoler inside himself. “Tear away the veil from the eyes of natural feeling—and I shall be gratified.” This voice of nature reverberated loudly through my constitution. I rose up from the desolation into which empathy and the capacity to feel had cast me. I felt within myself strength enough to resist error; and—unspeakable joy!—I sensed that everyone has the ability to participate in doing good for his equal.—This thought prompted me to write what you are about to read. But if, I told myself, I find someone who approves my intention, who for the sake of this good goal will not fault the unfortunate representation of my thought, who will suffer together with me over the woes of his brethren, who will fortify me in my progress—will not, then, the fruit of the work I have undertaken be greater? … Why, why indeed should I seek far for such a person? My friend! Near my heart do you dwell, and may your name illuminate this beginning.