![LESSING, Gotthold Ephraim (1729-1781). Autograph letter signed ('Lessing') to an unidentified female correspondent [Elise Reimarus], Wolfenbüttel, 6 September 1778, one page, 4to. Provenance: Bodin, Paris, May 2003, lot 717.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2007/CKS/2007_CKS_07411_0111_000(022246).jpg?w=1)
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LESSING, Gotthold Ephraim (1729-1781). Autograph letter signed ('Lessing') to an unidentified female correspondent [Elise Reimarus], Wolfenbüttel, 6 September 1778, one page, 4to. Provenance: Bodin, Paris, May 2003, lot 717.
FEARS OF THE CENSORSHIP OF NATHAN DER WEISE: Lessing writes charmingly to his correspondent, thanking her for sending him the third part of her Lessings Schwächen, 'die ein wenig stark zu werden anfangen. Meine Antwort darauf ist schon fertig', and he looks forward to being able to bring it to her in Hamburg in person within a few days, 'und wenn die Geschäfte, die mich dahin bringen, auch wohl die angenehmsten nicht seyn durfften, so weiß isch doch schon das Haus, wo ich wenigstens einige vergnügte Stunden werde zubringen können'. He goes on to refer to an attached announcement (not present), which will surprise some of his friends: 'Aber wenn Sie im Decameron des Boccaz (I,3) die Geschichte vom Juden Melchisedech, welche in meinem Schauspiel zum Grunde liegen wird, aufschlagen wollen, so werden Sie den Schlüssel dazu leicht finden. Ich muß versuchen, ob man mich auf meiner alten Kanzel, auf dem Theater wenigstens, noch ungestört will predigen lassen' [But if in the Decameron of Boccaccio you turn to the story of the Jew Melchisedeck, which will form the basis of my play, you will easily find the key for it. I must see if they will let me carry on preaching undisturbed at least in my old pulpi in the theatre'.
Lessing's great parable play, Nathan the Wise, was published in 1779; as he fears in the last line of the letter, the church was to ban its performance until after his death.
FEARS OF THE CENSORSHIP OF NATHAN DER WEISE: Lessing writes charmingly to his correspondent, thanking her for sending him the third part of her Lessings Schwächen, 'die ein wenig stark zu werden anfangen. Meine Antwort darauf ist schon fertig', and he looks forward to being able to bring it to her in Hamburg in person within a few days, 'und wenn die Geschäfte, die mich dahin bringen, auch wohl die angenehmsten nicht seyn durfften, so weiß isch doch schon das Haus, wo ich wenigstens einige vergnügte Stunden werde zubringen können'. He goes on to refer to an attached announcement (not present), which will surprise some of his friends: 'Aber wenn Sie im Decameron des Boccaz (I,3) die Geschichte vom Juden Melchisedech, welche in meinem Schauspiel zum Grunde liegen wird, aufschlagen wollen, so werden Sie den Schlüssel dazu leicht finden. Ich muß versuchen, ob man mich auf meiner alten Kanzel, auf dem Theater wenigstens, noch ungestört will predigen lassen' [But if in the Decameron of Boccaccio you turn to the story of the Jew Melchisedeck, which will form the basis of my play, you will easily find the key for it. I must see if they will let me carry on preaching undisturbed at least in my old pulpi in the theatre'.
Lessing's great parable play, Nathan the Wise, was published in 1779; as he fears in the last line of the letter, the church was to ban its performance until after his death.
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