Allpalaceshaveacharacteroftiresomeunlivablenesswhichiscommontothemeverywhere，andveryprobablyifonecouldmeettheirproprietorsinthemonewouldaslittlerememberthemapartafterwardsasthepalacesthemselves。Itwillnotdotolifteitherhousesormenfaroutoftheaverage；theybecomespectacles，ceremonies；theyceasetohavecharm，tohavecharacter，whichbelongtothelevelsoflife，wherealonethereareeaseandcomfort，andhumannaturemaybeitself，withallthelittledelightfuldifferencesrepressedinthosewhorepresentandtypify。
Astheyfollowedthecustodianthroughthegrand-ducalResidenzatWeimar，MarchfelteverywherethestrongwishoftheprincewhowasGoethe’sfriendtoallyhimselfwithliterature，andtobehumanatleastinthehumanities。Hecamehonestlybyhispassionforpoets；hismotherhadknownitinhertime，andWeimarwasthehomeofWielandandofHerderbeforetheyoungGrand-DukecamebackfromhistravelsbringingGoethewithhim，andafterwardsattractingSchiller。ThestoryofthatgreatepochisallthereintheResidenz，toldasarticulatelyasapalacecan。
TherearecertainPoets’Rooms，frescoedwithillustrationsofGoethe，Schiller，andWieland；thereistheroomwhereGoetheandtheGrand-Dukeusedtoplaychesstogether；thereistheconservatoryopeningfromitwheretheylikedtositandchat；everywhereinthepicturesandsculptures，theengravingandintaglios，arethewitnessesofthetastestheyshared，thelovetheybothhadforItaly，andforbeautifulItalianthings。Theprincewasnotsogreataprincebutthathecouldverynearlybeaman；thecourtwasperhapsthemosthumancourtthateverwas；theGrand-Dukeandthegrandpoetwerefirstbooncompanions，andthenmonarchandministerworkingtogetherforthegoodofthecountry；
theywerealwaysfriends，andyet，astheAmericansawinthelightoftheNewWorld，whichhecarriedwithhim，howfarfromfriends！Atbestitwasmake-believe，themake-believeofsuperiorityandinferiority，themake-believeofmasterandman，whichcouldonlybethemorepainfulandghastlyfortheendeavoroftwogenerousspiritstoreachandrescueeachotherthroughtheasphyxiatingunreality；buttheykeptuptheshowofequalityfaithfullytotheend。Goethewasborncitizenofafreerepublic，andhisyouthwasnurturedinthetraditionsofliberty；hewasoneofthegreatestsoulsofanytime，andhemusthaveknowntheimpossibilityofthethingtheypretended；buthediedandmadenosign，andthepoet’sfriendshipwiththeprincehaspassedsmoothlyintohistoryasoneofthethingsthatmightreallybe。Theyworkedandplayedtogether；theydinedanddanced，theypicnickedandpoetized，eachonhisownsideoftheimpassablegulf；withanairofitsnotbeingtherewhichprobablydidnotdeceivetheircontemporariessomuchasposterity。
Apartofthepalacewasofcourseundergoingrepair；andinthegallerybeyondtheconservatoryacompanyofworkmenweresittingatatablewheretheyhadspreadtheirluncheon。Theyweresomewhatsubduedbytheconsciousnessoftheiraugustenvironment；butthesightofthemwascharming；theygaveakindlyinteresttotheplacewhichithadwantedbefore；andwhichtheMarchesfeltagaininanotherpalacewherethecustodianshowedthemthelittletindishesandsaucepanswhichtheGermanEmpressAugustaandhersistersplayedwithwhentheywerechildren。Thesightofthesewasmoreaffectingeventhanthewitheredwreathswhichtheyhadleftonthedeath-bedoftheirmother，andwhicharestillmoulderingthere。