Notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  however,  he
worked  at  his  task  with  great  eagerness,  feeling  that
just  such  a  subject  as  '  Wallenstein  '  would  prove  the
crucial  test  of  his  powers.  His  old  theory  that  love  is
what  makes  the  artist  was  now  completely  outgrown,
and  he  was  gratified  to  observe  that  he  had  learned  to
keep  himself  out  of  his  work.  So  much  for  the  influ-
ence of  Goethe,  to  whom  he  wrote,  in  November,
1796,  as  follows  :

With  the  general  spirit  of  my  work  you  will  probably  be  satis-
fied. I  might  almost  say  that  the  subject  does  not  interest  me
at  all.  I  have  never  combined  such  coolness  toward  my  theme
with  such  a  warmth  of  feeling  for  my  work.  My  principal
character,  and  the  most  of  my  subordinate  characters,  I  have
treated  up  to  this  time  with  the  pure  love  of  the  artist.
