RAINER MARIA RILKE

Is there anything which can take from you the hope of thus
being hereafter in him, in the most distant, the uttermost 2

Celebrate Christmas, dear Herr Kappus, in this pious feeling,
that He perhaps needs just this fear of life from you in order to
begin ; these very days of your transition are perhaps the time
when everything in you is working upon him, as once before
in childhood you worked upon him breathlessly. Be patient
and without resentment, and reflect that the least we can do is,
not to make his becoming more difficult for him than the earth
makes it for the Spring that wants to come.

And be glad and comforted.

Yours:
RAINER MARIA RILKE.

VI
RoME, May 14th 1904.

My peAar Herr KArpus,

much time has passed since I received your last letter. Do
not take it ill of me; it was first of all work, then interruption,
and finally weakness of health that continuously held me back
from this answer, which (so I intended) was to come to you from
good and quiet days. Now I feel somewhat better again (the
beginning of Spring with its wicked wayward changes touched
us badly even here) and find the time, dear Herr Kappus, to
greet you and (as I am glad with all my heart to do) to answer
this and that point in your letter to the best of my knowledge.

You see: I have copied out your sonnet,'® because I found it
beautiful and simple, and born in the form which it wears with
such quiet grace. Those are the best of the verses which you
have permitted me to read. And now I am giving you that
copy, because I know that it is important and full of new

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