The Count of Gabalis

and Irreconcilable Gnomes, or Sequel to the Count of Gabalis, The Hague, 1718 original: "et Gnomes irreconciliables, ou Suite au Comte de Gabalis, Haye, 1718", is so childishly pointless and so inexpressibly incoherent that even the iron patience of a translator succumbed while reading through it, and he lost the desire to explore the remaining army of imitators. Furthermore, his purpose was sufficiently fulfilled by what he did; for these few sheets are enough to acquire for us a German Gabalis—an apt and purposeful one, I mean—if, at a fortunate hour, they stir the thought of it in a man to whom not only his fatherland grants the merit of having observed both the nature of all things and the spirit and customs of man with equal sharpness. It is true, his efforts in the latter case were not everywhere received with thanks; but whoever knows the heart as well as he does never expects improvement and gratitude at the same time.