Nathan der Weise

Lessing, however, did not allow himself to be gagged ; and in 1778, undaunted by the prohibition of the govemment, he directed another crushing philippic against his adversary, uhder the title of NÖthige Antwort auf eine unn'öthige Frage, This was actually the last word in the great controversy. The paternal authorities of Braunschweig did not interfere, and tie Pastor Primarius of Hamburg did not reply.^ The * As it is impossible here to give even the merest outline of the celebrated Wolfenbüttler Fragmente, and of Lessing's replies to his principal antagonist, which were known under the collect! ve name of Anti-Goeze and which have perhaps never been surpaäsed and rarely equalled in controversial Üterature for incisive wit and xiv INTRODUCTION. xiv INTRODUCTION. author of the Anti-Goeze certainly expected a new rejoinder on the part of his antagonist ; and he must have expected to be deprived, at any moment, of his post as Librarian, or to be obliged to resign it ; for whilst engaged on the composition of the Nöthige Antwort^ etc., he wrote to his brother Karl Lessing under date of August ii, 1778 : — * As yet I do npt know how my affair will end, but I should like to be prepared for any event. You know, this can best be done by our having as much money as we require, and there occurred to me last night a curious idea. Many years ago I sketched a flay^ the subject of which bears some resemblance to my present controversies, of the possible occurrence of which I did not dream at that time. If you and Moses ^ approve, I shall publish the thing by subscription, and you can have a few hundred copies of the appended " Advertisement *' printed on an octavo page as soon as possible and distribute them as widely as you think proper.…