Life. — Lessing was born at Kamcntz (Camenz), in Upper Lusatia, Jan. 22, 1729. His father was the Prot- estant (Lutheran) "pastor primarius" of the place, and was widely noted for his learning, especially in the his- torical department. Designed for the ministry, young Lessing was trained by his pious jvirents " in the way he should go;" and he was not sim[)ly taught what he should believe, but how and why he should believe. Long before he was old enough to be sent to school the youth displayed an uncommon desire for books. After thorough preparation at an elementary school, he en-
tered at the age of twelve the high-school at Meissen, and of his extraordinary diligence in study a sufficient idea may be formed when it is stated that while there he perused a number of classic authors besides those which entered into the regular course, translated the third and fourth books of EncUd, drew up a history of mathematics, and, on taking leave of it, delivered a dis- course " De Mathematica Barbarorum." In 1746 he was ready to proceed to the university, and, as his parents liad fondly hoped, to enter upon the studies which should fit him for the ministry of the word of God. His moth- er, in particular, designed that her Gotthold Ephraim " should be a real man of (lod."
Like an earnest and artlent student, which he always proved himself, Lessing now devoted his time to all the studies which that university encouraged, except the one upon which the family hopes were set — theology; and this need not be wondered at, if we will but glance for a moment at a programme of the lectures in the four faculties of that high-scliool upon Lessing's entry. In theology, jurisprudence, medicine, and philosophy twen- ty-two lectures were delivered weekly, yet the names of the lecturers were prominent only in the last-named department ; they were notably obscure in that of the- ology. In philosophy Gottsched was lecturing ujion the early Greek philosophers, Christ upon Horace and Ovid, .Tocher upon the Reformation, Winckler upon Epictetus, 3Iuller upon logic. May upon ethics, and Heinsius upon rectihnear and spherical trigonometry. Ernesti, the fu- ture noted theologian, was yet lecturing in the depart- ment of ancient literature, and it was by his direct and jjermanent influence, as well as by the exertions of pro- fessor Christ, that Lessing was led to enter upon the pro- found philological studies, which finalh' resulted in such great service to classical literature and art. Thrown into company with IMylius, an old schoolmate of his, and an ardent advocate of the stage as a means of moral reform, and other auditors of professor Kiistner, who was then lecturing on dramatic art, Lessing acquired a de- cided taste for the theatre, and ■was tinally led to aban- don his classical studies altogether, not only devoting himself more fully to this one study, but actually com- ing to entertain the thought of going on the stage him- self. His conduct greatly displeased his parents and his sister, who warned him against it as being not merely trifling, but sinful. But Lessing continued in his course. Driven further, also, by the announcement that the fam- ily could contribute no allowance for his sujiport except with extreme difficulty, he determined to shift for him- self, and decided for his subsistence hereafter to devote his talents to poetry, criticism, and belles-lettres, as that field of literature which had been least of all cultivated by his countrymen, and where, besides having fe\v rivals, he might employ his pen with greater advantage to oth- ers as well as to himself. His first productions were one or two minor dramatic pieces, which were printed in a journal entitled Ermnntei'iuu/en ziim Ver(piiir/en, In the meanwhile the gossip about his relation to the ungodly Mylius, who had by this time become his most intimate associate, spread, and reached the ears of his aged par- ents. Desperate measures only could secure his return to the parental hearthstone. IMadame Lessing was over- whelmed with grief; her (iotthold Ephraim must be re- stored to her innnediate influence, or he would forever be lost to the Church and the blessings of religion, and for once the end should justify the means. Accordingly, the youthful sinner was written to: "On receipt of this, start at once ; your mother is dying, and wishes to speak to you before her death." Of course, no sooner had the letter reached Lessing than we find him starting for the little country to\vn. His personal appearance and as- surances of his good intentions, both as a Christian and an obedient son, soon quieted the disconsolate jiarents, and he was suffered once more to return to Leipsic. From this place he removed in 1750 to Berlin — the home of freethinkers, whither the arch-atheist Mylius had pre- ceded him some time — certainly not a very comforting
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turn in his personal history for his well-nigh despairing parents.