Status Updates From Hyperion / Empedokles (Text...

Too lazy to add the edition I'm reading, so here's the one, that includes those

Ists nicht wahr? Ist nicht dem Herzen das genesende Leben mehr wert, als das reine, das die Krankheit noch nicht kennt? Erst wenn die Jugend hin ist, lieben wir sie, und dann erst, wenn die verlorne wiederkehrt, beglückt sie alle Tiefen der Seele. [Hyperion II, 1]

Put on hold after the completion of the Hyperion and the corresponding annotations.

The action on the last pages moves on much more quickly. Alabanda leaves Hyperion as not to stand between him and Diotima. Shortly later Hyperion receives notice of Diotima's death from a fever. Not being able to return to Greece he emigrates to Germany, probably only to give Hölderlin the occasion for a phillipic against his own country. But in the end Hyperion finds comfort in his love for nature.

Defeat! The Greek army, made up mainly by undisciplined men is utterly defeated by the Turkish and Albanian soldiers. Devastated Hyperion seeks a heroic death and signs up for the Russian navy. They destroy the Turkish ships. Hyperion is heavily wounded, but survives thanks to the care of his friend Alabanda. During his recovery Hyperion once more experiences the beauty and healing features of nature.

Ob die Form des Briefromans die beste Form für den Stoff ist? Hyperion ist dem Empfänger der Briefe nicht zugewandt, sein Interesse fokussiert sich ausschließlich auf ihn selbst. Im Tagebuch ginge das in Ordnung, in Briefen müsste sich der Empfänger indigniert als Mittel zum Zweck von H.´s Selbstreflektion fühlen.
Wäre Hyperion in Deutschland angesiedelt, hätte H. mit einer Atheismus-Klage rechnen müssen.

It’s the Year of the Hölderlin (his 250th birthday on 20. March) and we are being swamped with all kinds of rather useless Hölderlin merchandise (including bedclothes). Luckiliy there are also books, like this one & I’m looking forward to reading the as yet unknown to me poet.