Page:Freud - A general introduction to psychoanalysis.djvu/36

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Introduction to Psychoanalysis

a slip to express his meaning. It could nevertheless really be a psychic accident, or meaningful only in very rare cases, and the poet would still retain the right to infuse it with meaning through his setting. As to their poetic use, however, it would not be surprising if we should glean more information concerning slips of the tongue from the poet than from the philologist or the psychiatrist.

Such an example of a slip of the tongue occurs in Wallenstein (Piccolomini, Act 1, Scene 5). In the previous scene, Max Piccolomini has most passionately sided with the Herzog, and dilated ardently on the blessings of peace which disclosed themselves to him during the trip on which he accompanied Wallenstein’s daughter to the camp. He leaves his father and the courtier, Questenberg, plunged in deepest consternation. And then the fifth scene continues:

Q. Alas! Alas! and stands it so? What friend! and do we let him go away In this delusion—let him go away? Not call him back immediately, not open His eyes upon the spot?
Octavio.  (Recovering himself out of a deep study) He has now opened mine, And I see more than pleases me.
Q. What is it?
Octavio. A curse on this journey!
Q But why so? What is it?
Octavio. Come, come along, friend! I must follow up The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes Are opened now, and I must use them. Come!  (Draws Q. on with him.)
Q. What now? Where go you then?
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