少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
MAY 26.
You know of old my ways of settling anywhere, of selecting a littlecottage in some cosy spot, and of putting up in it with everyinconvenience. Here, too, I have discovered such a snug, comfortableplace, which possesses peculiar charms for me.
About a league from the town is a place called Walheim. (The readerneed not take the trouble to look for the place thus designated.We have found it necessary to change the names given in the original.)It is delightfully situated on the side of a hill; and, by proceedingalong one of the footpaths which lead out of the village, you canhave a view of the whole valley. A good old woman lives there,who keeps a small inn. She sells wine, beer, and coffee, and ischeerful and pleasant notwithstanding her age. The chief charmof this spot consists in two linden-trees, spreading their enormousbranches over the little green before the church, which is entirelysurrounded by peasants' cottages, barns, and homesteads. I haveseldom seen a place so retired and peaceable; and there often havemy table and chair brought out from the little inn, and drink mycoffee there, and read my Homer. Accident brought me to the spotone fine afternoon, and I found it perfectly deserted. Everybodywas in the fields except a little boy about four years of age, whowas sitting on the ground, and held between his knees a child aboutsix months old: he pressed it to his bosom with both arms, whichthus formed a sort of arm-chair; and, notwithstanding the livelinesswhich sparkled in its black eyes, it remained perfectly still.The sight charmed me. I sat down upon a plough opposite, andsketched with great delight this little picture of brotherlytenderness. I added the neighbouring hedge, the barn-door, andsome broken cart-wheels, just as they happened to lie; and I foundin about an hour that I had made a very correct and interestingdrawing, without putting in the slightest thing of my own. Thisconfirmed me in my resolution of adhering, for the future, entirelyto nature. She alone is inexhaustible, and capable of forming thegreatest masters. Much may be alleged in favour of rules, as muchmay be likewise advanced in favour of the laws of society: anartist formed upon them will never produce anything absolutely bador disgusting; as a man who observes the laws, and obeys decorum,can never be an absolutely intolerable neighbour, nor a decidedvillain: but yet, say what you will of rules, they destroy thegenuine feeling of nature, as well as its true expression. Do nottell me "that this is too hard, that they only restrain and prunesuperfluous branches, etc." My good friend, I will illustratethis by an analogy. These things resemble love. A warmheartedyouth becomes strongly attached to a maiden: he spends every hourof the day in her company, wears out his health, and lavishes hisfortune, to afford continual proof that he is wholly devoted toher. Then comes a man of the world, a man of place and respectability,and addresses him thus: "My good young friend, love is natural;but you must love within bounds. Divide your time: devote a portionto business, and give the hours of recreation to your mistress.Calculate your fortune; and out of the superfluity you may makeher a present, only not too often, -- on her birthday, and suchoccasions." Pursuing this advice, he may become a useful memberof society, and I should advise every prince to give him anappointment; but it is all up with his love, and with his geniusif he be an artist. O my friend! why is it that the torrent ofgenius so seldom bursts forth, so seldom rolls in full-flowingstream, overwhelming your astounded soul? Because, on either sideof this stream, cold and respectable persons have taken up theirabodes, and, forsooth, their summer-houses and tulip-beds wouldsuffer from the torrent; wherefore they dig trenches, and raiseembankments betimes, in order to avert the impending danger.