少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
JUNE 29.
The day before yesterday, the physician came from the town to paya visit to the judge. He found me on the floor playing withCharlotte's children. Some of them were scrambling over me, andothers romped with me; and, as I caught and tickled them, theymade a great noise. The doctor is a formal sort of personage: headjusts the plaits of his ruffles, and continually settles hisfrill whilst he is talking to you; and he thought my conduct beneaththe dignity of a sensible man. I could perceive this by hiscountenance. But I did not suffer myself to be disturbed. Iallowed him to continue his wise conversation, whilst I rebuiltthe children's card houses for them as fast as they threw themdown. He went about the town afterward, complaining that thejudge's children were spoiled enough before, but that now Wertherwas completely ruining them.
Yes, my dear Wilhelm, nothing on this earth affects my heart somuch as children. When I look on at their doings; when I mark inthe little creatures the seeds of all those virtues and qualitieswhich they will one day find so indispensable; when I behold inthe obstinate all the future firmness and constancy of a noblecharacter; in the capricious, that levity and gaiety of temperwhich will carry them lightly over the dangers and troubles oflife, their whole nature simple and unpolluted, -- then I callto mind the golden words of the Great Teacher of mankind, "Unlessye become like one of these!" And now, my friend, these children,who are our equals, whom we ought to consider as our models, wetreat them as though they were our subjects. They are allowed nowill of their own. And have we, then, none ourselves? Whence comesour exclusive right? Is it because we are older and more experienced?Great God! from the height of thy heaven thou beholdest greatchildren and little children, and no others; and thy Son has longsince declared which afford thee greatest pleasure. But theybelieve in him, and hear him not, --that, too, is an old story;and they train their children after their own image, etc.
Adieu, Wilhelm: I will not further bewilder myself with this subject.