少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
JULY 6.
She is still with her dying friend, and is still the same bright,beautiful creature whose presence softens pain, and sheds happinessaround whichever way she turns. She went out yesterday with herlittle sisters: I knew it, and went to meet them; and we walkedtogether. In about an hour and a half we returned to the town.We stopped at the spring I am so fond of, and which is now athousand times dearer to me than ever. Charlotte seated herselfupon the low wall, and we gathered about her. I looked around,and recalled the time when my heart was unoccupied and free."Dear fountain!" I said, "since that time I have no more come toenjoy cool repose by thy fresh stream: I have passed thee withcareless steps, and scarcely bestowed a glance upon thee." Ilooked down, and observed Charlotte's little sister, Jane, comingup the steps with a glass of water. I turned toward Charlotte,and I felt her influence over me. Jane at the moment approachedwith the glass. Her sister, Marianne, wished to take it from her."No!" cried the child, with the sweetest expression of face,"Charlotte must drink first."
The affection and simplicity with which this was uttered so charmedme, that I sought to express my feelings by catching up the childand kissing her heartily. She was frightened, and began to cry."You should not do that," said Charlotte: I felt perplexed. "Come,Jane," she continued, taking her hand, and leading her down thesteps again, "it is no matter: wash yourself quickly in the freshwater." I stood and watched them; and when I saw the little dearrubbing her cheeks with her wet hands, in full belief that allthe impurities contracted from my ugly beard would be washed offby the miraculous water, and how, though Charlotte said it woulddo, she continued still to wash with all her might, as though shethought too much were better than too little, I assure you, Wilhelm,I never attended a baptism with greater reverence; and, whenCharlotte came up from the well, I could have prostrated myselfas before the prophet of an Eastern nation.
In the evening I would not resist telling the story to a personwho, I thought, possessed some natural feeling, because he was aman of understanding. But what a mistake I made. He maintainedit was very wrong of Charlotte, that we should not deceive children,that such things occasioned countless mistakes and superstitions,from which we were bound to protect the young. It occurred to methen, that this very man had been baptised only a week before; soI said nothing further, but maintained the justice of my ownconvictions. We should deal with children as God deals with us,we are happiest under the influence of innocent delusions.