少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
JULY 11.
Madame M-- is very ill. I pray for her recovery, because Charlotteshares my sufferings. I see her occasionally at my friend's house,and to-day she has told me the strangest circumstance. Old M--is a covetous, miserly fellow, who has long worried and annoyedthe poor lady sadly; but she has borne her afflictions patiently.A few days ago, when the physician informed us that her recoverywas hopeless, she sent for her husband (Charlotte was present),and addressed him thus: "I have something to confess, which, aftermy decease, may occasion trouble and confusion. I have hithertoconducted your household as frugally and economically as possible,but you must pardon me for having defrauded you for thirty years.At the commencement of our married life, you allowed a small sumfor the wants of the kitchen, and the other household expenses.When our establishment increased and our property grew larger, Icould not persuade you to increase the weekly allowance in proportion:in short, you know, that, when our wants were greatest, you requiredme to supply everything with seven florins a week. I took themoney from you without an observation, but made up the weeklydeficiency from the money-chest; as nobody would suspect your wifeof robbing the household bank. But I have wasted nothing, andshould have been content to meet my eternal Judge without thisconfession, if she, upon whom the management of your establishmentwill devolve after my decease, would be free from embarrassmentupon your insisting that the allowance made to me, your formerwife, was sufficient."
I talked with Charlotte of the inconceivable manner in which menallow themselves to be blinded; how any one could avoid suspectingsome deception, when seven florins only were allowed to defrayexpenses twice as great. But I have myself known people whobelieved, without any visible astonishment, that their housepossessed the prophet's never-failing cruse of oil.