少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
MAY 4.
How happy I am that I am gone! My dear friend, what a thing isthe heart of man! To leave you, from whom I have been inseparable,whom I love so dearly, and yet to feel happy! I know you willforgive me. Have not other attachments been specially appointedby fate to torment a head like mine? Poor Leonora! and yet I wasnot to blame. Was it my fault, that, whilst the peculiar charmsof her sister afforded me an agreeable entertainment, a passionfor me was engendered in her feeble heart? And yet am I whollyblameless? Did I not encourage her emotions? Did I not feelcharmed at those truly genuine expressions of nature, which, thoughbut little mirthful in reality, so often amused us? Did I not --but oh! what is man, that he dares so to accuse himself? My dearfriend I promise you I will improve; I will no longer, as has everbeen my habit, continue to ruminate on every petty vexation whichfortune may dispense; I will enjoy the present, and the past shallbe for me the past. No doubt you are right, my best of friends,there would be far less suffering amongst mankind, if men -- andGod knows why they are so fashioned -- did not employ theirimaginations so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow,instead of bearing their present lot with equanimity. Be kindenough to inform my mother that I shall attend to her business tothe best of my ability, and shall give her the earliest informationabout it. I have seen my aunt, and find that she is very far frombeing the disagreeable person our friends allege her to be. Sheis a lively, cheerful woman, with the best of hearts. I explainedto her my mother's wrongs with regard to that part of her portionwhich has been withheld from her. She told me the motives andreasons of her own conduct, and the terms on which she is willingto give up the whole, and to do more than we have asked. In short,I cannot write further upon this subject at present; only assuremy mother that all will go on well. And I have again observed,my dear friend, in this trifling affair, that misunderstandingsand neglect occasion more mischief in the world than even maliceand wickedness. At all events, the two latter are of less frequentoccurrence.
In other respects I am very well off here. Solitude in thisterrestrial paradise is a genial balm to my mind, and the youngspring cheers with its bounteous promises my oftentimes misgivingheart. Every tree, every bush, is full of flowers; and one mightwish himself transformed into a butterfly, to float about in thisocean of perfume, and find his whole existence in it.
The town itself is disagreeable; but then, all around, you find aninexpressible beauty of nature. This induced the late Count M tolay out a garden on one of the sloping hills which here intersecteach other with the most charming variety, and form the most lovelyvalleys. The garden is simple; and it is easy to perceive, evenupon your first entrance, that the plan was not designed by ascientific gardener, but by a man who wished to give himself uphere to the enjoyment of his own sensitive heart. Many a tearhave I already shed to the memory of its departed master in asummer-house which is now reduced to ruins, but was his favouriteresort, and now is mine. I shall soon be master of the place.The gardener has become attached to me within the last few days,and he will lose nothing thereby.