少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
FEBRUARY 17.
I fear that my ambassador and I shall not continue much longertogether. He is really growing past endurance. He transactshis business in so ridiculous a manner, that I am often compelledto contradict him, and do things my own way; and then, of course,he thinks them very ill done. He complained of me lately on thisaccount at court; and the minister gave me a reprimand, -- agentle one it is true, but still a reprimand. In consequence ofthis, I was about to tender my resignation, when I received aletter, to which I submitted with great respect, on account of thehigh, noble, and generous spirit which dictated it. He endeavouredto soothe my excessive sensibility, paid a tribute to my extremeideas of duty, of good example, and of perseverance in business,as the fruit of my youthful ardour, an impulse which he did notseek to destroy, but only to moderate, that it might have properplay and be productive of good. So now I am at rest for anotherweek, and no longer at variance with myself. Content and peaceof mind are valuable things: I could wish, my dear friend, thatthese precious jewels were less transitory.