少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
March 16.
Everything conspires against me. I met Miss B-- walking to-day.I could not help joining her; and, when we were at a little distancefrom her companions, I expressed my sense of her altered mannertoward me. "O Werther!" she said, in a tone of emotion, "you, whoknow my heart, how could you so ill interpret my distress? Whatdid I not suffer for you, from the moment you entered the room!I foresaw it all, a hundred times was I on the point of mentioningit to you. I knew that the S--s and T--s, with their husbands,would quit the room, rather than remain in your company. I knewthat the count would not break with them: and now so much is saidabout it." "How!" I exclaimed, and endeavoured to conceal myemotion; for all that Adelin had mentioned to me yesterday recurredto me painfully at that moment. "Oh, how much it has already costme!" said this amiable girl, while her eyes filled with tears. Icould scarcely contain myself, and was ready to throw myself ather feet. "Explain yourself!" I cried. Tears flowed down hercheeks. I became quite frantic. She wiped them away, withoutattempting to conceal them. "You know my aunt," she continued;"she was present: and in what light does she consider the affair!Last night, and this morning, Werther, I was compelled to listento a lecture upon my, acquaintance with you. I have been obligedto hear you condemned and depreciated; and I could not -- I darednot -- say much in your defence."
Every word she uttered was a dagger to my heart. She did not feelwhat a mercy it would have been to conceal everything from me.She told me, in addition, all the impertinence that would be furthercirculated, and how the malicious would triumph; how they wouldrejoice over the punishment of my pride, over my humiliation forthat want of esteem for others with which I had often been reproached.To hear all this, Wilhelm, uttered by her in a voice of the mostsincere sympathy, awakened all my passions; and I am still in astate of extreme excitement. I wish I could find a man to jeerme about this event. I would sacrifice him to my resentment. Thesight of his blood might possibly be a relief to my fury. A hundredtimes have I seized a dagger, to give ease to this oppressed heart.Naturalists tell of a noble race of horses that instinctively opena vein with their teeth, when heated and exhausted by a long course,in order to breathe more freely. I am often tempted to open avein, to procure for myself everlasting liberty.