少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
OCTOBER 26.
Yes, I feel certain, Wilhelm, and every day I become more certain,that the existence of any being whatever is of very little consequence.A friend of Charlotte's called to see her just now. I withdrewinto a neighbouring apartment, and took up a book; but, finding Icould not read, I sat down to write. I heard them converse in anundertone: they spoke upon indifferent topics, and retailed thenews of the town. One was going to be married; another was ill,very ill, she had a dry cough, her face was growing thinner daily,and she had occasional fits. "N-- is very unwell too," saidCharlotte. "His limbs begin to swell already," answered the other;and my lively imagination carried me at once to the beds of theinfirm. There I see them struggling against death, with all theagonies of pain and horror; and these women, Wilhelm, talk of allthis with as much indifference as one would mention the death ofa stranger. And when I look around the apartment where I now am-- when I see Charlotte's apparel lying before me, and Albert'swritings, and all those articles of furniture which are so familiarto me, even to the very inkstand which I am using, -- when I thinkwhat I am to this family -- everything. My friends esteem me; I oftencontribute to their happiness, and my heart seems as if it couldnot beat without them; and yet --- if I were to die, if I wereto be summoned from the midst of this circle, would they feel --or how long would they feel the void which my loss would make intheir existence? How long! Yes, such is the frailty of man, thateven there, where he has the greatest consciousness of his ownbeing, where he makes the strongest and most forcible impression,even in the memory, in the heart, of his beloved, there also hemust perish, -- vanish, -- and that quickly.