少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
MAY 17.
I have made all sorts of acquaintances, but have as yet found nosociety. I know not what attraction I possess for the people, somany of them like me, and attach themselves to me; and then I feelsorry when the road we pursue together goes only a short distance.If you inquire what the people are like here, I must answer, "Thesame as everywhere." The human race is but a monotonous affair.Most of them labour the greater part of their time for meresubsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains tothem so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid ofit. Oh, the destiny of man!
But they are a right good sort of people. If I occasionally forgetmyself, and take part in the innocent pleasures which are not yetforbidden to the peasantry, and enjoy myself, for instance, withgenuine freedom and sincerity, round a well-covered table, orarrange an excursion or a dance opportunely, and so forth, allthis produces a good effect upon my disposition; only I must forgetthat there lie dormant within me so many other qualities whichmoulder uselessly, and which I am obliged to keep carefully concealed.Ah! this thought affects my spirits fearfully. And yet to bemisunderstood is the fate of the like of us.
Alas, that the friend of my youth is gone! Alas, that I ever knewher! I might say to myself, "You are a dreamer to seek what isnot to be found here below." But she has been mine. I havepossessed that heart, that noble soul, in whose presence I seemedto be more than I really was, because I was all that I could be.Good heavens! did then a single power of my soul remain unexercised?In her presence could I not display, to its full extent, thatmysterious feeling with which my heart embraces nature? Was notour intercourse a perpetual web of the finest emotions, of thekeenest wit, the varieties of which, even in their very eccentricity,bore the stamp of genius? Alas! the few years by which she wasmy senior brought her to the grave before me. Never can I forgether firm mind or her heavenly patience.
A few days ago I met a certain young V--, a frank, open fellow,with a most pleasing countenance. He has just left the university,does not deem himself overwise, but believes he knows more thanother people. He has worked hard, as I can perceive from manycircumstances, and, in short, possesses a large stock of information.When he heard that I am drawing a good deal, and that I know Greek(two wonderful things for this part of the country), he came tosee me, and displayed his whole store of learning, from Batteauxto Wood, from De Piles to Winkelmann: he assured me he had readthrough the first part of Sultzer's theory, and also possessed amanuscript of Heyne's work on the study of the antique. I allowedit all to pass.
I have become acquainted, also, with a very worthy person, thedistrict judge, a frank and open-hearted man. I am told it is amost delightful thing to see him in the midst of his children, ofwhom he has nine. His eldest daughter especially is highly spokenof. He has invited me to go and see him, and I intend to do soon the first opportunity. He lives at one of the royal hunting-lodges,which can be reached from here in an hour and a half by walking,and which he obtained leave to inhabit after the loss of his wife,as it is so painful to him to reside in town and at the court.
There have also come in my way a few other originals of a questionablesort, who are in all respects undesirable, and most intolerablein their demonstration of friendship. Good-bye. This letter willplease you: it is quite historical.