少年维特的烦恼 英文版 The Sorrows of Young Werther
歌德 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
NOVEMBER 30.
I shall never be myself again! Wherever I go, some fatality occursto distract me. Even to-day alas -- for our destiny! alas forhuman nature!
About dinner-time I went to walk by the river-side, for I had noappetite. Everything around seemed gloomy: a cold and damp easterlywind blew from the mountains, and black, heavy clouds spread overthe plain. I observed at a distance a man in a tattered coat: hewas wandering among the rocks, and seemed to be looking for plants.When I approached, he turned round at the noise; and I saw thathe had an interesting countenance in which a settled melancholy,strongly marked by benevolence, formed the principal feature.His long black hair was divided, and flowed over his shoulders.As his garb betokened a person of the lower order, I thought hewould not take it ill if I inquired about his business; and Itherefore asked what he was seeking. He replied, with a deep sigh,that he was looking for flowers, and could find none. "But it isnot the season," I observed, with a smile. "Oh, there are so manyflowers!" he answered, as he came nearer to me. "In my gardenthere are roses and honeysuckles of two sorts: one sort was givento me by my father! they grow as plentifully as weeds; I have beenlooking for them these two days, and cannot find them. There areflowers out there, yellow, blue, and red; and that centaury has avery pretty blossom: but I can find none of them." I observed hispeculiarity, and therefore asked him, with an air of indifference,what he intended to do with his flowers. A strange smile overspreadhis countenance. Holding his finger to his mouth, he expressed ahope that I would not betray him; and he then informed me that hehad promised to gather a nosegay for his mistress. "That is right,"said I. "Oh!" he replied, "she possesses many other things aswell: she is very rich." "And yet," I continued, "she likes yournosegays." "Oh, she has jewels and crowns!" he exclaimed. I askedwho she was. "If the states-general would but pay me," he added,"I should be quite another man. Alas! there was a time when I wasso happy; but that is past, and I am now--" He raised his swimmingeyes to heaven. "And you were happy once?" I observed. "Ah,would I were so still!" was his reply. "I was then as gay andcontented as a man can be." An old woman, who was coming towardus, now called out, "Henry, Henry! where are you? We have beenlooking for you everywhere: come to dinner." "Is he your son?"I inquired, as I went toward her. "Yes," she said: "he is my poor,unfortunate son. The Lord has sent me a heavy affliction." I askedwhether he had been long in this state. She answered, "He has beenas calm as he is at present for about six months. I thank Heaventhat he has so far recovered: he was for one whole year quite raving,and chained down in a madhouse. Now he injures no one, but talksof nothing else than kings and queens. He used to be a very good,quiet youth, and helped to maintain me; he wrote a very fine hand;but all at once he became melancholy, was seized with a violentfever, grew distracted, and is now as you see. If I were only totell you, sir--" I interrupted her by asking what period it wasin which he boasted of having been so happy. "Poor boy!" sheexclaimed, with a smile of compassion, "he means the time whenhe was completely deranged, a time he never ceases to regret,when he was in the madhouse, and unconscious of everything." Iwas thunderstruck: I placed a piece of money in her hand, andhastened away.
"You were happy!" I exclaimed, as I returned quickly to thetown, "'as gay and contented as a man can be!'" God of heaven!and is this the destiny of man? Is he only happy before he hasacquired his reason, or after he has lost it? Unfortunate being!And yet I envy your fate: I envy the delusion to which you are avictim. You go forth with joy to gather flowers for your princess,-- in winter, -- and grieve when you can find none, and cannotunderstand why they do not grow. But I wander forth without joy,without hope, without design; and I return as I came. You fancywhat a man you would be if the states general paid you. Happymortal, who can ascribe your wretchedness to an earthly cause!You do not know, you do not feel, that in your own distractedheart and disordered brain dwells the source of that unhappinesswhich all the potentates on earth cannot relieve.
Let that man die unconsoled who can deride the invalid for undertakinga journey to distant, healthful springs, where he often finds onlya heavier disease and a more painful death, or who can exult overthe despairing mind of a sinner, who, to obtain peace of conscienceand an alleviation of misery, makes a pilgrimage to the HolySepulchre. Each laborious step which galls his wounded feet inrough and untrodden paths pours a drop of balm into his troubledsoul, and the journey of many a weary day brings a nightly reliefto his anguished heart. Will you dare call this enthusiasm, yecrowd of pompous declaimers? Enthusiasm! O God! thou seest mytears. Thou hast allotted us our portion of misery: must we alsohave brethren to persecute us, to deprive us of our consolation,of our trust in thee, and in thy love and mercy? For our trust inthe virtue of the healing root, or in the strength of the vine,what is it else than a belief in thee from whom all that surroundsus derives its healing and restoring powers? Father, whom I knownot, -- who wert once wont to fill my soul, but who now hidest thyface from me, -- call me back to thee; be silent no longer; thysilence shall not delay a soul which thirsts after thee. What man,what father, could be angry with a son for returning to him suddenly,for falling on his neck, and exclaiming, "I am here again, myfather! forgive me if I have anticipated my journey, and returnedbefore the appointed time! The world is everywhere the same, --a scene of labour and pain, of pleasure and reward; but what doesit all avail? I am happy only where thou art, and in thy presenceam I content to suffer or enjoy." And wouldst thou, heavenly Father,banish such a child from thy presence?