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第14章

the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第14章


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the youngest; that she felt unhappy。  When her end drew nigh; she
bade me bring them to her。  I obeyed。  The younger ones knew nothing
of their approaching loss; while the elder ones were quite overcome
with grief。  They stood around the bed; and she raised her feeble
hands to heaven; and prayed over them; then; kissing them in turn;
she dismissed them; and said to me; 'Be you a mother to them。'  I
gave her my hand。  'You are promising much; my child;' she said:
'a mother's fondness and a mother's care!  I have often witnessed;
by your tears of gratitude; that you know what is a mother's
tenderness: show it to your brothers and sisters; and be dutiful
and faithful to your father as a wife; you will be his comfort。'
She inquired for him。  He had retired to conceal his intolerable
anguish;  he was heartbroken; 〃Albert; you were in the room。
She heard some one moving: she inquired who it was; and desired
you to approach。  She surveyed us both with a look of composure
and satisfaction; expressive of her conviction that we should be
happy;  happy with one another。〃  Albert fell upon her neck; and
kissed her; and exclaimed; 〃We are so; and we shall be so!〃 Even
Albert; generally so tranquil; had quite lost his composure; and
I was excited beyond expression。

〃And such a being;〃 She continued; 〃was to leave us; Werther!
Great God; must we thus part with everything we hold dear in this
world?  Nobody felt this more acutely than the children: they cried
and lamented for a long time afterward; complaining that men had
carried away their dear mamma。〃

Charlotte rose。  It aroused me; but I continued sitting; and held
her hand。  〃Let us go;〃 she said: 〃it grows late。〃  She attempted
to withdraw her hand: I held it still。  〃We shall see each other
again;〃 I exclaimed: 〃we shall recognise each other under every
possible change!  I am going;〃 I continued; 〃going willingly; but;
should I say for ever; perhaps I may not keep my word。  Adieu;
Charlotte; adieu; Albert。  We shall meet again。〃  〃Yes: tomorrow;
I think;〃 she answered with a smile。  Tomorrow! how I felt the word!
Ah! she little thought; when she drew her hand away from mine。
They walked down the avenue。  I stood gazing after them in the
moonlight。  I threw myself upon the ground; and wept: I then sprang
up; and ran out upon the terrace; and saw; under the shade of the
linden…trees; her white dress disappearing near the garden…gate。
I stretched out my arms; and she vanished。

BOOK II。

OCTOBER 2O。

We arrived here yesterday。  The ambassador is indisposed; and will
not go out for some days。  If he were less peevish and morose; all
would be well。  I see but too plainly that Heaven has destined me
to severe trials; but courage! a light heart may bear anything。
A light heart!  I smile to find such a word proceeding from my pen。
A little more lightheartedness would render me the happiest being
under the sun。  But must I despair of my talents and faculties;
whilst others of far inferior abilities parade before me with the
utmost self…satisfaction?  Gracious Providence; to whom I owe all
my powers; why didst thou not withhold some of those blessings I
possess; and substitute in their place a feeling of self…confidence
and contentment?

But patience! all will yet be well; for I assure you; my dear
friend; you were right: since I have been obliged to associate
continually with other people; and observe what they do; and how
they employ themselves; I have become far better satisfied with
myself。  For we are so constituted by nature; that we are ever
prone to compare ourselves with others; and our happiness or misery
depends very much on the objects and persons around us。  On this
account; nothing is more dangerous than solitude: there our
imagination; always disposed to rise; taking a new flight on the
wings of fancy; pictures to us a chain of beings of whom we seem
the most inferior。  All things appear greater than they really
are; and all seem superior to us。  This operation of the mind is
quite natural: we so continually feel our own imperfections; and
fancy we perceive in others the qualities we do not possess;
attributing to them also all that we enjoy ourselves; that by this
process we form the idea of a perfect; happy man;  a man; however;
who only exists in our own imagination。
  
But when; in spite of weakness and disappointments; we set to work
in earnest; and persevere steadily; we often find; that; though
obliged continually to tack; we make more way than others who have
the assistance of wind and tide; and; in truth; there can be no
greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip
them in the race。

November 26。

I begin to find my situation here more tolerable; considering all
circumstances。  I find a great advantage in being much occupied;
and the number of persons I meet; and their different pursuits;
create a varied entertainment for me。  I have formed the acquaintance
of the Count C and I esteem him more and more every day。  He is
a man of strong understanding and great discernment; but; though
he sees farther than other people; he is not on that account cold
in his manner; but capable of inspiring and returning the warmest
affection。  He appeared interested in me on one occasion; when I
had to transact some business with him。  He perceived; at the first
word; that we understood each other; and that he could converse
with me in a different tone from what he used with others。  I
cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me。  It
is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great
mind in sympathy with our own。

DECEMBER 24。

As I anticipated; the ambassador occasions me infinite annoyance。
He is the most punctilious blockhead under heaven。  He does
everything step by step; with the trifling minuteness of an old
woman; and he is a man whom it is impossible to please; because
he is never pleased with himself。  I like to do business regularly
and cheerfully; and; when it is finished; to leave it。  But he
constantly returns my papers to me; saying; 〃They will do;〃 but
recommending me to look over them again; as 〃one may always improve
by using a better word or a more appropriate particle。〃  I then
lose all patience; and wish myself at the devil's。  Not a conjunction;
not an adverb; must be omitted: he has a deadly antipathy to all
those transpositions of which I am so fond; and; if the music of
our periods is not tuned to the established; official key; he
cannot comprehend our meaning。  It is deplorable to be connected
with such a fellow。

My acquaintance with the Count C is the only compensation for
such an evil。  He told me frankly; the other day; that he was much
displeased with the difficulties and delays of the ambassador;
that people like him are obstacles; both to themselves and to
others。  〃But;〃 added he; 〃one must submit; like a traveller who
has to ascend a mountain: if the mountain was not there; the road
would be both shorter and pleasanter; but there it is; and he must
get over it。〃
 
The old man perceives the count's partiality for me: this annoys
him; and; he seizes every opportunity to depreciate the count in
my hearing。  I naturally defend him; and that only makes matters
worse。  Yesterday he made me indignant; for he also alluded to me。
〃The count;〃 he said; 〃is a man of the world; and a good man of
business: his style is good; and he writes with facility; but;
like other geniuses; he has no solid learning。〃  He looked at me
with an expression that seemed to ask if I felt the blow。  But it
did not produce the desired effect: I despise a man who can think
and act in such a manner。  However; I made a stand; and answered
with not a little warmth。  The count; I said; was a man entitled
to respect; alike for his character and his acquirements。  I had
never met a person whose mind was stored with more useful and
extensive knowledge;  who had; in fact; mastered such an infinite
variety of subjects; and who yet retained all his activity for the
details of ordinary business。  This was altogether beyond his
comprehension; and I took my leave; lest my anger should be too
highly excited by some new

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