贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼) >

第15章

the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第15章


按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



comprehension; and I took my leave; lest my anger should be too
highly excited by some new absurdity of his。

And you are to blame for all this; you who persuaded me to bend
my neck to this yoke by preaching a life of activity to me。  If
the man who plants vegetables; and carries his corn to town on
market…days; is not more usefully employed than I am; then let me
work ten years longer at the galleys to which I am now chained。

Oh; the brilliant wretchedness; the weariness; that one is doomed
to witness among the silly people whom we meet in society here!
The ambition of rank!  How they watch; how they toil; to gain
precedence!  What poor and contemptible passions are displayed in
their utter nakedness!  We have a woman here; for example; who
never ceases to entertain the company with accounts of her family
and her estates。  Any stranger would consider her a silly being;
whose head was turned by her pretensions to rank and property; but
she is in reality even more ridiculous; the daughter of a mere
magistrate's clerk from this neighbourhood。  I cannot understand
how human beings can so debase themselves。

Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others
by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myseif; and my own
heart is in such constant agitation; that I am well content to let
others pursue their own course; if they only allow me the same
privilege。

What provokes me most is the unhappy extent to which distinctions
of rank are carried。  I know perfectly well how necessary are
inequalities of condition; and I am sensible of the advantages I
myself derive therefrom; but I would not have these institutions
prove a barrier to the small chance of happiness which I may enjoy
on this earth。

I have lately become acquainted with a Miss B; a very agreeable
girl; who has retained her natural manners in the midst of artificial
life。  Our first conversation pleased us both equally; and; at
taking leave; I requested permission to visit her。  She consented
in so obliging a manner; that I waited with impatience for the
arrival of the happy moment。  She is not a native of this place;
but resides here with her aunt。  The countenance of the old lady
is not prepossessing。  I paid her much attention; addressing the
greater part of my conversation to her; and; in less than half an
hour; I discovered what her niece subsequently acknowledged to me;
that her aged aunt; having but a small fortune; and a still smaller
share of understanding; enjoys no satisfaction except in the
pedigree of her ancestors; no protection save in her noble birth;
and no enjoyment but in looking from her castle over the heads of
the humble citizens。  She was; no doubt; handsome in her youth;
and in her early years probably trifled away her time in rendering
many a poor youth the sport of her caprice: in her riper years she
has submitted to the yoke of a veteran officer; who; in return for
her person and her small independence; has spent with her what we
may designate her age of brass。  He is dead; and she is now a
widow; and deserted。  She spends her iron age alone; and would not
be approached; except for the loveliness of her niece。

JANUARY 8; 1772。

What beings are men; whose whole thoughts are occupied with form
and ceremony; who for years together devote their mental and
physical exertions to the task of advancing themselves but one
step; and endeavouring to occupy a higher place at the table。  Not
that such persons would otherwise want employment: on the contrary;
they give themselves much trouble by neglecting important business
for such petty trifles。  Last week a question of precedence arose
at a sledging…party; and all our amusement was spoiled。

The silly creatures cannot see that it is not place which constitutes
real greatness; since the man who occupies the first place but
seldom plays the principal part。  How many kings are governed by
their ministers  how many ministers by their secretaries?  Who; in
such cases; is really the chief?  He; as it seems to me; who can
see through the others; and possesses strength or skill enough to
make their power or passions subservient to the execution of his
own designs。

JANUARY 20。

I must write to you from this place; my dear Charlotte; from a
small room in a country inn; where I have taken shelter from a
severe storm。  During my whole residence in that wretched place
D; where I lived amongst strangers;  strangers; indeed; to
this heart;  I never at any time felt the smallest inclination
to correspond with you; but in this cottage; in this retirement;
in this solitude; with the snow and hail beating against my
lattice…pane; you are my first thought。  The instant I entered;
your figure rose up before me; and the remembrance!  O my Charlotte;
the sacred; tender remembrance!  Gracious Heaven! restore to me
the happy moment of our first acquaintance。

Could you but see me; my dear Charlotte; in the whirl of
dissipation;  how my senses are dried up; but my heart is at no
time full。  I enjoy no single moment of happiness: all is vain 
nothing touches me。  I stand; as it were; before the raree…show:
I see the little puppets move; and I ask whether it is not an
optical illusion。  I am amused with these puppets; or; rather; I
am myself one of them: but; when I sometimes grasp my neighbour's
hand; I feel that it is not natural; and I withdraw mine with a
shudder。  In the evening I say I will enjoy the next morning's
sunrise; and yet I remain in bed: in the day I promise to ramble
by moonlight; and I; nevertheless; remain at home。  I know not why
I rise; nor why I go to sleep。

The leaven which animated my existence is gone: the charm which
cheered me in the gloom of night; and aroused me from my morning
slumbers; is for ever fled。

I have found but one being here to interest me; a Miss B。  She
resembles you; my dear Charlotte; if any one can possibly resemble
you。  〃Ah!〃 you will say; 〃he has learned how to pay fine compliments。〃
And this is partly true。  I have been very agreeable lately; as
it was not in my power to be otherwise。  I have; moreover; a deal
of wit: and the ladies say that no one understands flattery better;
or falsehoods you will add; since the one accomplishment invariably
accompanies the other。  But I must tell you of Miss B。  She has
abundance of soul; which flashes from her deep blue eyes。  Her
rank is a torment to her; and satisfies no one desire of her heart。
She would gladly retire from this whirl of fashion; and we often
picture to ourselves a life of undisturbed happiness in distant
scenes of rural retirement: and then we speak of you; my dear
Charlotte; for she knows you; and renders homage to your merits;
but her homage is not exacted; but voluntary; she loves you; and
delights to hear you made the subject of conversation。

Oh; that I were sitting at your feet in your favourite little room;
with the dear children playing around us!  If they became troublesome
to you; I would tell them some appalling goblin story; and they
would crowd round me with silent attention。  The sun is setting
in glory; his last rays are shining on the snow; which covers the
face of the country: the storm is over; and I must return to my
dungeon。  Adieu! Is Albert with you? and what is he to you?  God
forgive the question。

FEBRUARY 8。

For a week past we have had the most wretched weather: but this
to me is a blessing; for; during my residence here; not a single
fine day has beamed from the heavens; but has been lost to me by
the intrusion of somebody。  During the severity of rain; sleet;
frost; and storm; I congratulate myself that it cannot be worse
indoors than abroad; nor worse abroad than it is within doors; and
so I become reconciled。  When the sun rises bright in the morning;
and promises a glorious day; I never omit to exclaim; 〃There; now;
they have another blessing from Heaven; which they will be sure
to destroy: they spoil everything;  health; fame; happiness;
amusement; and they do this generally through folly; ignorance;
or imbecility; and always; according to their own account; with
the best intentions!〃  I could often beseech them; on my bended
knees; t

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的