the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第29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！
into ridicule； but caused Charlotte to share his feelings of
incredulity。 Her heart was thus tranquillised when she felt
disposed to view the melancholy subject in a serious point of
view； though she never communicated to her husband the
apprehensions she sometimes experienced。
Albert； upon his return； was received by Charlotte with
ill…concealed embarrassment。 He was himself out of humour； his
business was unfinished； and he had just discovered that the
neighbouring official with whom he had to deal； was an obstinate
and narrow…minded personage。 Many things had occurred to irritate
him。
He inquired whether anything had happened during his absence； and
Charlotte hastily answered that Werther had been there on the
evening previously。 He then inquired for his letters； and was
answered that several packages had been left in his study。 He
thereon retired； leaving Charlotte alone。
The presence of the being she loved and honoured produced a new
impression on her heart。 The recollection of his generosity；
kindness； and affection had calmed her agitation： a secret impulse
prompted her to follow him； she took her work and went to his
study； as was often her custom。 He was busily employed opening
and reading his letters。 It seemed as if the contents of some
were disagreeable。 She asked some questions： he gave short answers；
and sat down to write。
Several hours passed in this manner； and Charlotte's feelings
became more and more melancholy。 She felt the extreme difficulty
of explaining to her husband； under any circumstances； the weight
that lay upon her heart； and her depression became every moment
greater； in proportion as she endeavoured to hide her grief； and
to conceal her tears。
The arrival of Werther's servant occasioned her the greatest
embarrassment。 He gave Albert a note； which the latter coldly
handed to his wife； saying； at the same time； 〃Give him the pistols。
I wish him a pleasant journey；〃 he added； turning to the servant。
These words fell upon Charlotte like a thunderstroke： she rose
from her seat half…fainting； and unconscious of what she did。 She
walked mechanically toward the wall； took down the pistols with a
trembling hand； slowly wiped the dust from them； and would have
delayed longer； had not Albert hastened her movements by an impatient
look。 She then delivered the fatal weapons to the servant； without
being able to utter a word。 As soon as he had departed； she folded
up her work； and retired at once to her room； her heart overcome
with the most fearful forebodings。 She anticipated some dreadful
calamity。 She was at one moment on the point of going to her
husband； throwing herself at his feet； and acquainting him with
all that had happened on the previous evening； that she might
acknowledge her fault； and explain her apprehensions； then she saw
that such a step would be useless； as she would certainly be unable
to induce Albert to visit Werther。 Dinner was served； and a kind
friend whom she had persuaded to remain assisted to sustain the
conversation； which was carried on by a sort of compulsion； till
the events of the morning were forgotten。
When the servant brought the pistols to Werther； the latter received
them with transports of delight upon hearing that Charlotte had
given them to him with her own hand。 He ate some bread； drank
some wine； sent his servant to dinner； and then sat down to write
as follows：
〃They have been in your hands you wiped the dust from them。 I
kiss them a thousand times you have touched them。 Yes； Heaven
favours my design； and you； Charlotte； provide me with the fatal
instruments。 It was my desire to receive my death from your hands；
and my wish is gratified。 I have made inquiries of my servant。
You trembled when you gave him the pistols； but you bade me no
adieu。 Wretched； wretched that I am not one farewell！ How
could you shut your heart against me in that hour which makes you
mine for ever？ Charlotte； ages cannot efface the impression I
feel you cannot hate the man who so passionately loves you！〃
After dinner he called his servant； desired him to finish the
packing up； destroyed many papers； and then went out to pay some
trifling debts。 He soon returned home； then went out again；
notwithstanding the rain； walked for some time in the count's
garden； and afterward proceeded farther into the country。 Toward
evening he came back once more； and resumed his writing。
〃Wilhelm； I have for the last time beheld the mountains； the forests；
and the sky。 Farewell！ And you； my dearest mother； forgive me！
Console her； Wilhelm。 God bless you！ I have settled all my
affairs！ Farewell！ We shall meet again； and be happier than ever。〃
〃I have requited you badly； Albert； but you will forgive me。 I
have disturbed the peace of your home。 I have sowed distrust
between you。 Farewell！ I will end all this wretchedness。 And
oh； that my death may render you happy！ Albert； Albert！ make that
angel happy； and the blessing of Heaven be upon you！〃
He spent the rest of the evening in arranging his papers： he tore
and burned a great many； others he sealed up； and directed to
Wilhelm。 They contained some detached thoughts and maxims； some
of which I have perused。 At ten o'clock he ordered his fire to
be made up； and a bottle of wine to be brought to him。 He then
dismissed his servant； whose room； as well as the apartments of
the rest of the family； was situated in another part of the house。
The servant lay down without undressing； that he might be the
sooner ready for his journey in the morning； his master having
informed him that the post…horses would be at the door before six
o'clock。
〃Past eleven o'clock！ All is silent around me； and my soul is
calm。 I thank thee； O God； that thou bestowest strength and courage
upon me in these last moments！ I approach the window； my dearest
of friends； and through the clouds； which are at this moment driven
rapidly along by the impetuous winds； I behold the stars which
illumine the eternal heavens。 No； you will not fall； celestial
bodies： the hand of the Almighty supports both you and me！ I have
looked for the last time upon the constellation of the Greater
Bear： it is my favourite star； for when I bade you farewell at
night； Charlotte； and turned my steps from your door； it always
shone upon me。 With what rapture have I at times beheld it！ How
often have I implored it with uplifted hands to witness my felicity！
and even still But what object is there； Charlotte； which fails
to summon up your image before me？ Do you not surround me on all
sides？ and have I not； like a child； treasured up every trifle
which you have consecrated by your touch？
〃Your profile； which was so dear to me； I return to you； and I
pray you to preserve it。 Thousands of kisses have I imprinted
upon it； and a thousand times has it gladdened my heart on departing
from and returning to my home。
〃I have implored your father to protect my remains。 At the corner
of the churchyard； looking toward the fields； there are two
lime…trees there I wish to lie。 Your father can； and doubtless
will； do this much for his friend。 Implore it of him。 But perhaps
pious Christians will not choose that their bodies chould be
buried near the corpse of a poor； unhappy wretch like me。 Then
let me be laid in some remote valley； or near the highway； where
the priest and Levite may bless themselves as they pass by my
tomb； whilst the Samaritan will shed a tear for my fate。
〃See； Charlotte； I do not shudder to take the cold and fatal cup；
from which I shall drink the draught of death。 Your hand presents
it to me； and I do not tremble。 All； all is now concluded： the
wishes and the hopes of my existence are fulfilled。 With cold；
unflinching hand I knock at the brazen portals of Death。 Oh； that
I had enjoyed the bliss of dying for you！ how gladly would I have
sacrificed myself for you； Charlotte！ And could I but restore
peace and joy to your bosom； with what resolution； with what joy；
would I not meet my fate！ But it is the lot of only a chosen few
to shed their blood for their friends； and by their death to
augment； a thousand
