少年维特的烦恼-第1部分

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　　J。W。　von　Goethe　Thomas　Carlyle　and　R。D。　Boylan　Edited　by　Nathen　Haskell
Dole　PREFACE　I　have　carefully　collected　whatever　I　have　been　able　to　learn
of　the　story　of　poor　Werther，　and　here　present　it　to　you　，　knowing　that
you　will　thank　me　for　it。　To　his　spirit　and　character　you　cannot　refuse
your　admiration　and　love：　to　his　fate　you　will　not　deny　your　tears。

　　And　thou，　good　soul，　who　sufferest　the　same　distress　as　he　endured
once，　draw　fort　from　his　sorrows；　and　let　this　little　book　be　thy
friend，　if　，　owing　to　fortune　or　through　thine　own　fault，　thou　canst
not　find　a　dearer　panion。

　　BOOK　I

　　MAY　4。　How　happy　I　am　that　I　am　gone！　My　dear　friend　，　what　a　thing
is　the　heart　of　man　！　To　leave　you　，　from　whom　I　have　been　inseparable，
whom　I　love　so　dearly　，　and　yet　to　feel　happy！　I　know　you　will　forgive
me。　Have　not　other　attachments　been　specially　appointed　by　fate　to　torment
a　head　like　mine？　Poor　Leonora　！　and　yet　I　was　not　to　blame。　Was　it
my　fault，　that　，　whilst　the　peculiar　charms　of　her　sister　afforded　me
an　agreeable　entertainment，　a　passion　for　me　was　engendered　in　her　feeble
heart　？　And　yet　am　I　wholly　blameless？　Did　I　not　encourage　her　emotions？
Did　I　not　feel　charmed　at　those　truly　genuine　expressions　of　nature　，
which　，　though　but　little　mirthful　in　reality，　so　often　amused　us　？
Did　I　not　——　but　oh　！　what　is　man，　that　he　dares　so　to　accuse　himself？
My　dear　friend　I　promise　you　I　will　improve　；　I　will　no　longer　，　as
has　ever　been　my　habit，　continue　to　ruminate　on　every　petty　vexation
which　fortune　may　dispense；　I　will　enjoy　the　present　，　and　the　past
shall　be　for　me　the　past。　No　doubt　you　are　right，　my　best　of　friends　，
there　would　be　far　less　suffering　amongst　mankind　，　if　men　——　and　God
knows　why　they　are　so　fashioned　——　did　not　employ　their　imaginations
so　assiduously　in　recalling　the　memory　of　past　sorrow　，　instead　of　bearing
their　present　lot　with　equanimity。　Be　kind　enough　to　inform　my　mother
that　I　shall　attend　to　her　business　to　the　best　of　my　ability　，　and　shall
give　her　the　earliest　information　about　it。　I　have　seen　my　aunt　，　and
find　that　she　is　very　far　from　being　the　disagreeable　person　our　friends
allege　her　to　be。　She　is　a　lively　，　cheerful　woman　，　with　the　best　of
hearts。　I　explained　to　her　my　mother's　wrongs　with　regard　to　that　part
of　her　portion　which　has　been　withheld　from　her。　She　told　me　the　motives
and　reasons　of　her　own　conduct，　and　the　terms　on　which　she　is　willing
to　give　up　the　whole，　and　to　do　more　than　we　have　asked。　In　short，　I
cannot　write　further　upon　this　subject　at　present　；　only　assure　my　mother
that　all　will　go　on　well。　And　I　have　again　observed　，　my　dear　friend　，
in　this　trifling　affair　，　that　misunderstandings　and　neglect　occasion
more　mischief　in　the　world　than　even　malice　and　wickedness。　At　all　events，
the　two　latter　are　of　less　frequent　occurrence。

　　In　other　respects　I　am　very　well　off　here。　Solitude　in　this　terrestrial
paradise　is　a　genial　balm　to　my　mind，　and　the　young　spring　cheers　with
its　bounteous　promises　my　oftentimes　misgiving　heart。　Every　tree，　every
bush，　is　full　of　flowers　；　and　one　might　wish　himself　transformed　into
a　butterfly　，　to　float　about　in　this　ocean　of　perfume，　and　find　his
whole　existence　in　it。

　　The　town　itself　is　disagreeable　；　but　then　，　all　around　，　you　find
an　inexpressible　beauty　of　nature。　This　induced　the　late　Count　M　to　lay
out　a　garden　on　one　of　the　sloping　hills　which　here　intersect　each　other
with　the　most　charming　variety，　and　form　the　most　lovely　valleys。　The
garden　is　simple；　and　it　is　easy　to　perceive　，　even　upon　your　first
entrance，　that　the　plan　was　not　designed　by　a　scientific　gardener，　but
by　a　man　who　wished　to　give　himself　up　here　to　the　enjoyment　of　his　own
sensitive　heart。　Many　a　tear　have　I　already　shed　to　the　memory　of　its
departed　master　in　a　summer…house　which　is　now　reduced　to　ruins　，　but
was　his　favourite　resort，　and　now　is　mine。　I　shall　soon　be　master　of
the　place。　The　gardener　has　bee　attached　to　me　within　the　last　few
days，　and　he　will　lose　nothing　thereby。

　　MAY　10。　A　wonderful　serenity　has　taken　possession　of　my　entire　soul，
like　these　sweet　mornings　of　spring　which　I　enjoy　with　my　whole　heart。
I　am　alone，　and　feel　the　charm　of　existence　in　this　spot　，　which　was
created　for　the　bliss　of　souls　like　mine。　I　am　so　happy　，　my　dear　friend，
so　absorbed　in　the　exquisite　sense　of　mere　tranquil　existence　，　that
I　neglect　my　talents。　I　should　be　incapable　of　drawing　a　single　stroke
at　the　present　moment　；　and　yet　I　feel　that　I　never　was　a　greater　artist
than　now。　When，　while　the　lovely　valley　teems　with　vapour　around　me，
and　the　meridian　sun　strikes　the　upper　surface　of　the　imperable　foliage
of　my　trees　，　and　but　a　few　stray　gleams　steal　into　the　inner　sanctuary，
I　throw　myself　down　among　the　tall　grass　by　the　trickling　stream；　and，
as　I　lie　close　to　the　earth　，　a　thousand　unknown　plants　are　noticed　by
me：　when　I　hear　the　buzz　of　the　little　world　among　the　stalks，　and　grow
familiar　with　the　countless　indescribable　forms　of　the　insects　and　flies，
then　I　feel　the　presence　of　the　Almighty，　who　formed　us　in　his　own　image，
and　the　breath　of　that　universal　love　which　bears　and　sustains　us　，　as
it　floats　around　us　in　an　eternity　of　bliss　；　and　then　，　my　friend，
when　darkness　overspreads　my　eyes　，　and　heaven　and　earth　seem　to　dwell
in　my　soul　and　absorb　its　power　，　like　the　form　of　a　beloved　mistress，
then　I　often　think　with　longing　，　Oh　，　would　I　could　describe　these
conceptions　，　could　impress　upon　paper　all　that　is　living　so　full　and
warm　within　me，　that　it　might　be　the　mirror　of　my　soul　，　as　my　soul
is　the　mirror　of　the　infinite　God　！　O　my　friend——　but　it　is　too　much
for　my　strength　——　I　sink　under　the　weight　of　the　splendour　of　these
visions　！

　　MAY　12。　I　know　not　whether　some　deceitful　spirits　haunt　this　spot　，
or　whether　it　be　the　warm　，　celestial　fancy　in　my　own　heart　which　makes
everything　around　me　seem　like　paradise。　In　front　of　the　house　is　a　fountain，
——　a　fountain　to　which　I　am　bound　by　a　charm　like　Melusina　and　her　sisters。
Descending　a　gentle　slope　，　you　e　to　an　arch，　where，　some　twenty
steps　lower　down，　water　of　the　clearest　crystal　gushes　from　the　marble
rock。　The　narrow　wall　which　encloses　it　above　，　the　tall　trees　which
encircle　the　spot　，　and　the　coolness　of　the　place　itself　，——　everything
imparts　a　pleasant　but　sublime　impression。　Not　a　day　passes　on　which　I
do　not　spend　an　hour　there。　The　young　maidens　e　from　the　town　to　fetch
water　，——　innocent　and　necessary　employment，　and　formerly　the　occupation
of　the　daughters　of　kings。　As　I　take　my　rest　there，　the　idea　of　the　old
patriarchal　life　is　awakened　around　me。　I　see　them，　our　old　ancestors，
how　they　formed　their　friendships　and　contracted　alliances　at　the　fountain…side
；　and　I　feel　how　fountains　and　streams　were　guarded　by　beneficent　spirits。
He　who　is　a　stranger　to　these　sensations　has　never　really　enjoyed　cool
repose　at　the　side　of　a　fountain　after　the　fatigue　of　a　weary　summer　day。

　　MAY　13。　You　ask　if　you　shall　send　me　books。　My　dear　friend，　I　beseech
you　，　for　the　love　of　God，　relieve　me　from　such　a　yoke！　I　need　no　more
to　be　guided，　agitated　，　heated。　My　heart　ferments　sufficiently　of　itself。
I　want　strains　to　lull　me　，　and　I　find　them　to　perfection　in　my　Homer。
Often　do　I　strive　to　allay　the　burning　fever　of　my　blood；　and　you　have
never　witnessed　anything　so　unsteady，　so　uncertain　，　as　my　heart。　But
need　I　confess　this　to　you，　my　dear　friend　，　who　have　so　often　endured
the　anguish　of　witnessing　my　sudden　transitions　from　sorrow　to　immoderate
joy　，　and　from　sweet　melancholy　to　violent　passions？　I　treat　my　poor
heart　like　a　sick　child　，　and　gratify　its　every　fancy。　Do　not　mention
this　again：　there　are　people　who　would　censure　me　for　it。

　　MAY　15。　The　mon　people　of　the　place　know　me　already，　and　love
me，　particularly　the　children。　When　at　first　I　associated　with　them，
and　inquired　in　a　friendly　tone　about　their　various　trifles　，　some　fancied
that　I　wished　to　ridicule　them，　and　turned　from　me　in　exceeding　ill…humour。
I　did　not　allow　that　circumstance　to　grieve　me：　I　only　felt　most　keenly
what　I　have　often　before　observed。　Persons　who　can　claim　a　certain　rank
keep　themselves　coldly　aloof　from　the　mon　people　，　as　though　they
feared　to　lose　their　importance　by　the　contact；　whilst　wanton　idlers　，
and　such　as　are　prone　to　bad　joking　，　affect　to　descend　to　their　level，
only　to　make　the　poor　people　feel　their　impertinence　all　the　more　keenly。

　　I　know　very　well　that　we　are　not　all　equal，　nor　can　be　so；　but　it
is　my　opinion　that　he　who　avoids　the　mon　people，　in　order　not　to　lose
their　respect　，　is　as　much　to　blame　as　a　coward　who　hides　himself　from
his　enemy　because　he　fears　defeat。

　　The　other　day　I　went　to　the　fountain，　and　found　a　young　servant…girl，
who　had　set　her　pitcher　on　the　lowest　step，　and　looked　around　to　see
if　one　of　her　panions　was　approaching　to　place　it　on　her　head。　I　ran
down，　and　looked　at　her。　〃Shall　I　help　you　，　pretty　lass？〃　said　I。
She　blushed　deeply。　〃Oh　，　sir！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃No　ceremony　！〃　I　replied。
She　adjusted　her　head…gear，　and　I　helped　her。　She　thanked　me　，　and　ascended
the　steps。

　　MAY　17。　I　have　made　all　sorts　of　acquaintances，　but　have　as　yet　found
no　society。　I　know　not　what　attraction　I　possess　for　the　people　，　so
many　of　them　like　me，　and　attach　themselves　to　me；　and　then　I　feel　sorry
when　the　road　we　pursue　together　goes　only　a　short　distance。　If　you　inquire
what　the　people　are　like　here　，　I　must　answer，　〃The　same　as　everywhere。〃
The　human　race　is　but　a　monotonous　affair。　Most　of　them　labour　the　greater
part　of　their　time　for　mere　subsistence　；　and　the　scanty　portion　of　freedom
which　remains　to　them　so　troubles　them　that　they　use　every　exertion　to
get　rid　of　it。　Oh　，　the　destiny　of　man　！

　　But　they　are　a　right　good　sort　of　people。　If　I　occasionally　forget
myself，　and　take　part　in　the　innocent　pleasures　which　are　not　yet　forbidden
to　the　peasantry，　and　enjoy　myself　，　for　instance　，　with　genuine　freedom
and　sincerity　，　round　a　well…covered　table　，　or　arrange　an　excursion
or　a　dance　opportunely，　and　so　forth　，　all　this　produces　a　good　effect
upon　my　disposition　；　only　I　must　forget　that　there　lie　dormant　within
me　so　many　other　qualities　which　moulder　uselessly，　and　which　I　am　obliged
to　keep　carefully　concealed。　Ah　！　this　thought　affects　my　spirits　fearfully。
And　yet　to　be　misunderstood　is　the　fate　of　the　like　of　us。

　　Alas，　that　the　friend　of　my　youth　is　gone！　Alas　，　that　I　ever　knew
her　！　I　might　say　to　myself，　〃You　are　a　dreamer　to　seek　what　is　not
to　be　found　here　below。〃　But　she　has　been　mine。　I　have　possessed　that
heart　，　that　noble　soul，　in　whose　presence　I　seemed　to　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　，　that　mysterious　feeling　with　which
my　heart　embraces　nature？　Was　not　our　intercourse　a　perpetual　web　of
the　finest　emotions　，　of　the　keenest　wit　，　the　varieties　of　which　，
even　in　their　very　eccentricity　，　bore　the　stamp　of　genius　？　Alas　！
the　few　years　by　which　she　was　my　senior　brought　her　to　the　grave　before
me。　Never　can　I　forget　her　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　than　other　people。
He　has　worked　hard，　as　I　can　perceive　from　many　circumstances，　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　to　see　me，　and　displayed　his
whole　store　of　learning　，　from　Batteaux　to　Wood，　from　De　Piles　to　Winkelmann
：　he　assured　me　he　had　read　through　the　first　part　of　Sultzer's　theory，
and　also　possessed　a　manuscript　of　Heyne's　work　on　the　study　of　the　antique。
I　allowed　it　all　to　pass。　I　have　bee　acquainted，　also　，　with　a　very
worthy　person　，　the　district　judge　，　a　frank　and　open…hearted　man。　I
am　told　it　is　a　most　delightful　thing　to　see　him　in　the　midst　of　his　children，
of　whom　he　has　nine。　His　eldest　daughter　especially　is　highly　spoken　of。
He　has　invited　me　to　go　and　see　him　，　and　I　intend　to　do　so　on　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　e　in　my　way　a　few　other　originals　of　a　questionable
sort，　who　are　in　all　respects　undesirable，　and　most　intolerable　in　their
demonstration　of　friendship。　Good…bye。　This　letter　will　please　you：　it
is　quite　historical。

　　MAY　22。　That　the　life　of　man　is　but　a　dream　，　many　a　man　has　surmised
heretofore；　and　I，　too，　am　everywhere　pursued　by　this　feeling。　When
I　consider　the　narrow　limits　within　which　our　active　and　inquiring　faculties
are　confined；　when　I　see　how　all　our　energies　are　wasted　in　providing
for　mere　necessities，　which　again　have　no　further　end　than　to　prolong
a　wretched　existence；　and　then　that　all　our　satisfaction　concerning　certain
subjects　of　investigation　ends　in　nothing　better　than　a　passive　resignation，
whilst　we　amuse　ourselves　painting　our　prison…walls　with　bright　figures
and　brilliant　landscapes，——　when　I　consider　all　this　，　Wilhelm，　I
am　silent。　I　examine　my　own　being　，　and　find　there　a　world　，　but　a　world
rather　of　imagination　and　dim　desires　，　than　of　distinctness　and　living
power。　Then　everything　swims　before　my　senses　，　and　I　smile　and　dream
while　pursuing　my　way　through　the　world。

　　All　learned　professors　and　doctors　are　agreed　that　children　do　not
prehend　the　cause　of　their　desires　；　but　that　the　grown…up　should
wander　about　this　earth　like　children　，　without　knowing　whence　they　e，
or　whither　they　go，　influenced　as　little　by　fixed　motives，　but　guided
like　them　by　biscuits　，　sugar…plums，　and　the　rod，——　this　is　what
nobody　is　willing　to　acknowledge；　and　yet　I　think　it　is　palpable。

　　I　know　what　you　will　say　in　reply　；　for　I　am　ready　to　admit　that
they　are　happiest　，　who，　like　children，　amuse　themselves　with　their
playthings，　dress　and　undress　their　dolls，　and　attentively　watch　the
cupboard，　where　mamma　has　locked　up　her　sweet　things　，　and，　when　at
last　they　get　a　delicious　morsel，　eat　it　greedily，　and　exclaim，　〃More！
〃　These　are　certainly　happy　beings；　but　others　also　are　objects　of　envy，
who　dignify　their　paltry　employments，　and　sometimes　even　their　passions，
with　pompous　titles　，　representing　them　to　mankind　as　gigantic　achievements
performed　for　their　welfare　and　glory。　But　the　man　who　humbly　acknowledges
the　vanity　of　all　this，　who　observes　with　what　pleasure　the　thriving
citizen　converts　his　little　garden　into　a　paradise，　and　how　patiently
even　the　poor　man　pursues　his　weary　way　under　his　burden，　and　how　all
wish　equally　to　behold　the　light　of　the　sun　a　little　longer　，——　yes，
such　a　man　is　at　peace，　and　creates　his　own　world　within　himself　；　and
he　is　also　happy，　because　he　is　a　man。　And　then，　however　limited　his
sphere，　he　still　preserves　in　his　bosom　the　sweet　feeling　of　liberty　，
and　knows　that　he　can　quit　his　prison　whenever　he　likes。

　　MAY　26。　You　know　of　old　my　ways　of　settling　anywhere，　of　selecting
a　little　cottage　in　some　cosy　spot，　and　of　putting　up　in　it　with　every
inconvenience。　Here　，　too，　I　have　discovered　such　a　snug，　fortable
place　，　which　possesses　peculiar　charms　for　me。

　　About　a　league　from　the　town　is　a　place　called　Walheim。　（The　reader
need　not　take　the　trouble　to　look　for　the　place　thus　designated。　We　have
found　it　necessary　to　change　the　names　given　in　the　original。　）　It　is
delightfully　situated　on　the　side　of　a　hill　；　and，　by　proceeding　along
one　of　the　footpaths　which　lead　out　of　the　village，　you　can　have　a　view
of　the　whole　valley。　A　good　old　woman　lives　there　，　who　keeps　a　small
inn。　She　sells　wine　，　beer　，　and　coffee　，　and　is　cheerful　and　pleasant
notwithstanding　her　age。　The　chief　charm　of　this　spot　consists　in　two
linden…trees，　spreading　their　enormous　branches　over　the　little　green
before　the　church　，　which　is　entirely　surrounded　by　peasants'　cottages，
barns　，　and　homesteads。　I　have　seldom　seen　a　place　so　retired　and　peaceable
；　and　there　often　have　my　table　and　chair　brought　out　from　the　little
inn　，　and　drink　my　coffee　there，　and　read　my　Homer。　Accident　brought
me　to　the　spot　one　fine　afternoon　，　and　I　found　it　perfectly　deserted。
Everybody　was　in　the　fields　except　a　little　boy　about　four　years　of　age，
who　was　sitting　on　the　ground　，　and　held　between　his　knees　a　child　about
six　months　old：　he　pressed　it　to　his　bosom　with　both　arms，　which　thus
formed　a　sort　of　arm…chair；　and，　notwithstanding　the　liveliness　which
sparkled　in　its　black　eyes，　it　remained　perfectly　still。　The　sight　charmed
me。　I　sat　down　upon　a　plough　opposite　，　and　sketched　with　great　delight
this　little　picture　of　brotherly　tenderness。　I　added　the　neighbouring
hedge　，　the　barn…door，　and　some　broken　cart…wheels，　just　as　they　happened
to　lie；　and　I　found　in　about　an　hour　that　I　had　made　a　very　correct　and
interesting　drawing　，　without　putting　in　the　slightest　thing　of　my　own。
This　confirmed　me　in　my　resolution　of　adhering，　for　the　future　，　entirely
to　nature。　She　alone　is　inexhaustible　，　and　capable　of　forming　the　greatest
masters。　Much　may　be　alleged　in　favour　of　rules　，　as　much　may　be　likewise
advanced　in　favour　of　the　laws　of　society　：　an　artist　formed　upon　them
will　never　produce　anything　absolutely　bad　or　disgusting；　as　a　man　who
observes　the　laws　，　and　obeys　decorum，　can　never　be　an　absolutely　intolerable
neighbour　，　nor　a　decided　villain：　but　yet，　say　what　you　will　of　rules，
they　destroy　the　genuine　feeling　of　nature，　as　well　as　its　true　expression。
Do　not　tell　me　〃that　this　is　too　hard　，　that　they　only　restrain　and　prune
superfluous　branches，　etc。〃　My　good　friend　，　I　will　illustrate　this
by　an　analogy。　These　things　resemble　love。　A　warmhearted　youth　bees
strongly　attached　to　a　maiden　：　he　spends　every　hour　of　the　day　in　her
pany　，　wears　out　his　health　，　and　lavishes　his　fortune　，　to　afford
continual　proof　that　he　is　wholly　devoted　to　her。　Then　es　a　man　of
the　world　，　a　man　of　place　and　respectability，　and　addresses　him　thus
：　〃My　good　young　friend，　love　is　natural；　but　you　must　love　within
bounds。　Divide　your　time：　devote　a　portion　to　business　，　and　give　the
hours　of　recreation　to　your　mistress。　Calculate　your　fortune；　and　out
of　the　superfluity　you　may　make　her　a　present　，　only　not　too　often　，
——　on　her　birthday，　and　such　occasions。〃　Pursuing　this　advice，　he
may　bee　a　useful　member　of　society　，　and　I　should　advise　every　prince
to　give　him　an　appointment；　but　it　is　all　up　with　his