少年维特的烦恼-第2部分

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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　love　，　and　with
his　genius　if　he　be　an　artist。　O　my　friend！　why　is　it　that　the　torrent
of　genius　so　seldom　bursts　forth，　so　seldom　rolls　in　full…flowing　stream，
overwhelming　your　astounded　soul？　Because，　on　either　side　of　this　stream，
cold　and　respectable　persons　have　taken　up　their　abodes　，　and，　forsooth，
their　summer…houses　and　tulip…beds　would　suffer　from　the　torrent；　wherefore
they　dig　trenches　，　and　raise　embankments　betimes，　in　order　to　avert
the　impending　danger。

　　MAY　27。　I　find　I　have　fallen　into　raptures，　declamation，　and　similes，
and　have　forgotten，　in　consequence　，　to　tell　you　what　became　of　the
children。　Absorbed　in　my　artistic　contemplations，　which　I　briefly　described
in　my　letter　of　yesterday　，　I　continued　sitting　on　the　plough　for　two
hours。　Toward　evening　a　young　woman　，　with　a　basket　on　her　arm　，　came
running　toward　the　children　，　who　had　not　moved　all　that　time。　She　exclaimed
from　a　distance　，　〃You　are　a　good　boy，　Philip　！〃　She　gave　me　greeting
：　I　returned　it，　rose　，　and　approached　her。　I　inquired　if　she　were
the　mother　of　those　pretty　children。　〃Yes　，〃　she　said；　and，　giving
the　eldest　a　piece　of　bread　，　she　took　the　little　one　in　her　arms　and
kissed　it　with　a　mother's　tenderness。　〃I　left　my　child　in　Philip's　care
，〃　she　said　，　〃whilst　I　went　into　the　town　with　my　eldest　boy　to　buy
some　wheaten　bread，　some　sugar　，　and　an　earthen　pot。〃　I　saw　the　various
articles　in　the　basket，　from　which　the　cover　had　fallen。　〃I　shall　make
some　broth　to…night　for　my　little　Hans（which　was　the　name　of　the　youngest）
：　that　wild　fellow　，　the　big　one，　broke　my　pot　yesterday　，　whilst
he　was　scrambling　with　Philip　for　what　remained　of　the　contents。〃　I　inquired
for　the　eldest；　and　she　bad　scarcely　time　to　tell　me　that　he　was　driving
a　couple　of　geese　home　from　the　meadow，　when　he　ran　up　，　and　handed
Philip　an　osier…twig。　I　talked　a　little　longer　with　the　woman　，　and　found
that　she　was　the　daughter　of　the　schoolmaster　，　and　that　her　husband
was　gone　on　a　journey　into　Switzerland　for　some　money　a　relation　had　left
him。　〃They　wanted　to　cheat　him，〃　she　said，　〃and　would　not　answer　his
letters　；　so　he　is　gone　there　himself。　I　hope　he　has　met　with　no　accident，
as　I　have　heard　nothing　of　him　since　his　departure。〃　I　left　the　woman　，
with　regret　，　giving　each　of　the　children　a　kreutzer　，　with　an　additional
one　for　the　youngest，　to　buy　some　wheaten　bread　for　his　broth　when　she
went　to　town　next　；　and　so　we　parted。　I　assure　you　，　my　dear　friend　，
when　my　thoughts　are　all　in　tumult，　the　sight　of　such　a　creature　as　this
tranquillises　my　disturbed　mind。　She　moves　in　a　happy　thoughtlessness
within　the　confined　circle　of　her　existence　；　she　supplies　her　wants
from　day　to　day　；　and，　when　she　sees　the　leaves　fall，　they　raise　no
other　idea　in　her　mind　than　that　winter　is　approaching。　Since　that　time
I　have　gone　out　there　frequently。　The　children　have　bee　quite　familiar
with　me　；　and　each　gets　a　lump　of　sugar　when　I　drink　my　coffee　，　and
they　share　my　milk　and　bread　and　butter　in　the　evening。　They　always　receive
their　kreutzer　on　Sundays　，　for　the　good　woman　has　orders　to　give　it
to　them　when　I　do　not　go　there　after　evening　service。　They　are　quite　at
home　with　me，　tell　me　everything　；　and　I　am　particularly　amused　with
observing　their　tempers　，　and　the　simplicity　of　their　behaviour，　when
some　of　the　other　village　children　are　assembled　with　them。

　　It　has　given　me　a　deal　of　trouble　to　satisfy　the　anxiety　of　the　mother，
lest（as　she　says　）　〃they　should　inconvenience　the　gentleman。〃

　　MAY　30。　What　I　have　lately　said　of　painting　is　equally　true　with　respect
to　poetry。　It　is　only　necessary　for　us　to　know　what　is　really　excellent，
and　venture　to　give　it　expression　；　and　that　is　saying　much　in　few　words。
To…day　I　have　had　a　scene　，　which，　if　literally　related　，　would，　make
the　most　beautiful　idyl　in　the　world。　But　why　should　I　talk　of　poetry
and　scenes　and　idyls？　Can　we　never　take　pleasure　in　nature　without　having
recourse　to　art　？

　　If　you　expect　anything　grand　or　magnificent　from　this　introduction，
you　will　be　sadly　mistaken。　It　relates　merely　to　a　peasant…lad，　who　has
excited　in　me　the　warmest　interest。　As　usual，　I　shall　tell　my　story　badly
；　and　you，　as　usual　，　will　think　me　extravagant。　It　is　Walheim　once
more——　always　Walheim　——　which　produces　these　wonderful　phenomena。

　　A　party　had　assembled　outside　the　house　under　the　linden…trees，　to
drink　coffee。　The　pany　did　not　exactly　please　me　；　and，　under　one
pretext　or　another，　I　lingered　behind。

　　A　peasant　came　from　an　adjoining　house，　and　set　to　work　arranging
some　part　of　the　same　plough　which　I　had　lately　sketched。　His　appearance
pleased　me；　and　I　spoke　to　him　，　inquired　about　his　circumstances　，
made　his　acquaintance　，　and，　as　is　my　wont　with　persons　of　that　class，
was　soon　admitted　into　his　confidence。　He　said　he　was　in　the　service　of
a　young　widow　，　who　set　great　store　by　him。　He　spoke　so　much　of　his　mistress，
and　praised　her　so　extravagantly，　that　I　could　soon　see　he　was　desperately
in　love　with　her。　〃She　is　no　longer　young　，〃　he　said　：　〃and　she　was
treated　so　badly　by　her　former　husband　that　she　does　not　mean　to　marry
again。〃　From　his　account　it　was　so　evident　what　inparable　charms　she
possessed　for　him　，　and　how　ardently　he　wished　she　would　select　him　to
extinguish　the　recollection　of　her　first　husband's　misconduct　，　that
I　should　have　to　repeat　his　own　words　in　order　to　describe　the　depth　of
the　poor　fellow's　attachment，　truth，　and　devotion。　It　would　，　in　fact，
require　the　gifts　of　a　great　poet　to　convey　the　expression　of　his　features，
the　harmony　of　his　voice，　and　the　heavenly　fire　of　his　eye。　No　words
can　portray　the　tenderness　of　his　every　movement　and　of　every　feature
：　no　effort　of　mine　could　do　justice　to　the　scene。　His　alarm　lest　I　should
misconceive　his　position　with　regard　to　his　mistress，　or　question　the
propriety　of　her　conduct，　touched　me　particularly。　The　charming　manner
with　which　he　described　her　form　and　person　，　which，　without　possessing
the　graces　of　youth　，　won　and　attached　him　to　her，　is　inexpressible　，
and　must　be　left　to　the　imagination。　I　have　never　in　my　life　witnessed
or　fancied　or　conceived　the　possibility　of　such　intense　devotion，　such
ardent　affections　，　united　with　so　much　purity。　Do　not　blame　me　if　I
say　that　the　recollection　of　this　innocence　and　truth　is　deeply　impressed
upon　my　very　soul　；　that　this　picture　of　fidelity　and　tenderness　haunts
me　everywhere　；　and　that　my　own　heart，　as　though　enkindled　by　the　flame，
glows　and　burns　within　me。

　　I　mean　now　to　try　and　see　her　as　soon　as　I　can：　or　perhaps　，　on
second　thoughts　，　I　had　better　not　；　it　is　better　I　should　behold　her
through　the　eyes　of　her　lover。　To　my　sight，　perhaps，　she　would　not　appear
as　she　now　stands　before　me　；　and　why　should　I　destroy　so　sweet　a　picture？

　　JUNE　16。　〃Why　do　I　not　write　to　you　？〃　You　lay　claim　to　learning　，
and　ask　such　a　question。　You　should　have　guessed　that　I　am　well　——　that
is　to　say　——　in　a　word，　I　have　made　an　acquaintance　who　has　won　my
heart　：　I　have　——　I　know　not。

　　To　give　you　a　regular　account　of　the　manner　in　which　I　have　bee
acquainted　with　the　most　amiable　of　women　would　be　a　difficult　task。　I
am　a　happy　and　contented　mortal　，　but　a　poor　historian。

　　An　angel！　Nonsense　！　Everybody　so　describes　his　mistress；　and　yet
I　find　it　impossible　to　tell　you　how　perfect　she　is　，　or　why　she　is　so
perfect　：　suffice　it　to　say　she　has　captivated　all　my　senses。

　　So　much　simplicity　with　so　much　understauding　——　so　mild，　and　yet
so　resolute　——　a　mind　so　placid　，　and　a　life　so　active。

　　But　all　this　is　ugly　balderdash　，　which　expresses　not　a　single　character
nor　feature。　Some　other　time——　but　no　，　not　some　other　time，　now，
this　very　instant　，　will　I　tell　you　all　about　it。　Now　or　never。　Well　，
between　ourselves　，　since　I　menced　my　letter，　I　have　been　three　times
on　the　point　of　throwing　down　my　pen，　of　ordering　my　horse　，　and　riding
out。　And　yet　I　vowed　this　morning　that　I　would　not　ride　to…day，　and　yet
every　moment　I　am　rushing　to　the　window　to　see　how　high　the　sun　is。

　　I　could　not　restrain　myself　——　go　to　her　I　must。　I　have　just　returned，
Wilhelm　；　and　whilst　I　am　taking　supper　I　will　write　to　you。　What　a　delight
it　was　for　my　soul　to　see　her　in　the　midst　of　her　dear，　beautiful　children，
——　eight　brothers　and　sisters　！

　　But　，　if　I　proceed　thus，　you　will　be　no　wiser　at　the　end　of　my　letter
than　you　were　at　the　beginning。　Attend，　then　，　and　I　will　pel　myself
to　give　you　the　details。

　　I　mentioned　to　you　the　other　day　that　I　had　bee　acquainted　with
S　——，　the　district　judge　，　and　that　he　had　invited　me　to　go　and　visit
him　in　his　retirement　，　or　rather　in　his　little　kingdom。　But　I　neglected
going　，　and　perhaps　should　never　have　gone　，　if　chance　had　not　discovered
to　me　the　treasure　which　lay　concealed　in　that　retired　spot。　Some　of　our
young　people　had　proposed　giving　a　ball　in　the　country，　at　which　I　consented
to　be　present。　I　offered　my　hand　for　the　evening　to　a　pretty　and　agreeable，
but　rather　monplace，　sort　of　girl　from　the　immediate　neighbourhood
；　and　it　was　agreed　that　I　should　engage　a　carriage，　and　call　upon　Charlotte，
with　my　partner　and　her　aunt，　to　convey　them　to　the　ball。　My　panion
informed　me　，　as　we　drove　along　through　the　park　to　the　hunting…lodge，
that　I　should　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　very　charming　young　lady。　〃Take
care，〃　added　the　aunt，　〃that　you　do　not　lose　your　heart。〃　〃Why？〃　said
I。　〃Because　she　is　already　engaged　to　a　very　worthy　man　，〃　she　replied，
〃who　is　gone　to　settle　his　affairs　upon　the　death　of　his　father　，　and
will　succeed　to　a　very　considerable　inheritance。〃　This　information　possessed
no　interest　for　me。　When　we　arrived　at　the　gate　，　the　sun　was　setting
behind　the　tops　of　the　mountains。　The　atmosphere　was　heavy；　and　the　ladies
expressed　their　fears　of　an　approaching　storm　，　as　masses　of　low　black
clouds　were　gathering　in　the　horizon。　I　relieved　their　anxieties　by　pretending
to　be　weather…wise，　although　I　myself　had　some　apprehensions　lest　our
pleasure　should　be　interrupted。

　　I　alighted；　and　a　maid　came　to　the　door，　and　requested　us　to　wait
a　moment　for　her　mistress。　I　walked　across　the　court　to　a　well…built　house，
and　，　ascending　the　flight　of　steps　in　front　，　opened　the　door，　and
saw　before　me　the　most　charming　spectacle　I　had　ever　witnessed。　Six　children，
from　eleven　to　two　years　old，　were　running　about　the　hall，　and　surrounding
a　lady　of　middle　height　，　with　a　lovely　figure　，　dressed　in　a　robe　of
simple　white，　trimmed　with　pink　ribbons。　She　was　holding　a　rye　loaf　in
her　hand，　and　was　cutting　slices　for　the　little　ones　all　around，　in
proportion　to　their　age　and　appetite。　She　performed　her　task　in　a　graceful
and　affectionate　manner　；　each　claimant　awaiting　his　turn　with　outstretched
hands　，　and　boisterously　shouting　his　thanks。　Some　of　them　ran　away　at
once，　to　enjoy　their　evening　meal；　whilst　others，　of　a　gentler　disposition，
retired　to　the　courtyard　to　see　the　strangers　，　and　to　survey　the　carriage
in　which　their　Charlotte　was　to　drive　away。　〃Pray　forgive　me　for　giving
you　the　trouble　to　e　for　me，　and　for　keeping　the　ladies　waiting　：
but　dressing，　and　arranging　some　household　duties　before　I　leave　，　had
made　me　forget　my　children's　supper　；　and　they　do　not　like　to　take　it
from　any　one　but　me。〃　I　uttered　some　indifferent　pliment　：　but　my
whole　soul　was　absorbed　by　her　air，　her　voice，　her　manner　；　and　I　had
scarcely　recovered　myself　when　she　ran　into　her　room　to　fetch　her　gloves
and　fan。　The　young　ones　threw　inquiring　glances　at　me　from　a　distance
；　whilst　I　approached　the　youngest　，　a　most　delicious　little　creature。
He　drew　back；　and　Charlotte，　entering　at　the　very　moment，　said　，　〃Louis，
shake　hands　with　your　cousin。〃　The　little　fellow　obeyed　willingly　；　and
I　could　not　resist　giving　him　a　hearty　kiss　，　notwithstanding　his　rather
dirty　face。　〃Cousin　，〃　said　I　to　Charlotte　，　as　I　handed　her　down　，
〃do　you　think　I　deserve　the　happiness　of　being　related　to　you　？〃　She
replied　，　with　a　ready　smile　，　〃Oh！　I　have　such　a　number　of　cousins，
that　I　should　be　sorry　if　you　were　the　most　undeserving　of　them。〃　In　taking
leave　，　she　desired　her　next　sister，　Sophy，　a　girl　about　eleven　years
old　，　to　take　great　care　of　the　children　，　and　to　say　good…bye　to　papa
for　her　when　he　came　home　from　his　ride。　She　enjoined　to　the　little　ones
to　obey　their　sister　Sophy　as　they　would　herself，　upon　which　some　promised
that　they　would　；　but　a　little　fair…haired　girl，　about　six　years　old，
looked　discontented　，　and　said　，　〃But　Sophy　is　not　you，　Charlotte；
and　we　like　you　best。〃　The　two　eldest　boys　had　clambered　up　the　carriage
；　and，　at　my　request，　she　permitted　them　to　acpany　us　a　little　way
through　the　forest，　upon　their　promising　to　sit　very　still　，　and　hold
fast。

　　We　were　hardly　seated　，　and　the　ladies　had　scarcely　exchanged　pliments，
making　the　usual　remarks　upon　each　other's　dress，　and　upon　the　pany
they　expected　to　meet　，　when　Charlotte　stopped　the　carriage，　and　made
her　brothers　get　down。　They　insisted　upon　kissing　her　hands　once　more
；　which　the　eldest　did　with　all　the　tenderness　of　a　youth　of　fifteen　，
but　the　other　in　a　lighter　and　more　careless　manner。　She　desired　them
again　to　give　her　love　to　the　children，　and　we　drove　off。

　　The　aunt　inquired　of　Charlotte　whether　she　had　finished　the　book　she
had　last　sent　her。　〃No，〃　said　Charlotte；　〃I　did　not　like　it　：　you　can
have　it　again。　And　the　one　before　was　not　much　better。〃　I　was　surprised，
upon　asking　the　title　，　to　hear　that　it　was　____。（We　feel　obliged　to
suppress　the　passage　in　the　letter，　to　prevent　any　one　from　feeling　aggrieved
；　although　no　author　need　pay　much　attention　to　the　opinion　of　a　mere
girl，　or　that　of　an　unsteady　young　man。）

　　I　found　peration　and　character　in　everything　she　said：　every　expression
seemed　to　brighten　her　features　with　new　charms　，——with　new　rays　of
genius，——　which　unfolded　by　degrees，　as　she　felt　herself　understood。

　　〃When　I　was　younger　，〃　she　observed，　〃I　loved　nothing　so　much　as
romances。　Nothing　could　equal　my　delight　when　，　on　some　holiday，　I　could
settle　down　quietly　in　a　corner　，　and　enter　with　my　whole　heart　and　soul
into　the　joys　or　sorrows　of　some　fictitious　Leonora。　I　do　not　deny　that
they　even　possess　some　charms　for　me　yet。　But　I　read　so　seldom，　that
I　prefer　books　suited　exactly　to　my　taste。　And　I　like　those　authors　best
whose　scenes　describe　my　own　situation　in　life，——　and　the　friends　who
are　about　me，　whose　stories　touch　me　with　interest　，　from　resembling
my　own　homely　existence　，——　which，　without　being　absolutely　paradise，
is，　on　the　whole　，　a　source　of　indescribable　happiness。〃

　　I　endeavoured　to　conceal　the　emotion　which　these　words　occasioned　，
but　it　was　of　slight　avail；　for，　when　she　had　expressed　so　truly　her
opinion　of　〃The　Vicar　of　Wakefield，〃　and　of　other　works，　the　names　of
which　I　omit（Though　the　names　are　omitted，　yet　the　authors　mentioned
deserve　Charlotte's　approbation　，　and　will　feel　it　in　their　hearts　when
they　read　this　passage。　It　concerns　no　other　person。），　I　could　no　longer
contain　myself，　but　gave　full　utterance　to　what　I　thought　of　it：　and
it　was　not　until　Charlotte　had　addressed　herself　to　the　two　other　ladies，
that　I　remembered　their　presence，　and　observed　them　sitting　mute　with
astonishment。　The　aunt　looked　at　me　several　times　with　an　air　of　raillery，
which　，　however，　I　did　not　at　all　mind。

　　We　talked　of　the　pleasures　of　dancing。　〃If　it　is　a　fault　to　love　it
，〃　said　Charlotte　，　〃I　am　ready　to　confess　that　I　prize　it　above　all
other　amusements。　If　anything　disturbs　me　，　I　go　to　the　piano，　play
an　air　to　which　I　have　danced　，　and　all　goes　right　again　directly。〃

　　You　，　who　know　me，　can　fancy　how　steadfastly　I　gazed　upon　her　rich
dark　eyes　during　these　remarks，　how　my　very　soul　gloated　over　her　warm
lips　and　fresh，　glowing　cheeks　，　how　I　became　quite　lost　in　the　delightful
meaning　of　her　words，　so　much　so　，　that　I　scarcely　heard　the　actual
expressions。　In　short　，　I　alighted　from　the　carriage　like　a　person　in
a　dream　，　and　was　so　lost　to　the　dim　world　around　me　，　that　I　scarcely
heard　the　music　which　resounded　from　the　illuminated　ballroom。

　　The　two　Messrs。　Andran　and　a　certain　N。　N。（I　cannot　trouble　myself
with　the　names），　who　were　the　aunt's　and　Charlotte's　partners　，　received
us　at　the　carriage…door　，　and　took　possession　of　their　ladies，　whilst
I　followed　with　mine。

　　We　menced　with　a　minuet。　I　led　out　one　lady　after　another，　and
precisely　those　who　were　the　most　disagreeable　could　not　bring　themselves
to　leave　off。　Charlotte　and　her　partner　began　an　English　country　dance，
and　you　must　imagine　my　delight　when　it　was　their　turn　to　dance　the　figure
with　us。　You　should　see　Charlotte　dance。　She　dances　with　her　whole　heart
and　soul：　her　figure　is　all　harmony，　elegance　，　and　grace，　as　if　she
were　conscious　of　nothing　else，　and　had　no　other　thought　or　feeling；
and　，　doubtless，　for　the　moment　，　every　other　sensation　is　extinct。

　　She　was　engaged　for　the　second　country　dance，　but　promised　me　the
third　，　and　assured　me　，　with　the　most　agreeable　freedom，　that　she
was　very　fond　of　waltzing。　〃It　is　the　custom　here　，〃　she　said，　〃for
the　previous　partners　to　waltz　together　；　but　my　partner　is　an　indifferent
waltzer　，　and　will　feel　delighted　if　I　save　him　the　trouble。　Your　partner
is　not　allowed　to　waltz　，　and，　indeed　，　is　equally　incapable　：　but
I　observed　during　the　country　dance　that　you　waltz　well　；　so　，　if　you
will　waltz　with　me，　I　beg　you　would　propose　it　to　my　partner　，　and　I
will　propose　it　to　yours。〃　We　agreed，　and　it　was　arranged　that　our　partners
should　mutually　entertain　each　other。

　　We　set　off，　and，　at　first　，　delighted　ourselves　with　the　usual
graceful　motions　of　the　arms。　With　what　grace　，　with　what　ease　，　she
moved　！　When　the　waltz　menced　，　and　the　dancers　whirled　around　each
other　in　the　giddy　maze　，　there　was　some　confusion　，　owing　to　the　incapacity
of　some　of　the　dancers。　We　judiciously　remained　still　，　allowing　the
others　to　weary　themselves；　and，　when　the　awkward　dancers　had　withdrawn，
we　joined　in，　and　kept　it　up　famously　together　with　one　other　couple　，
——　Andran　and　his　partner。　Never　did　I　dance　more　lightly。　I　felt　myself
more　than　mortal，　holding　this　loveliest　of　creatures　in　my　arms　，　flying，
with　her　as　rapidly　as　the　wind　，　till　I　lost　sight　of　every　other　object
；　and　O　Wilhelm，　I　vowed　at　that　moment　，　that　a　maiden　whom　I　loved，
or　for　whom　I　felt　the　slightest　attachment　，　never，　never　should　waltz
with　any　one　else　but　with　me　，　if　I　went　to　perdition　for　it！——　you
will　understand　this。

　　We　took　a　few　turns　in　the　room　to　recover　our　breath。　Charlotte　sat
down，　and　felt　r