少年维特的烦恼-第3部分

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　　We　took　a　few　turns　in　the　room　to　recover　our　breath。　Charlotte　sat
down，　and　felt　refreshed　by　partaking　of　some　oranges　which　I　had　had
secured　，——　the　only　ones　that　had　been　left　；　but　at　every　slice
which　，　from　politeness，　she　offered　to　her　neighbours，　I　felt　as　though
a　dagger　went　through　my　heart。

　　We　were　the　second　couple　in　the　third　country　dance。　As　we　were　going
down（and　Heaven　knows　with　what　ecstasy　I　gazed　at　her　arms　and　eyes　，
beaming　with　the　sweetest　feeling　of　pure　and　genuine　enjoyment　），　we
passed　a　lady　whom　I　had　noticed　for　her　charming　expression　of　countenance
；　although　she　was　no　longer　young。　She　looked　at　Charlotte　with　a　smile，
then，　holding　up　her　finger　in　a　threatening　attitude，　repeated　twice
in　a　very　significant　tone　of　voice　the　name　of　〃Albert。〃

　　〃Who　is　Albert，〃　said　I　to　Charlotte　，　〃if　it　is　not　impertinent
to　ask？〃　She　was　about　to　answer　，　when　we　were　obliged　to　separate　，
in　order　to　execute　a　figure　in　the　dance　；　and，　as　we　crossed　over
again　in　front　of　each　other，　I　perceived　she　looked　somewhat　pensive。
〃Why　need　I　conceal　it　from　you　？〃　she　said，　as　she　gave　me　her　hand
for　the　promenade。　〃Albert　is　a　worthy　man，　to　whom　I　am　engaged。〃　Now，
there　was　nothing　new　to　me　in　this　（for　the　girls　had　told　me　of　it
on　the　way）；　but　it　was　so　far　new　that　I　had　not　thought　of　it　in　connection
with　her　whom　，　in　so　short　a　time　，　I　had　learned　to　prize　so　highly。
Enough，　I　became　confused，　got　out　in　the　figure，　and　occasioned　general
confusion　；　so　that　it　required　all　Charlotte's　presence　of　mind　to　set
me　right　by　pulling　and　pushing　me　into　my　proper　place。

　　The　dance　was　not　yet　finished　when　the　lightning　which　had　for　some
time　been　seen　in　the　horizon　，　and　which　I　had　asserted　to　proceed　entirely
from　heat　，　grew　more　violent；　and　the　thunder　was　heard　above　the　music。
When　any　distress　or　terror　surprises　us　in　the　midst　of　our　amusements，
it　naturally　makes　a　deeper　impression　than　at　other　times，　either　because
the　contrast　makes　us　more　keenly　susceptible　，　or　rather　perhaps　because
our　senses　are　then　more　open　to　impressions，　and　the　shock　is　consequently
stronger。　To　this　cause　I　must　ascribe　the　fright　and　shrieks　of　the　ladies。
One　sagaciously　sat　down　in　a　corner　with　her　back　to　the　window，　and
held　her　fingers　to　her　ears；　a　second　knelt　down　before　her　，　and　hid
her　face　in　her　lap　；　a　third　threw　herself　between　them　，　and　embraced
her　sister　with　a　thousand　tears；　some　insisted　on　going　home；　others，
unconscious　of　their　actions，　wanted　sufficient　presence　of　mind　to　repress
the　impertinence　of　their　young　partners，　who　sought　to　direct　to　themselves
those　sighs　which　the　lips　of　our　agitated　beauties　intended　for　heaven。
Some　of　the　gentlemen　had　gone　down…stairs　to　smoke　a　quiet　cigar　，　and
the　rest　of　the　pany　gladly　embraced　a　happy　suggestion　of　the　hostess
to　retire　into　another　room　which　was　provided　with　shutters　and　curtains。
We　had　hardly　got　there　，　when　Charlotte　placed　the　chairs　in　a　circle
；　and，　when　the　pany　had　sat　down　in　pliance　with　her　request　，
she　forthwith　proposed　a　round　game。

　　I　noticed　some　of　the　pany　prepare　their　mouths　and　draw　themselves
up　at　the　prospect　of　some　agreeable　forfeit。　〃Let　us　play　at　counting，
〃　said　Charlotte。　〃Now，　pay　attention：　I　shall　go　round　the　circle　from
right　to　left　；　and　each　person　is　to　count，　one　after　the　other，　the
number　that　es　to　him，　and　must　count　fast；　whoever　stops　or　mistakes
is　to　have　a　box　on　the　ear　，　and　so　on，　till　we　have　counted　a　thousand。〃
It　was　delightful　to　see　the　fun。　She　went　round　the　circle　with　upraised
arm。　〃One　，〃　said　the　first；　〃two　，〃　the　second；　〃three　，〃　the　third
；　and　so　on，　till　Charlotte　went　faster　and　faster。　One　made　a　mistake，
instantly　a　box　on　the　ear；　and，　amid　the　laughter　that　ensued，　came
another　box　；　and　so　on，　faster　and　faster。　I　myself　came　in　for　two。
I　fancied　they　were　harder　than　the　rest，　and　felt　quite　delighted。　A
general　laughter　and　confusion　put　an　end　to　the　game　long　before　we　had
counted　as　far　as　a　thousand。　The　party　broke　up　into　little　separate
knots　：　the　storm　had　ceased　，　and　I　followed　Charlotte　into　the　ballroom。
On　the　way　she　said　，　〃The　game　banished　their　fears　of　the　storm。〃　I
could　make　no　reply。　〃I　myself，〃　she　continued　，　〃was　as　much　frightened
as　any　of　them；　but　by　affecting　courage　，　to　keep　up　the　spirits　of
the　others，　I　forgot　my　apprehensions。〃　We　went　to　the　window。　It　was
still　thundering　at　a　distance：　a　soft　rain　was　pouring　down　over　the
country　，　and　filled　the　air　around　us　with　delicious　odours。　Charlotte
leaned　forward　on　her　arm　；　her　eyes　wandered　over　the　scene　；　she　raised
them　to　the　sky　，　and　then　turned　them　upon　me　；　they　were　moistened
with　tears；　she　placed　her　hand　on　mine　and　said　，　〃Klopstock　！〃　at
once　I　remembered　the　magnificent　ode　which　was　in　her　thoughts　：　I　felt
oppressed　with　the　weight　of　my　sensations，　and　sank　under　them。　It　was
more　than　I　could　bear。　I　bent　over　her　hand，　kissed　it　in　a　stream　of
delicious　tears　，　and　again　looked　up　to　her　eyes。　Divine　Klopstock！
why　didst　thou　not　see　thy　apotheosis　in　those　eyes　？　And　thy　name　so
often　profaned，　would　that　I　never　heard　it　repeated　！

　　JUNE　19。　I　no　longer　remember　where　I　stopped　in　my　narrative　：　I
only　know　it　was　two　in　the　morning　when　I　went　to　bed；　and　if　you　had
been　with　me，　that　I　might　have　talked　instead　of　writing　to　you　，　I
should，　in　all　probability　，　have　kept　you　up　till　daylight。

　　I　think　I　have　not　yet　related　what　happened　as　we　rode　home　from
the　ball，　nor　have　I　time　to　tell　you　now。　It　was　a　most　magnificent
sunrise　：　the　whole　country　was　refreshed，　and　the　rain　fell　drop　by
drop　from　the　trees　in　the　forest。　Our　panions　were　asleep。　Charlotte
asked　me　if　I　did　not　wish　to　sleep　also，　and　begged　of　me　not　to　make
any　ceremony　on　her　account。　Looking　steadfastly　at　her　，　I　answered　，
〃As　long　as　I　see　those　eyes　open　，　there　is　no　fear　of　my　falling　asleep。〃
We　both　continued　awake　till　we　reached　her　door。　The　maid　opened　it　softly，
and　assured　her　，　in　answer　to　her　inquiries　，　that　her　father　and　the
children　were　well，　and　still　sleeping。　I　left　her　asking　permission
to　visit　her　in　the　course　of　the　day。　She　consented，　and　I　went　，　and，
since　that　time　，　sun，　moon　，　and　stars　may　pursue　their　course：　I
know　not　whether　it　is　day　or　night　；　the　whole　world　is　nothing　to　me。

　　JUNE　21。　My　days　are　as　happy　as　those　reserved　by　God　for　his　elect
；　and，　whatever　be　my　fate　hereafter，　I　can　never　say　that　I　have　not
tasted　joy，——　the　purest　joy　of　life。　You　know　Walheim。　I　am　now　pletely
settled　there。　In　that　spot　I　am　only　half　a　league　from　Charlotte；　and
there　I　enjoy　myself，　and　taste　all　the　pleasure　which　can　fall　to　the
lot　of　man。

　　Little　did　I　imagine，　when　I　selected　Walheim　for　my　pedestrian　excursions，
that　all　heaven　lay　so　near　it。　How　often　in　my　wanderings　from　the　hillside
or　from　the　meadows　across　the　river，　have　I　beheld　this　hunting…lodge，
which　now　contains　within　it　all　the　joy　of　my　heart！

　　I　have　often，　my　dear　Wilhelm，　reflected　on　the　eagerness　men　feel
to　wander　and　make　new　discoveries，　and　upon　that　secret　impulse　which
afterward　inclines　them　to　return　to　their　narrow　circle，　conform　to
the　laws　of　custom，　and　embarrass　themselves　no　longer　with　what　passes
around　them。

　　It　is　so　strange　how，　when　I　came　here　first　，　and　gazed　upon　that
lovely　valley　from　the　hillside　，　I　felt　charmed　with　the　entire　scene
surrounding　me。　The　little　wood　opposite——　how　delightful　to　sit　under
its　shade　！　How　fine　the　view　from　that　point　of　rock！　Then　，　that
delightful　chain　of　hills　，　and　the　exquisite　valleys　at　their　feet！
Could　I　but　wander　and　lose　myself　amongst　them　！　I　went　，　and　returned
without　finding　what　I　wished。　Distance　，　my　friend，　is　like　futurity。
A　dim　vastness　is　spread　before　our　souls　：　the　perceptions　of　our　mind
are　as　obscure　as　those　of　our　vision　；　and　we　desire　earnestly　to　surrender
up　our　whole　being，　that　it　may　be　filled　with　the　plete　and　perfect
bliss　of　one　glorious　emotion。　But　alas　！　when　we　have　attained　our　object，
when　the　distant　there　bees　the　present　here　，　all　is　changed　：　we
are　as　poor　and　circumscribed　as　ever　，　and　our　souls　still　languish
for　unattainable　happiness。

　　So　does　the　restless　traveller　pant　for　his　native　soil　，　and　find
in　his　own　cottage，　in　the　arms　of　his　wife，　in　the　affections　of　his
children，　and　in　the　labour　necessary　for　their　support，　that　happiness
which　he　had　sought　in　vain　through　the　wide　world。

　　When，　in　the　morning　at　sunrise，　I　go　out　to　Walheim，　and　with
my　own　hands　gather　in　the　garden　the　pease　which　are　to　serve　for　my
dinner，　when　I　sit　down　to　shell　them，　and　read　my　Homer　during　the
intervals　，　and　then　，　selecting　a　saucepan　from　the　kitchen，　fetch
my　own　butter　，　put　my　mess　on　the　fire，　cover　it　up，　and　sit　down
to　stir　it　as　occasion　requires　，　I　figure　to　myself　the　illustrious
suitors　of　Penelope　，　killing，　dressing　，　and　preparing　their　own　oxen
and　swine。　Nothing　fills　me　with　a　more　pure　and　genuine　sense　of　happiness
than　those　traits　of　patriarchal　life　which　，　thank　Heaven　！　I　can　imitate
without　affectation。　Happy　is　it，　indeed　，　for　me　that　my　heart　is　capable
of　feeling　the　same　simple　and　innocent　pleasure　as　the　peasant　whose
table　is　covered　with　food　of　his　own　rearing　，　and　who　not　only　enjoys
his　meal，　but　remembers　with　delight　the　happy　days　and　sunny　mornings
when　he　planted　it，　the　soft　evenings　when　he　watered　it　，　and　the　pleasure
he　experienced　in　watching　its　daily　growth。

　　JUNE　29。　The　day　before　yesterday　，　the　physician　came　from　the　town
to　pay　a　visit　to　the　judge。　He　found　me　on　the　floor　playing　with　Charlotte's
children。　Some　of　them　were　scrambling　over　me，　and　others　romped　with
me；　and，　as　I　caught　and　tickled　them　，　they　made　a　great　noise。　The
doctor　is　a　formal　sort　of　personage：　he　adjusts　the　plaits　of　his　ruffles，
and　continually　settles　his　frill　whilst　he　is　talking　to　you　；　and　he
thought　my　conduct　beneath　the　dignity　of　a　sensible　man。　I　could　perceive
this　by　his　countenance。　But　I　did　not　suffer　myself　to　be　disturbed。
I　allowed　him　to　continue　his　wise　conversation　，　whilst　I　rebuilt　the
children's　card　houses　for　them　as　fast　as　they　threw　them　down。　He　went
about　the　town　afterward，　plaining　that　the　judge's　children　were
spoiled　enough　before　，　but　that　now　Werther　was　pletely　ruining　them。
Yes　，　my　dear　Wilhelm，　nothing　on　this　earth　affects　my　heart　so　much
as　children。　When　I　look　on　at　their　doings　；　when　I　mark　in　the　little
creatures　the　seeds　of　all　those　virtues　and　qualities　which　they　will
one　day　find　so　indispensable　；　when　I　behold　in　the　obstinate　all　the
future　firmness　and　constancy　of　a　noble　character；　in　the　capricious，
that　levity　and　gaiety　of　temper　which　will　carry　them　lightly　over　the
dangers　and　troubles　of　life，　their　whole　nature　simple　and　unpolluted，
——　then　I　call　to　mind　the　golden　words　of　the　Great　Teacher　of　mankind，
〃Unless　ye　bee　like　one　of　these　！〃　And　now　，　my　friend，　these　children，
who　are　our　equals，　whom　we　ought　to　consider　as　our　models，　we　treat
them　as　though　they　were　our　subjects。　They　are　allowed　no　will　of　their
own。　And　have　we，　then　，　none　ourselves　？　Whence　es　our　exclusive
right　？　Is　it　because　we　are　older　and　more　experienced？　Great　God！
from　the　height　of　thy　heaven　thou　beholdest　great　children　and　little
children，　and　no　others；　and　thy　Son　has　long　since　declared　which　afford
thee　greatest　pleasure。　But　they　believe　in　him　，　and　hear　him　not　，
——that，　too，　is　an　old　story；　and　they　train　their　children　after
their　own　image　，　etc。　Adieu　，　Wilhelm：　I　will　not　further　bewilder
myself　with　this　subject。

　　JULY　1。　The　consolation　Charlotte　can　bring　to　an　invalid　I　experience
from　my　own　heart　，　which　suffers　more　from　her　absence　than　many　a　poor
creature　lingering　on　a　bed　of　sickness。　She　is　gone　to　spend　a　few　days
in　the　town　with　a　very　worthy　woman，　who　is　given　over　by　the　physicians，
and　wishes　to　have　Charlotte　near　her　in　her　last　moments。　I　acpanied
her　last　week　on　a　visit　to　the　Vicar　of　S——，　a　small　village　in　the
mountains　，　about　a　league　hence。　We　arrived　about　four　o'clock：　Charlotte
had　taken　her　little　sister　with　her。　When　we　entered　the　vicarage　court，
we　found　the　good　old　man　sitting　on　a　bench　before　the　door，　under　the
shade　of　two　large　walnut…trees。　At　the　sight　of　Charlotte　he　seemed　to
gain　new　life　，　rose　，　forgot　his　stick　，　and　ventured　to　walk　toward
her。　She　ran　to　him　，　and　made　him　sit　down　again；　then　，　placing　herself
by　his　side　，　she　gave　him　a　number　of　messages　from　her　father，　and
then　caught　up　his　youngest　child　，　a　dirty，　ugly　little　thing，　the
joy　of　his　old　age，　and　kissed　it。　I　wish　you　could　have　witnessed　her
attention　to　this　old　man　，——how　she　raised　her　voice　on　account　of
his　deafness；　how　she　told　him　of　healthy　young　people　，　who　had　been
carried　off　when　it　was　least　expected；　praised　the　virtues　of　Carlsbad，
and　mended　his　determination　to　spend　the　ensuing　summer　there　；　and
assured　him　that　he　looked　better　and　stronger　than　he　did　when　she　saw
him　last。　I　，　in　the　meantime，　paid　attention　to　his　good　lady。　The
old　man　seemed　quite　in　spirits　；　and　as　I　could　not　help　admiring　the
beauty　of　the　walnut…trees，　which　formed　such　an　agreeable　shade　over
our　heads　，　he　began　，　though　with　some　little　difficulty　，　to　tell
us　their　history。　〃As　to　the　oldest　，〃　said　he　，　〃we　do　not　know　who
planted　it，——　some　say　one　clergyman　，　and　some　another　：　but　the
younger　one　，　there　behind　us，　is　exactly　the　age　of　my　wife，　fifty
years　old　next　October；　her　father　planted　it　in　the　morning　，　and　in
the　evening　she　came　into　the　world。　My　wife's　father　was　my　predecessor
here，　and　I　cannot　tell　you　how　fond　he　was　of　that　tree　；　and　it　is
fully　as　dear　to　me。　Under　the　shade　of　that　very　tree，　upon　a　log　of
wood，　my　wife　was　seated　knitting，　when　I　，　a　poor　student　，　came
into　this　court　for　the　first　time，　just　seven　and　twenty　years　ago。〃
Charlotte　inquired　for　his　daughter。　He　said　she　was　gone　with　Herr　Schmidt
to　the　meadows，　and　was　with　the　haymakers。　The　old　man　then　resumed
his　story　，　and　told　us　how　his　predecessor　had　taken　a　fancy　to　him　，
as　had　his　daughter　likewise；　and　how　he　had　bee　first　his　curate　，
and　subsequently　his　successor。　He　had　scarcely　finished　his　story　when
his　daughter　returned　through　the　garden，　acpanied　by　the　above…mentioned
Herr　Schmidt。　She　weled　Charlotte　affectionately　，　and　I　confess　I
was　much　taken　with　her　appearance。　She　was　a　lively…looking，　good…humoured
brute，　quite　petent　to　amuse　one　for　a　short　time　in　the　country。
Her　lover　（for　such　Herr　Schmidt　evidently　appeared　to　be）　was　a　polite，
reserved　personage，　and　would　not　join　our　conversation，　notwithstanding
all　Charlotte's　endeavours　to　draw　him　out。　I　was　much　annoyed　at　observing，
by　his　countenance，　that　his　silence　did　not　arise　from　want　of　talent，
but　from　caprice　and　ill…humour。　This　subsequently　became　very　evident，
when　we　set　out　to　take　a　walk，　and　Frederica　joining　Charlotte，　with
whom　I　was　talking，　the　worthy　gentleman's　face，　which　was　naturally
rather　sombre　，　became　so　dark　and　angry　that　Charlotte　was　obliged　to
touch　my　arm，　and　remind　me　that　I　was　talking　too　much　to　Frederica。
Nothing　distresses　me　more　than　to　see　men　torment　each　other　；　particularly
when　in　the　flower　of　their　age　，　in　the　very　season　of　pleasure　，　they
waste　their　few　short　days　of　sunshine　in　quarrels　and　disputes　，　and
only　perceive　their　error　when　it　is　too　late　to　repair　it。　This　thought
dwelt　upon　my　mind；　and　in　the　evening　，　when　we　returned　to　the　vicar's，
and　were　sitting　round　the　table　with　our　bread　end　milk，　the　conversation
turned　on　the　joys　and　sorrows　of　the　world　，　I　could　not　resist　the
temptation　to　inveigh　bitterly　against　ill…humour。　〃We　are　apt，〃　said
I　，　〃to　plain　，　but　…　with　very　little　cause　，　that　our　happy　days
are　few　，　and　our　evil　days　many。　If　our　hearts　were　always　disposed
to　receive　the　benefits　Heaven　sends　us　，　we　should　acquire　strength
to　support　evil　when　it　es。〃　〃But，〃　observed　the　vicar's　wife　，　〃we
cannot　always　mand　our　tempers　，　so　much　depends　upon　the　constitution
：　when　the　body　suffers，　the　mind　is　ill　at　ease。〃　〃I　acknowledge　that，
〃　I　continued　；　〃but　we　must　consider　such　a　disposition　in　the　light
of　a　disease，　and　inquire　whether　there　is　no　remedy　for　it。〃　〃I　should
be　glad　to　hear　one　，〃　said　Charlotte：　〃at　least，　I　think　very　much
depends　upon　ourselves；　I　know　it　is　so　with　me。　When　anything　annoys
me，　and　disturbs　my　temper　，　I　hasten　into　the　garden　，　hum　a　couple
of　country　dances　，　and　it　is　all　right　with　me　directly。〃　〃That　is　what
I　meant　，〃　I　replied　；　〃ill…humour　resembles　indolence：　it　is　natural
to　us　；　but　if　once　we　have　courage　to　exert　ourselves　，　we　find　our
work　run　fresh　from　our　hands　，　and　we　experience　in　the　activity　from
which　we　shrank　a　real　enjoyment。〃　Frederica　listened　very　attentively
：　and　the　young　man　objected　，　that　we　were　not　masters　of　ourselves，
and　still　less　so　of　our　feelings。　〃The　question　is　about　a　disagreeable
feeling　，〃　I　added　，　〃from　which　every　one　would　willingly　escape　，
but　none　know　their　own　power　without　trial。　Invalids　are　glad　to　consult
physicians，　and　submit　to　the　most　scrupulous　regimen，　the　most　nauseous
medicines　，　in　order　to　recover　their　health。〃　I　observed　that　the　good
old　man　inclined　his　head　，　and　exerted　himself　to　hear　our　discourse
；　so　I　raised　my　voice　，　and　addressed　myself　directly　to　him。　We　preach
against　a　great　many　crimes　，〃　I　observed，　〃but　I　never　remember　a　sermon
delivered　against　ill…humour。〃　〃That　may　do　very　well　for　your　town　clergymen，
〃　said　he　：　〃country　people　are　never　ill…humoured　；　though　，　indeed，
it　might　be　useful，　occasionally　，　to　my　wife　for　instance，　and　the
judge。〃　We　all　laughed，　as　did　he　likewise　very　cordially，　till　he　fell
into　a　fit　of　coughing，　which　interrupted　our　conversation　for　a　time。
Herr　Schmidt　resumed　the　subject。　〃You　call　ill　humour　a　crime，〃　he　remarked，
〃but　I　think　you　use　too　strong　a　term。〃　〃Not　at　all，〃　I　replied　，　〃if
that　deserves　the　name　which　is　so　pernicious　to　ourselves　and　our　neighbours。
Is　it　not　enough　that　we　want　the　power　to　make　one　another　happy　，　must
we　deprive　each　other　of　the　pleasure　which　we　can　all　make　for　ourselves？
Show　me　the　man　who　has　the　courage　to　hide　his　ill…humour，　who　bears
the　whole　burden　himself，　without　disturbing　the　peace　of　those　around
him。　No　：　ill…humour　arises　from　an　inward　consciousness　of　our　own　want
of　merit，　from　a　discontent　which　ever　acpanies　that　envy　which　foolish
vanity　engenders。　We　see　people　happy　，　whom　we