天天读书网（www.book.d78i.com）整理　　The Sorrows of Young Werther　　J.W. von Goethe Thomas Carlyle and R.D. Boylan Edited by Nathen HaskellDole PREFACE I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learnof the story of poor Werther， and here present it to you ， knowing thatyou will thank me for it. To his spirit and character you cannot refuseyour admiration and love： to his fate you will not deny your tears.　　And thou， good soul， who sufferest the same distress as he enduredonce， draw comfort from his sorrows； and let this little book be thyfriend， if ， owing to fortune or through thine own fault， thou canstnot find a dearer companion.　　BOOK I　　MAY 4. How happy I am that I am gone！ My dear friend ， what a thingis 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 forgiveme. Have not other attachments been specially appointed by fate to tormenta head like mine？ Poor Leonora ！ and yet I was not to blame. Was itmy fault， that ， whilst the peculiar charms of her sister afforded mean agreeable entertainment， a passion for me was engendered in her feebleheart ？ 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 ， ashas ever been my habit， continue to ruminate on every petty vexationwhich fortune may dispense； I will enjoy the present ， and the pastshall 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 Godknows why they are so fashioned —— did not employ their imaginationsso assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow ， instead of bearingtheir present lot with equanimity. Be kind enough to inform my motherthat I shall attend to her business to the best of my ability ， and shallgive her the earliest information about it. I have seen my aunt ， andfind that she is very far from being the disagreeable person our friendsallege her to be. She is a lively ， cheerful woman ， with the best ofhearts. I explained to her my mother's wrongs with regard to that partof her portion which has been withheld from her. She told me the motivesand reasons of her own conduct， and the terms on which she is willingto give up the whole， and to do more than we have asked. In short， Icannot write further upon this subject at present ； only assure my motherthat all will go on well. And I have again observed ， my dear friend ，in this trifling affair ， that misunderstandings and neglect occasionmore 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 terrestrialparadise is a genial balm to my mind， and the young spring cheers withits bounteous promises my oftentimes misgiving heart. Every tree， everybush， is full of flowers ； and one might wish himself transformed intoa butterfly ， to float about in this ocean of perfume， and find hiswhole existence in it.　　The town itself is disagreeable ； but then ， all around ， you findan inexpressible beauty of nature. This induced the late Count M to layout a garden on one of the sloping hills which here intersect each otherwith the most charming variety， and form the most lovely valleys. Thegarden is simple； and it is easy to perceive ， even upon your firstentrance， that the plan was not designed by a scientific gardener， butby a man who wished to give himself up here to the enjoyment of his ownsensitive heart. Many a tear have I already shed to the memory of itsdeparted master in a summer-house which is now reduced to ruins ， butwas his favourite resort， and now is mine. I shall soon be master ofthe place. The gardener has become attached to me within the last fewdays， 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 wascreated for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy ， my dear friend，so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence ， thatI neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single strokeat the present moment ； and yet I feel that I never was a greater artistthan now. When， while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me，and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliageof 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 byme： when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks， and growfamiliar 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 ， asit floats around us in an eternity of bliss ； and then ， my friend，when darkness overspreads my eyes ， and heaven and earth seem to dwellin my soul and absorb its power ， like the form of a beloved mistress，then I often think with longing ， Oh ， would I could describe theseconceptions ， could impress upon paper all that is living so full andwarm within me， that it might be the mirror of my soul ， as my soulis the mirror of the infinite God ！ O my friend—— but it is too muchfor my strength —— I sink under the weight of the splendour of thesevisions ！　　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 makeseverything 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 come to an arch， where， some twentysteps lower down， water of the clearest crystal gushes from the marblerock. The narrow wall which encloses it above ， the tall trees whichencircle the spot ， and the coolness of the place itself ，—— everythingimparts a pleasant but sublime impression. Not a day passes on which Ido not spend an hour there. The young maidens come from the town to fetchwater ，—— innocent and necessary employment， and formerly the occupationof the daughters of kings. As I take my rest there， the idea of the oldpatriarchal 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 coolrepose 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 beseechyou ， for the love of God， relieve me from such a yoke！ I need no moreto 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 havenever witnessed anything so unsteady， so uncertain ， as my heart. Butneed I confess this to you， my dear friend ， who have so often enduredthe anguish of witnessing my sudden transitions from sorrow to immoderatejoy ， and from sweet melancholy to violent passions？ I treat my poorheart like a sick child ， and gratify its every fancy. Do not mentionthis again： there are people who would censure me for it.　　MAY 15. The common people of the place know me already， and loveme， particularly the children. When at first I associated with them，and inquired in a friendly tone about their various trifles ， some fanciedthat 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 keenlywhat I have often before observed. Persons who can claim a certain rankkeep themselves coldly aloof from the common people ， as though theyfeared 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 itis my opinion that he who avoids the common people， in order not to losetheir respect ， is as much to blame as a coward who hides himself fromhis 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 seeif one of her companions was approaching to place it on her head. I randown， 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 ascendedthe steps.　　MAY 17. I have made all sorts of acquaintances， but have as yet foundno society. I know not what attraction I possess for the people ， somany of them like me， and attach themselves to me； and then I feel sorrywhen the road we pursue together goes only a short distance. If you inquirewhat 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 greaterpart of their time for mere subsistence ； and the scanty portion of freedomwhich remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion toget rid of it. Oh ， the destiny of man ！　　But they are a right good sort of people. If I occasionally forgetmyself， and take part in the innocent pleasures which are not yet forbiddento the peasantry， and enjoy myself ， for instance ， with genuine freedomand sincerity ， round a well-covered table ， or arrange an excursionor a dance opportunely， and so forth ， all this produces a good effectupon my disposition ； only I must forget that there lie dormant withinme so many other qualities which moulder uselessly， and which I am obligedto 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 knewher ！ I might say to myself， "You are a dreamer to seek what is notto be found here below." But she has been mine. I have possessed thatheart ， that noble soul， in whose presence I seemed to be more thanI really was， because I was all that I could be. Good heavens！ did thena single power of my soul remain unexercised？ In her presence could Inot display ， to its full extent ， that mysterious feeling with whichmy heart embraces nature？ Was not our intercourse a perpetual web ofthe 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 beforeme. 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 ， doesnot 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 thatI am drawing a good deal， and that I know Greek（two wonderful thingsfor this part of the country）， he came to see me， and displayed hiswhole 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 become acquainted， also ， with a veryworthy person ， the district judge ， a frank and open-hearted man. Iam 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 firstopportunity. He lives at one of the royal hunting-lodges， which can bereached from here in an hour and a half by walking， and which he obtainedleave to inhabit after the loss of his wife ， as it is so painful tohim to reside in town and at the court.　　There have also come in my way a few other originals of a questionablesort， who are in all respects undesirable， and most intolerable in theirdemonstration of friendship. Good-bye. This letter will please you： itis quite historical.　　MAY 22. That the life of man is but a dream ， many a man has surmisedheretofore； and I， too， am everywhere pursued by this feeling. WhenI consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring facultiesare confined； when I see how all our energies are wasted in providingfor mere necessities， which again have no further end than to prolonga wretched existence； and then that all our satisfaction concerning certainsubjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation，whilst we amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figuresand brilliant landscapes，—— when I consider all this ， Wilhelm， Iam silent. I examine my own being ， and find there a world ， but a worldrather of imagination and dim desires ， than of distinctness and livingpower. Then everything swims before my senses ， and I smile and dreamwhile pursuing my way through the world.　　All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do notcomprehend the cause of their desires ； but that the grown-up shouldwander about this earth like children ， without knowing whence they come，or whither they go， influenced as little by fixed motives， but guidedlike them by biscuits ， sugar-plums， and the rod，—— this is whatnobody 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 thatthey are happiest ， who， like children， amuse themselves with theirplaythings， dress and undress their dolls， and attentively watch thecupboard， where mamma has locked up her sweet things ， and， when atlast 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 achievementsperformed for their welfare and glory. But the man who humbly acknowledgesthe vanity of all this， who observes with what pleasure the thrivingcitizen converts his little garden into a paradise， and how patientlyeven the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden， and how allwish 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 ； andhe is also happy， because he is a man. And then， however limited hissphere， 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 selectinga little cottage in some cosy spot， and of putting up in it with everyinconvenience. Here ， too， I have discovered such a snug， comfortableplace ， which possesses peculiar charms for me.　　About a league from the town is a place called Walheim. （The readerneed not take the trouble to look for the place thus designated. We havefound it necessary to change the names given in the original. ） It isdelightfully situated on the side of a hill ； and， by proceeding alongone of the footpaths which lead out of the village， you can have a viewof the whole valley. A good old woman lives there ， who keeps a smallinn. She sells wine ， beer ， and coffee ， and is cheerful and pleasantnotwithstanding her age. The chief charm of this spot consists in twolinden-trees， spreading their enormous branches over the little greenbefore 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 littleinn ， and drink my coffee there， and read my Homer. Accident broughtme 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 aboutsix months old： he pressed it to his bosom with both arms， which thusformed a sort of arm-chair； and， notwithstanding the liveliness whichsparkled in its black eyes， it remained perfectly still. The sight charmedme. I sat down upon a plough opposite ， and sketched with great delightthis little picture of brotherly tenderness. I added the neighbouringhedge ， the barn-door， and some broken cart-wheels， just as they happenedto lie； and I found in about an hour that I had made a very correct andinteresting drawing ， without putting in the slightest thing of my own.This confirmed me in my resolution of adhering， for the future ， entirelyto nature. She alone is inexhaustible ， and capable of forming the greatestmasters. Much may be alleged in favour of rules ， as much may be likewiseadvanced in favour of the laws of society ： an artist formed upon themwill never produce anything absolutely bad or disgusting； as a man whoobserves the laws ， and obeys decorum， can never be an absolutely intolerableneighbour ， 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 prunesuperfluous branches， etc." My good friend ， I will illustrate thisby an analogy. These things resemble love. A warmhearted youth becomesstrongly attached to a maiden ： he spends every hour of the day in hercompany ， wears out his health ， and lavishes his fortune ， to affordcontinual proof that he is wholly devoted to her. Then comes a man ofthe world ， a man of place and respectability， and addresses him thus： "My good young friend， love is natural； but you must love withinbounds. Divide your time： devote a portion to business ， and give thehours of recreation to your mistress. Calculate your fortune； and outof the superfluity you may make her a present ， only not too often ，—— on her birthday， and such occasions." Pursuing this advice， hemay become a useful member of society ， and I should advise every princeto give him an appointment； but it is all up with his love ， and withhis genius if he be an artist. O my friend！ why is it that the torrentof 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； whereforethey dig trenches ， and raise embankments betimes， in order to avertthe 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 thechildren. Absorbed in my artistic contemplations， which I briefly describedin my letter of yesterday ， I continued sitting on the plough for twohours. Toward evening a young woman ， with a basket on her arm ， camerunning toward the children ， who had not moved all that time. She exclaimedfrom a distance ， "You are a good boy， Philip ！" She gave me greeting： I returned it， rose ， and approached her. I inquired if she werethe mother of those pretty children. "Yes ，" she said； and， givingthe eldest a piece of bread ， she took the little one in her arms andkissed 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 buysome wheaten bread， some sugar ， and an earthen pot." I saw the variousarticles in the basket， from which the cover had fallen. "I shall makesome broth to-night for my little Hans（which was the name of the youngest）： that wild fellow ， the big one， broke my pot yesterday ， whilsthe was scrambling with Philip for what remained of the contents." I inquiredfor the eldest； and she bad scarcely time to tell me that he was drivinga couple of geese home from the meadow， when he ran up ， and handedPhilip an osier-twig. I talked a little longer with the woman ， and foundthat she was the daughter of the schoolmaster ， and that her husbandwas gone on a journey into Switzerland for some money a relation had lefthim. "They wanted to cheat him，" she said， "and would not answer hisletters ； 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 additionalone for the youngest， to buy some wheaten bread for his broth when shewent 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 thistranquillises my disturbed mind. She moves in a happy thoughtlessnesswithin the confined circle of her existence ； she supplies her wantsfrom day to day ； and， when she sees the leaves fall， they raise noother idea in her mind than that winter is approaching. Since that timeI have gone out there frequently. The children have become quite familiarwith me ； and each gets a lump of sugar when I drink my coffee ， andthey share my milk and bread and butter in the evening. They always receivetheir kreutzer on Sundays ， for the good woman has orders to give itto them when I do not go there after evening service. They are quite athome with me， tell me everything ； and I am particularly amused withobserving their tempers ， and the simplicity of their behaviour， whensome 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 respectto 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， makethe most beautiful idyl in the world. But why should I talk of poetryand scenes and idyls？ Can we never take pleasure in nature without havingrecourse 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 hasexcited in me the warmest interest. As usual， I shall tell my story badly； and you， as usual ， will think me extravagant. It is Walheim oncemore—— always Walheim —— which produces these wonderful phenomena.　　A party had assembled outside the house under the linden-trees， todrink coffee. The company did not exactly please me ； and， under onepretext or another， I lingered behind.　　A peasant came from an adjoining house， and set to work arrangingsome part of the same plough which I had lately sketched. His appearancepleased 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 ofa 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 desperatelyin love with her. "She is no longer young ，" he said ： "and she wastreated so badly by her former husband that she does not mean to marryagain." From his account it was so evident what incomparable charms shepossessed for him ， and how ardently he wished she would select him toextinguish the recollection of her first husband's misconduct ， thatI should have to repeat his own words in order to describe the depth ofthe 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 wordscan 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 shouldmisconceive his position with regard to his mistress， or question thepropriety of her conduct， touched me particularly. The charming mannerwith which he described her form and person ， which， without possessingthe graces of youth ， won and attached him to her， is inexpressible ，and must be left to the imagination. I have never in my life witnessedor fancied or conceived the possibility of such intense devotion， suchardent affections ， united with so much purity. Do not blame me if Isay that the recollection of this innocence and truth is deeply impressedupon my very soul ； that this picture of fidelity and tenderness hauntsme 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