the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第17章

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〃Is　it　possible！　　I　must　go　to　the　spot　　I　cannot　delay　a　moment！〃
He　hastened　to　Walheim。　　Every　incident　returned　vividly　to　his
remembrance；　and　he　entertained　not　the　slightest　doubt　that　that
man　was　the　murderer　to　whom　he　had　so　often　spoken；　and　for　whom
he　entertained　so　much　regard。　　His　way　took　him　past　the　well…known
lime　trees；　to　the　house　where　the　body　had　been　carried；　and　his
feelings　were　greatly　excited　at　the　sight　of　the　fondly　recollected
spot。　　That　threshold　where　the　neighbours'　children　had　so　often
played　together　was　stained　with　blood；　love　and　attachment；　the
noblest　feelings　of　human　nature；　had　been　converted　into　violence
and　murder。　　The　huge　trees　stood　there　leafless　and　covered　with
hoarfrost；　the　beautiful　hedgerows　which　surrounded　the　old
churchyard　wall　were　withered；　and　the　gravestones；　half　covered
with　snow；　were　visible　through　the　openings。

As　he　approached　the　inn；　in　front　of　which　the　whole　village　was
assembled；　screams　were　suddenly　heard。　　A　troop　of　armed　peasants
was　seen　approaching；　and　every　one　exclaimed　that　the　criminal
had　been　apprehended。　　Werther　looked；　and　was　not　long　in　doubt。
The　prisoner　was　no　other　than　the　servant；　who　had　been　formerly
so　attached　to　the　widow；　and　whom　he　had　met　prowling　about；　with
that　suppressed　anger　and　ill…concealed　despair；　which　we　have
before　described。

〃What　have　you　done；　unfortunate　man？〃　inquired　Werther；　as　he
advanced　toward　the　prisoner。　　The　latter　turned　his　eyes　upon　him
in　silence；　and　then　replied　with　perfect　composure；　〃No　one　will
now　marry　her；　and　she　will　marry　no　one。〃　　The　prisoner　was　taken
into　the　inn；　and　Werther　left　the　place。　　The　mind　of　Werther　was
fearfully　excited　by　this　shocking　occurrence。　　He　ceased；　however；
to　be　oppressed　by　his　usual　feeling　of　melancholy；　moroseness；
and　indifference　to　everything　that　passed　around　him。　　He　entertained
a　strong　degree　of　pity　for　the　prisoner；　and　was　seized　with　an
indescribable　anxiety　to　save　him　from　his　impending　fate。　　He
considered　him　so　unfortunate；　he　deemed　his　crime　so　excusable；
and　thought　his　own　condition　so　nearly　similar；　that　he　felt
convinced　he　could　make　every　one　else　view　the　matter　in　the　light
in　which　he　saw　it　himself。　　He　now　became　anxious　to　undertake
his　defence；　and　commenced　composing　an　eloquent　speech　for　the
occasion；　and；　on　his　way　to　the　hunting…lodge；　he　could　not　refrain
from　speaking　aloud　the　statement　which　he　resolved　to　make　to　the
judge。

Upon　his　arrival；　he　found　Albert　had　been　before　him：　and　he　was
a　little　perplexed　by　this　meeting；　but　he　soon　recovered　himself；
and　expressed　his　opinion　with　much　warmth　to　the　judge。　　The
latter　shook；　his　head　doubtingly；　and　although　Werther　urged　his
case　with　the　utmost　zeal；　feeling；　and　determination　in　defence
of　his　client；　yet；　as　we　may　easily　suppose；　the　judge　was　not
much　influenced　by　his　appeal。　　On　the　contrary；　he　interrupted
him　in　his　address；　reasoned　with　him　seriously；　and　even　administered
a　rebuke　to　him　for　becoming　the　advocate　of　a　murderer。　　He
demonstrated；　that；　according　to　this　precedent；　every　law　might
be　violated；　and　the　public　security　utterly　destroyed。　　He　added；
moreover；　that　in　such　a　case　he　could　himself　do　nothing；
without　incurring　the　greatest　responsibility；　that　everything
must　follow　in　the　usual　course；　and　pursue　the　ordinary　channel。

Werther；　however；　did　not　abandon　his　enterprise；　and　even　besought
the　judge　to　connive　at　the　flight　of　the　prisoner。　　But　this
proposal　was　peremptorily　rejected。　　Albert；　who　had　taken　some
part　in　the　discussion；　coincided　in　opinion　with　the　judge。　　At
this　Werther　became　enraged；　and　took　his　leave　in　great　anger；
after　the　judge　had　more　than　once　assured　him　that　the　prisoner
could　not　be　saved。

The　excess　of　his　grief　at　this　assurance　may　be　inferred　from　a
note　we　have　found　amongst　his　papers；　and　which　was　doubtless
written　upon　this　very　occasion。

〃You　cannot　be　saved；　unfortunate　man！　　I　see　clearly　that　we
cannot　be　saved！〃

Werther　was　highly　incensed　at　the　observations　which　Albert　had
made　to　the　judge　in　this　matter　of　the　prisoner。　　He　thought　he
could　detect　therein　a　little　bitterness　toward　himself　personally；
and　although；　upon　reflection；　it　could　not　escape　his　sound
judgment　that　their　view　of　the　matter　was　correct；　he　felt　the
greatest　possible　reluctance　to　make　such　an　admission。

A　memorandum　of　Werther's　upon　this　point；　expressive　of　his　general
feelings　toward　Albert；　has　been　found　amongst　his　papers。

〃What　is　the　use　of　my　continually　repeating　that　he　is　a　good　and
estimable　man？　　He　is　an　inward　torment　to　me；　and　I　am　incapable
of　being　just　toward　him。〃

One　fine　evening　in　winter；　when　the　weather　seemed　inclined　to
thaw；　Charlotte　and　Albert　were　returning　home　together。　　The
former　looked　from　time　to　time　about　her；　as　if　she　missed　Werther's
company。　　Albert　began　to　speak　of　him；　and　censured　him　for　his
prejudices。　　He　alluded　to　his　unfortunate　attachment；　and　wished
it　were　possible　to　discontinue　his　acquaintance。　〃I　desire　it　on
our　own　account；〃　he　added；　〃and　I　request　you　will　compel　him　to
alter　his　deportment　toward　you；　and　to　visit　you　less　frequently。
The　world　is　censorious；　and　I　know　that　here　and　there　we　are
spoken　of。〃　　Charlotte　made　no　reply；　and　Albert　seemed　to　feel
her　silence。　　At　least；　from　that　time　he　never　again　spoke　of
Werther；　and；　when　she　introduced　the　subject；　he　allowed　the
conversation　to　die　away；　or　else　he　directed　the　discourse　into
another　channel。

The　vain　attempt　Werther　had　made　to　save　the　unhappy　murderer　was
the　last　feeble　glimmering　of　a　flame　about　to　be　extinguished。
He　sank　almost　immediately　afterward　into　a　state　of　gloom　and
inactivity；　until　he　was　at　length　brought　to　perfect　distraction
by　learning　that　he　was　to　be　summoned　as　a　witness　against　the
prisoner；　who　asserted　his　complete　innocence。

His　mind　now　became　oppressed　by　the　recollection　of　every　misfortune
of　his　past　life。　　The　mortification　he　had　suffered　at　the
ambassador's；　and　his　subsequent　troubles；　were　revived　in　his
memory。　　He　became　utterly　inactive。　　Destitute　of　energy；　he　was
cut　off　from　every　pursuit　and　occupation　which　compose　the　business
of　common　life；　and　he　became　a　victim　to　his　own　susceptibility；
and　to　his　restless　passion　for　the　most　amiable　and　beloved　of
women；　whose　peace　he　destroyed。　　In　this　unvarying　monotony　of
existence　his　days　were　consumed；　and　his　powers　became　exhausted
without　aim　or　design；　until　they　brought　him　to　a　sorrowful　end。

A　few　letters　which　he　left　behind；　and　which　we　here　subjoin；
afford　the　best　proofs　of　his　anxiety　of　mind　and　of　the　depth
of　his　passion；　as　well　as　of　his　doubts　and　struggles；　and　of
his　weariness　of　life。

DECEMBER　12。

Dear　Wilhelm；　I　am　reduced　to　the　condition　of　those　unfortunate
wretches　who　believe　they　are　pursued　by　an　evil　spirit。　　Sometimes
I　am　oppressed；　not　by　apprehension　or　fear；　but　by　an　inexpressible
internal　sensation；　which　weighs　upon　my　heart；　and　impedes　my
breath！　　Then　I　wander　forth　at　night；　even　in　this　tempestuous
season；　and　feel　pleasure　in　surveying　the　dreadful　scenes　around
me。

Yesterday　evening　I　went　forth。　　A　rapid　thaw　had　suddenly　set
in：　I　had　been　informed　that　the　river　had　risen；　that　the　brooks
had　all　overflowed　their　banks；　and　that　the　whole　vale　of　Walheim
was　under　water！　　Upon　the　stroke　of　twelve　I　hastened　forth。　　I
beheld　a　fearful　sight。　　The　foaming　torrents　rolled　from　the
mountains　in　the　moonlight；　　fields　and　meadows；　trees　and
hedges；　were　confounded　together；　and　the　entire　valley　was
converted　into　a　deep　lake；　which　was　agitated　by　the　roaring
wind！　　And　when　the　moon　shone　forth；　and　tinged　the　black　clouds
with　silver；　and　the　impetuous　torrent　at　my　feet　foamed　and　resounded
with　awful　and　grand　impetuosity；　I　was　overcome　by　a　mingled　sensation
of　apprehension　and　delight。　　With　extended　arms　I　looked　down　into
the　yawning　abyss；　and　cried；　〃Plunge！'〃　For　a　moment　my　senses
forsook　me；　in　the　intense　delight　of　ending　my　sorrows　and　my
sufferings　by　a　plunge　into　that　gulf！　　And　then　I　felt　as　if　I
were　rooted　to　the　earth；　and　incapable　of　seeking　an　end　to　my
woes！　　But　my　hour　is　not　yet　come：　I　feel　it　is　not。　　O　Wilhelm；
how　willingly　could　I　abandon　my　existence　to　ride　the　whirlwind；
or　to　embrace　the　torrent！　and　then　might　not　rapture　perchance　be
the　portion　of　this　liberated　soul？

I　turned　my　sorrowful　eyes　toward　a　favourite　spot；　where　I　was
accustomed　to　sit　with　Charlotte　beneath　a　willow　after　a　fatiguing
walk。　　Alas！　it　was　covered　with　water；　and　with　difficulty　I　found
even　the　meadow。　　And　the　fields　around　the　hunting…lodge；　thought
I。　　Has　our　dear　bower　been　destroyed　by　this　unpitying　storm？
And　a　beam　of　past　happiness　streamed　upon　me；　as　the　mind　of　a
captive　is　illumined　by　dreams　of　flocks　and　herds　and　bygone　joys
of　home！　　But　I　am　free　from　blame。　　I　have　courage　to　die！　　Perhaps
I　have；　　but　I　still　sit　here；　like　a　wretched　pauper；　who　collects
fagots；　and　begs　her　bread　from　door　to　door；　that　she　may　prolong
for　a　few　days　a　miserable　existence　which　she　is　unwilling　to　resign。

DECEMBER　15。

What　is　the　matter　with　me；　dear　Wilhelm？　　I　am　afraid　of　myself！
Is　not　my　love　for　her　of　the　purest；　most　holy；　and　most　brotherly
nature？　　Has　my　soul　ever　been　sullied　by　a　single　sensual　desire？
but　I　will　make　no　protestations。　　And　now；　ye　nightly　visions；
how　truly　have　those　mortals　understood　you；　who　ascribe　your
various　contradictory　effects　to　some　invincible　power！　　This　night
I　tremble　at　the　avowal　　I　held　her　in　my　arms；　locked　in　a　close
embrace：　I　pressed　her　to　my　bosom；　and　covered　with　countless
kisses　those　dear　lips　which　murmured　in　reply　soft　protestations
of　love。　　My　sight　became　confused　by　the　delicious　intoxication
of　her　eyes。　　Heavens！　is　it　sinful　to　revel　again　in　such　happiness；
to　recall　once　more　those　rapturous　moments　with　intense　delight？
Charlotte！　　Charlotte！　　I　am　lost！　　My　senses　are　bewildered；　my
recollection　is　confused；　mine　eyes　are　bathed　in　tears　　I　am
ill；　and　yet　I　am　well　　I　wish　for　nothing　　I　have　no　desires
　it　were　better　I　were　gone。

Under　the　circumstances　narrated　above；　a　determination　to　quit
this　world　had　now　taken　fixed　possession　of　Werther's　soul。　　Since
Charlotte's　return；　this　thought　had　been　the　final　object　of　all
his　hopes　and　wishes；　but　he　had　resolved　that　such　a　step　should
not　be　taken　with　precipitation；　but　with　calmness　and　tranquillity；
and　with　the　most　perfect　deliberation。

His　troubles　and　internal　struggles　may　be　understood　from　the
following　fragment；　which　was　found；　without　any　date；　amongst
his　papers；　and　appears　to　have　formed　the　beginning　of　a　letter
to　Wilhelm。

〃Her　presence；　her　fate；　her　sympathy　for　me；　have　power　still　to
extract　tears　from　my　withered　brain。

〃One　lifts　up　the　curtain；　and　passes　to　the　other　side；　　that
is　all！　　And　why　all　these　doubts　and　delays？　　Because　we　know　not
what　is　behind　　because　there　is　no　returning　　and　because　ou