the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第2章

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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　become　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　come　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
comprehend　the　cause　of　their　desires；　but　that　the　grown…up　should
wander　about　this　earth　like　children；　without　knowing　whence　they
come；　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；　comfortable
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　becomes　strongly　attached　to　a　maiden：　he　spends　every　hour
of　the　day　in　her　company；　wears　out　his　health；　and　lavishes　his
fortune；　to　afford　continual　proof　that　he　is　wholly　devoted　to
her。　　Then　comes　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　become　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　become　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
mo