the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第22章
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lime…trees there I wish to lie。 Your father can； and doubtless
will； do this much for his friend。 Implore it of him。 But perhaps
pious Christians will not choose that their bodies chould be
buried near the corpse of a poor； unhappy wretch like me。 Then
let me be laid in some remote valley； or near the highway； where
the priest and Levite may bless themselves as they pass by my
tomb； whilst the Samaritan will shed a tear for my fate。
〃See； Charlotte； I do not shudder to take the cold and fatal cup；
from which I shall drink the draught of death。 Your hand presents
it to me； and I do not tremble。 All； all is now concluded： the
wishes and the hopes of my existence are fulfilled。 With cold；
unflinching hand I knock at the brazen portals of Death。 Oh； that
I had enjoyed the bliss of dying for you！ how gladly would I have
sacrificed myself for you； Charlotte！ And could I but restore
peace and joy to your bosom； with what resolution； with what joy；
would I not meet my fate！ But it is the lot of only a chosen few
to shed their blood for their friends； and by their death to
augment； a thousand times； the happiness of those by whom they are
beloved。
I wish； Charlotte； to be buried in the dress I wear at present：
it has been rendered sacred by your touch。 I have begged this
favour of your father。 My spirit soars above my sepulchre。 I
do not wish my pockets to be searched。 The knot of pink ribbon
which you wore on your bosom the first time I saw you； surrounded
by the children Oh； kiss them a thousand times for me； and
tell them the fate of their unhappy friend！ I think I see them
playing around me。 The dear children！ How warmly have I been
attached to you； Charlotte！ Since the first hour I saw you； how
impossible have I found it to leave you。 This ribbon must be
buried with me： it was a present from you on my birthday。 How
confused it all appears！ Little did I then think that I should
journey this road。 But peace！ I pray you； peace！
〃They are loaded the clock strikes twelve。 I say amen。
Charlotte； Charlotte！ farewell； farewell！〃
A neighbour saw the flash； and heard the report of the pistol；
but； as everything remained quiet； he thought no more of it。
In the morning； at six o'clock； the servant went into Werther's
room with a candle。 He found his master stretched upon the floor；
weltering in his blood； and the pistols at his side。 He called；
he took him in his arms； but received no answer。 Life was not yet
quite extinct。 The servant ran for a surgeon； and then went to
fetch Albert。 Charlotte heard the ringing of the bell： a cold
shudder seized her。 She wakened her husband； and they both rose。
The servant； bathed in tears faltered forth the dreadful news。
Charlotte fell senseless at Albert's feet。
When the surgeon came to the unfortunate Werther； he was still
lying on the floor； and his pulse beat； but his limbs were cold。
The bullet； entering the forehead； over the right eye； had
penetrated the skull。 A vein was opened in his right arm： the
blood came； and he still continued to breathe。
》From the blood which flowed from the chair； it could be inferred
that he had committed the rash act sitting at his bureau； and that
he afterward fell upon the floor。 He was found lying on his back
near the window。 He was in full…dress costume。
The house； the neighbourhood； and the whole town were immediately
in commotion。 Albert arrived。 They had laid Werther on the bed：
his head was bound up； and the paleness of death was upon his face。
His limbs were motionless； but he still breathed； at one time
strongly； then weaker his death was momently expected。
He had drunk only one glass of the wine。 〃Emilia Galotti〃 lay
open upon his bureau。
I shall say nothing of Albert's distress； or of Charlotte's grief。
The old steward hastened to the house immediately upon hearing the
news： he embraced his dying friend amid a flood of tears。 His
eldest boys soon followed him on foot。 In speechless sorrow they
threw themselves on their knees by the bedside； and kissed his
hands and face。 The eldest； who was his favourite； hung over him
till he expired； and even then he was removed by force。 At twelve
o'clock Werther breathed his last。 The presence of the steward；
and the precautions he had adopted； prevented a disturbance； and
that night； at the hour of eleven； he caused the body to be interred
in the place which Werther had selected for himself。
The steward and his sons followed the corpse to the grave。 Albert
was unable to accompany them。 Charlotte's life was despaired of。
The body was carried by labourers。 No priest attended。
End
