the sorrows of young werther-第3章

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　To…day　I　have　had　a　scene；　which；　if　literally　related；　would；　make　the　most　beautiful　idyl　in　the　world。　　But　why　should　I　talk　of　poetry　and　scenes　and　idyls？　　Can　we　never　take　pleasure　in　nature　without　having　recourse　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　has　excited　in　me　the　warmest　interest。　　As　usual；　I　shall　tell　my　story　badly；　and　you；　as　usual；　will　think　me　extravagant。　It　is　Walheim　once　more　　always　Walheim　　which　produces　these　wonderful　phenomena。

A　party　had　assembled　outside　the　house　under　the　linden…trees；　to　drink　coffee。　　The　company　did　not　exactly　please　me；　and；　under　one　pretext　or　another；　I　lingered　behind。

A　peasant　came　from　an　adjoining　house；　and　set　to　work　arranging　some　part　of　the　same　plough　which　I　had　lately　sketched。　　His　appearance　pleased　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　of　a　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　desperately　in　love　with　her。　　〃She　is　no　longer　young；〃　he　said：　〃and　she　was　treated　so　badly　by　her　former　husband　that　she　does　not　mean　to　marry　again。〃　　From　his　account　it　was　so　evident　what　incomparable　charms　she　possessed　for　him；　and　how　ardently　he　wished　she　would　select　him　to　extinguish　the　recollection　of　her　first　husband's　misconduct；　that　I　should　have　to　repeat　his　own　words　in　order　to　describe　the　depth　of　the　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　words　can　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　should　misconceive　his　position　with　regard　to　his　mistress；　or　question　the　propriety　of　her　conduct；　touched　me　particularly。　　The　charming　manner　with　which　he　described　her　form　and　person；　which；　without　possessing　the　graces　of　youth；　won　and　attached　him　to　her；　is　inexpressible；　and　must　be　left　to　the　imagination。　　I　have　never　in　my　life　witnessed　or　fancied　or　conceived　the　possibility　of　such　intense　devotion；　such　ardent　affections；　united　with　so　much　purity。　　Do　not　blame　me　if　I　say　that　the　recollection　of　this　innocence　and　truth　is　deeply　impressed　upon　my　very　soul；　that　this　picture　of　fidelity　and　tenderness　haunts　me　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　second　thoughts；　I　had　better　not；　it　is　better　I　should　behold　her　through　the　eyes　of　her　lover。　　To　my　sight；　perhaps；　she　would　not　appear　as　she　now　stands　before　me；　and　why　should　I　destroy　so　sweet　a　picture？

JUNE　16。

〃Why　do　I　not　write　to　you？〃　　You　lay　claim　to　learning；　and　ask　such　a　question。　　You　should　have　guessed　that　I　am　well　　that　is　to　say　　in　a　word；　I　have　made　an　acquaintance　who　has　won　my　heart：　I　have　　I　know　not。

To　give　you　a　regular　account　of　the　manner　in　which　I　have　become　acquainted　with　the　most　amiable　of　women　would　be　a　difficult　task。　I　am　a　happy　and　contented　mortal；　but　a　poor　historian。

An　angel！　　Nonsense！　　Everybody　so　describes　his　mistress；　and　yet　I　find　it　impossible　to　tell　you　how　perfect　she　is；　or　why　she　is　so　perfect：　suffice　it　to　say　she　has　captivated　all　my　senses。

So　much　simplicity　with　so　much　understauding　　so　mild；　and　yet　so　resolute　　a　mind　so　placid；　and　a　life　so　active。

But　all　this　is　ugly　balderdash；　which　expresses　not　a　single　character　nor　feature。　　Some　other　time　　but　no；　not　some　other　time；　now；　this　very　instant；　will　I　tell　you　all　about　it。　　Now　or　never。　　Well；　between　ourselves；　since　I　commenced　my　letter；　I　have　been　three　times　on　the　point　of　throwing　down　my　pen；　of　ordering　my　horse；　and　riding　out。　　And　yet　I　vowed　this　morning　that　I　would　not　ride　to…day；　and　yet　every　moment　I　am　rushing　to　the　window　to　see　how　high　the　sun　is。

I　could　not　restrain　myself　　go　to　her　I　must。　　I　have　just　returned；　Wilhelm；　and　whilst　I　am　taking　supper　I　will　write　to　you。　　What　a　delight　it　was　for　my　soul　to　see　her　in　the　midst　of　her　dear；　beautiful　children；　　eight　brothers　and　sisters！

But；　if　I　proceed　thus；　you　will　be　no　wiser　at　the　end　of　my　letter　than　you　were　at　the　beginning。　　Attend；　then；　and　I　will　compel　myself　to　give　you　the　details。

I　mentioned　to　you　the　other　day　that　I　had　become　acquainted　with　S；　the　district　judge；　and　that　he　had　invited　me　to　go　and　visit　him　in　his　retirement；　or　rather　in　his　little　kingdom。　　But　I　neglected　going；　and　perhaps　should　never　have　gone；　if　chance　had　not　discovered　to　me　the　treasure　which　lay　concealed　in　that　retired　spot。　　Some　of　our　young　people　had　proposed　giving　a　ball　in　the　country；　at　which　I　consented　to　be　present。　　I　offered　my　hand　for　the　evening　to　a　pretty　and　agreeable；　but　rather　commonplace；　sort　of　girl　from　the　immediate　neighbourhood；　and　it　was　agreed　that　I　should　engage　a　carriage；　and　call　upon　Charlotte；　with　my　partner　and　her　aunt；　to　convey　them　to　the　ball。　　My　companion　informed　me；　as　we　drove　along　through　the　park　to　the　hunting…lodge；　that　I　should　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　very　charming　young　lady。　〃Take　care；〃　added　the　aunt；　〃that　you　do　not　lose　your　heart。〃　〃Why？〃　said　I。　　〃Because　she　is　already　engaged　to　a　very　worthy　man；〃　she　replied；　〃who　is　gone　to　settle　his　affairs　upon　the　death　of　his　father；　and　will　succeed　to　a　very　considerable　inheritance。〃　　This　information　possessed　no　interest　for　me。　When　we　arrived　at　the　gate；　the　sun　was　setting　behind　the　tops　of　the　mountains。　　The　atmosphere　was　heavy；　and　the　ladies　expressed　their　fears　of　an　approaching　storm；　as　masses　of　low　black　clouds　were　gathering　in　the　horizon。　　I　relieved　their　anxieties　by　pretending　to　be　weather…wise；　although　I　myself　had　some　apprehensions　lest　our　pleasure　should　be　interrupted。

I　alighted；　and　a　maid　came　to　the　door；　and　requested　us　to　wait　a　moment　for　her　mistress。　　I　walked　across　the　court　to　a　well…built　house；　and；　ascending　the　flight　of　steps　in　front；　opened　the　door；　and　saw　before　me　the　most　charming　spectacle　I　had　ever　witnessed。　Six　children；　from　eleven　to　two　years　old；　were　running　about　the　hall；　and　surrounding　a　lady　of　middle　height；　with　a　lovely　figure；　dressed　in　a　robe　of　simple　white；　trimmed　with　pink　ribbons。　　She　was　holding　a　rye　loaf　in　her　hand；　and　was　cutting　slices　for　the　little　ones　all　around；　in　proportion　to　their　age　and　appetite。　She　performed　her　task　in　a　graceful　and　affectionate　manner；　each　claimant　awaiting　his　turn　with　outstretched　hands；　and　boisterously　shouting　his　thanks。　　Some　of　them　ran　away　at　once；　to　enjoy　their　evening　meal；　whilst　others；　of　a　gentler　disposition；　retired　to　the　courtyard　to　see　the　strangers；　and　to　survey　the　carriage　in　which　their　Charlotte　was　to　drive　away。　　〃Pray　forgive　me　for　giving　you　the　trouble　to　come　for　me；　and　for　keeping　the　ladies　waiting：　but　dressing；　and　arranging　some　household　duties　before　I　leave；　had　made　me　forget　my　children's　supper；　and　they　do　not　like　to　take　it　from　any　one　but　me。〃　　I　uttered　some　indifferent　compliment：　but　my　whole　soul　was　absorbed　by　her　air；　her　voice；　her　manner；　and　I　had　scarcely　recovered　myself　when　she　ran　into　her　room　to　fetch　her　gloves　and　fan。　　The　young　ones　threw　inquiring　glances　at　me　from　a　distance；　whilst　I　approached　the　youngest；　a　most　delicious　little　creature。　　He　drew　back；　and　Charlotte；　entering　at　the　very　moment；　said；　〃Louis；　shake　hands　with　your　cousin。〃　　The　little　fellow　obeyed　willingly；　and　I　could　not　resist　giving　him　a　hearty　kiss；　notwithstanding　his　rather　dirty　face。　　〃Cousin；〃　said　I　to　Charlotte；　as　I　handed　her　down；　〃do　you　think　I　deserve　the　happiness　of　being　related　to　you？〃　　She　replied；　with　a　ready　smile；　〃Oh！　I　have　such　a　number　of　cousins；　that　I　should　be　sorry　if　you　were　the　most　undeserving　of　them。〃　In　taking　leave；　she　desired　her　next　sister；　Sophy；　a　girl　about　eleven　years　old；　to　take　great　care　of　the　children；　and　to　say　good…bye　to　papa　for　her　when　he　came　home　from　his　ride。　　She　enjoined　to　the　little　ones　to　obey　their　sister　Sophy　as　they　would　herself；　upon　which　some　promised　that　they　would；　but　a　little　fair…haired　girl；　about　six　years　old；　looked　discontented；　and　said；　〃But　Sophy　is　not　you；　Charlotte；　and　we　like　you　best。〃　The　two　eldest　boys　had　clambered　up　the　carriage；　and；　at　my　request；　she　permitted　them　to　accompany　us　a　little　way　through　the　forest；　upon　their　promising　to　sit　very　still；　and　hold　fast。

We　were　hardly　seated；　and　the　ladies　had　scarcely　exchanged　compliments；　making　the　usual　remarks　upon　each　other's　dress；　and　upon　the　company　they　expected　to　meet；　when　Charlotte　stopped　the　carriage；　and　made　her　brothers　get　down。　　They　insisted　upon　kissing　her　hands　once　more；　which　the　eldest　did　with　all　the　tenderness　of　a　youth　of　fifteen；　but　the　other　in　a　lighter　and　more　careless　manner。　　She　desired　them　again　to　give　her　love　to　the　children；　and　we　drove　off。

The　aunt　inquired　of　Charlotte　whether　she　had　finished　the　book　she　had　last　sent　her。　　〃No；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃I　did　not　like　it：　you　can　have　it　again。　　And　the　one　before　was　not　much　better。〃　I　was　surprised；　upon　asking　the　title；　to　hear　that　it　was　____。　（We　feel　obliged　to　suppress　the　passage　in　the　letter；　to　prevent　any　one　from　feeling　aggrieved；　although　no　author　need　pay　much　attention　to　the　opinion　of　a　mere　girl；　or　that　of　an　unsteady　young　man。）

I　found　penetration　and　character　in　everything　she　said：　every　expression　seemed　to　brighten　her　features　with　new　charms；　with　new　rays　of　genius；　　which　unfolded　by　degrees；　as　she　felt　herself　understood。

〃When　I　was　younger；〃　she　observed；　〃I　loved　nothing　so　much　as　romances。　　Nothing　could　equal　my　delight　when；　on　some　holiday；　I　could　settle　down　quietly　in　a　corner；　and　enter　with　my　whole　heart　and　soul　into　the　joys　or　sorrows　of　some　fictitious　Leonora。　I　do　not　deny　that　they　even　possess　some　charms　for　me　yet。　　But　I　read　so　seldom；　that　I　prefer　books　suited　exactly　to　my　taste。　And　I　like　those　authors　best　whose　scenes　describe　my　own　situation　in　life；　　and　the　friends　who　are　about　me；　whose　stories　touch　me　with　interest；　from　resembling　my　own　homely　existence；　　which；　without　being　absolutely　paradise；　is；　on　the　whole；　a　source　of　indescribable　happiness。〃

I　endeavoured　to　conceal　the　emotion　which　these　words　occasioned；　but　it　was　of　slight　avail；　for；　when　she　had　expressed　so　truly　her　opinion　of　〃The　Vicar　of　Wakefield；〃　and　of　other　works；　the　names　of　which　I　omit　（Though　the　names　are　omitted；　yet　the　authors　mentioned　deserve　Charlotte's　approbation；　and　will　feel　it　in　their　hearts　when　they　read　this　passage。　It　concerns　no　other　person。）；　I　could　no　longer　contain　myself；　but　gave　full　utterance　to　what　I　thought　of　it：　and　it　was　not