the sorrows of young werther-第4章

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；　I　could　no　longer　contain　myself；　but　gave　full　utterance　to　what　I　thought　of　it：　and　it　was　not　until　Charlotte　had　addressed　herself　to　the　two　other　ladies；　that　I　remembered　their　presence；　and　observed　them　sitting　mute　with　astonishment。　　The　aunt　looked　at　me　several　times　with　an　air　of　raillery；　which；　however；　I　did　not　at　all　mind。

We　talked　of　the　pleasures　of　dancing。　〃If　it　is　a　fault　to　love　it；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃I　am　ready　to　confess　that　I　prize　it　above　all　other　amusements。　　If　anything　disturbs　me；　I　go　to　the　piano；　play　an　air　to　which　I　have　danced；　and　all　goes　right　again　directly。〃

You；　who　know　me；　can　fancy　how　steadfastly　I　gazed　upon　her　rich　dark　eyes　during　these　remarks；　how　my　very　soul　gloated　over　her　warm　lips　and　fresh；　glowing　cheeks；　how　I　became　quite　lost　in　the　delightful　meaning　of　her　words；　so　much　so；　that　I　scarcely　heard　the　actual　expressions。　　In　short；　I　alighted　from　the　carriage　like　a　person　in　a　dream；　and　was　so　lost　to　the　dim　world　around　me；　that　I　scarcely　heard　the　music　which　resounded　from　the　illuminated　ballroom。

The　two　Messrs。　Andran　and　a　certain　N。　N。　（I　cannot　trouble　myself　with　the　names）；　who　were　the　aunt's　and　Charlotte's　partners；　received　us　at　the　carriage…door；　and　took　possession　of　their　ladies；　whilst　I　followed　with　mine。

We　commenced　with　a　minuet。　　I　led　out　one　lady　after　another；　and　precisely　those　who　were　the　most　disagreeable　could　not　bring　themselves　to　leave　off。　　Charlotte　and　her　partner　began　an　English　country　dance；　and　you　must　imagine　my　delight　when　it　was　their　turn　to　dance　the　figure　with　us。　　You　should　see　Charlotte　dance。　She　dances　with　her　whole　heart　and　soul：　her　figure　is　all　harmony；　elegance；　and　grace；　as　if　she　were　conscious　of　nothing　else；　and　had　no　other　thought　or　feeling；　and；　doubtless；　for　the　moment；　every　other　sensation　is　extinct。

She　was　engaged　for　the　second　country　dance；　but　promised　me　the　third；　and　assured　me；　with　the　most　agreeable　freedom；　that　she　was　very　fond　of　waltzing。　　〃It　is　the　custom　here；〃　she　said；　〃for　the　previous　partners　to　waltz　together；　but　my　partner　is　an　indifferent　waltzer；　and　will　feel　delighted　if　I　save　him　the　trouble。　　Your　partner　is　not　allowed　to　waltz；　and；　indeed；　is　equally　incapable：　but　I　observed　during　the　country　dance　that　you　waltz　well；　so；　if　you　will　waltz　with　me；　I　beg　you　would　propose　it　to　my　partner；　and　I　will　propose　it　to　yours。〃　　We　agreed；　and　it　was　arranged　that　our　partners　should　mutually　entertain　each　other。

We　set　off；　and；　at　first；　delighted　ourselves　with　the　usual　graceful　motions　of　the　arms。　　With　what　grace；　with　what　ease；　she　moved！　　When　the　waltz　commenced；　and　the　dancers　whirled　around　each　other　in　the　giddy　maze；　there　was　some　confusion；　owing　to　the　incapacity　of　some　of　the　dancers。　　We　judiciously　remained　still；　allowing　the　others　to　weary　themselves；　and；　when　the　awkward　dancers　had　withdrawn；　we　joined　in；　and　kept　it　up　famously　together　with　one　other　couple；　　Andran　and　his　partner。　Never　did　I　dance　more　lightly。　　I　felt　myself　more　than　mortal；　holding　this　loveliest　of　creatures　in　my　arms；　flying；　with　her　as　rapidly　as　the　wind；　till　I　lost　sight　of　every　other　object；　and　O　Wilhelm；　I　vowed　at　that　moment；　that　a　maiden　whom　I　loved；　or　for　whom　I　felt　the　slightest　attachment；　never；　never　should　waltz　with　any　one　else　but　with　me；　if　I　went　to　perdition　for　it！　　you　will　understand　this。

We　took　a　few　turns　in　the　room　to　recover　our　breath。　　Charlotte　sat　down；　and　felt　refreshed　by　partaking　of　some　oranges　which　I　had　had　secured；　　the　only　ones　that　had　been　left；　but　at　every　slice　which；　from　politeness；　she　offered　to　her　neighbours；　I　felt　as　though　a　dagger　went　through　my　heart。

We　were　the　second　couple　in　the　third　country　dance。　　As　we　were　going　down　（and　Heaven　knows　with　what　ecstasy　I　gazed　at　her　arms　and　eyes；　beaming　with　the　sweetest　feeling　of　pure　and　genuine　enjoyment）；　we　passed　a　lady　whom　I　had　noticed　for　her　charming　expression　of　countenance；　although　she　was　no　longer　young。　　She　looked　at　Charlotte　with　a　smile；　then；　holding　up　her　finger　in　a　threatening　attitude；　repeated　twice　in　a　very　significant　tone　of　voice　the　name　of　〃Albert。〃

〃Who　is　Albert；〃　said　I　to　Charlotte；　〃if　it　is　not　impertinent　to　ask？〃　　She　was　about　to　answer；　when　we　were　obliged　to　separate；　in　order　to　execute　a　figure　in　the　dance；　and；　as　we　crossed　over　again　in　front　of　each　other；　I　perceived　she　looked　somewhat　pensive。　　〃Why　need　I　conceal　it　from　you？〃　she　said；　as　she　gave　me　her　hand　for　the　promenade。　　〃Albert　is　a　worthy　man；　to　whom　I　am　engaged。〃　　Now；　there　was　nothing　new　to　me　in　this　（for　the　girls　had　told　me　of　it　on　the　way）；　but　it　was　so　far　new　that　I　had　not　thought　of　it　in　connection　with　her　whom；　in　so　short　a　time；　I　had　learned　to　prize　so　highly。　　Enough；　I　became　confused；　got　out　in　the　figure；　and　occasioned　general　confusion；　so　that　it　required　all　Charlotte's　presence　of　mind　to　set　me　right　by　pulling　and　pushing　me　into　my　proper　place。

The　dance　was　not　yet　finished　when　the　lightning　which　had　for　some　time　been　seen　in　the　horizon；　and　which　I　had　asserted　to　proceed　entirely　from　heat；　grew　more　violent；　and　the　thunder　was　heard　above　the　music。　　When　any　distress　or　terror　surprises　us　in　the　midst　of　our　amusements；　it　naturally　makes　a　deeper　impression　than　at　other　times；　either　because　the　contrast　makes　us　more　keenly　susceptible；　or　rather　perhaps　because　our　senses　are　then　more　open　to　impressions；　and　the　shock　is　consequently　stronger。　To　this　cause　I　must　ascribe　the　fright　and　shrieks　of　the　ladies。　One　sagaciously　sat　down　in　a　corner　with　her　back　to　the　window；　and　held　her　fingers　to　her　ears；　a　second　knelt　down　before　her；　and　hid　her　face　in　her　lap；　a　third　threw　herself　between　them；　and　embraced　her　sister　with　a　thousand　tears；　some　insisted　on　going　home；　others；　unconscious　of　their　actions；　wanted　sufficient　presence　of　mind　to　repress　the　impertinence　of　their　young　partners；　who　sought　to　direct　to　themselves　those　sighs　which　the　lips　of　our　agitated　beauties　intended　for　heaven。　　Some　of　the　gentlemen　had　gone　down…stairs　to　smoke　a　quiet　cigar；　and　the　rest　of　the　company　gladly　embraced　a　happy　suggestion　of　the　hostess　to　retire　into　another　room　which　was　provided　with　shutters　and　curtains。　We　had　hardly　got　there；　when　Charlotte　placed　the　chairs　in　a　circle；　and；　when　the　company　had　sat　down　in　compliance　with　her　request；　she　forthwith　proposed　a　round　game。

I　noticed　some　of　the　company　prepare　their　mouths　and　draw　themselves　up　at　the　prospect　of　some　agreeable　forfeit。　　〃Let　us　play　at　counting；〃　said　Charlotte。　　〃Now；　pay　attention：　I　shall　go　round　the　circle　from　right　to　left；　and　each　person　is　to　count；　one　after　the　other；　the　number　that　comes　to　him；　and　must　count　fast；　whoever　stops　or　mistakes　is　to　have　a　box　on　the　ear；　and　so　on；　till　we　have　counted　a　thousand。〃　　It　was　delightful　to　see　the　fun。　　She　went　round　the　circle　with　upraised　arm。　　〃One；〃　said　the　first；　〃two；〃　the　second；　〃three；〃　the　third；　and　so　on；　till　Charlotte　went　faster　and　faster。　　One　made　a　mistake；　instantly　a　box　on　the　ear；　and；　amid　the　laughter　that　ensued；　came　another　box；　and　so　on；　faster　and　faster。　　I　myself　came　in　for　two。　　I　fancied　they　were　harder　than　the　rest；　and　felt　quite　delighted。　A　general　laughter　and　confusion　put　an　end　to　the　game　long　before　we　had　counted　as　far　as　a　thousand。　　The　party　broke　up　into　little　separate　knots：　the　storm　had　ceased；　and　I　followed　Charlotte　into　the　ballroom。　　On　the　way　she　said；　〃The　game　banished　their　fears　of　the　storm。〃　　I　could　make　no　reply。　　〃I　myself；〃　she　continued；　〃was　as　much　frightened　as　any　of　them；　but　by　affecting　courage；　to　keep　up　the　spirits　of　the　others；　I　forgot　my　apprehensions。〃　　We　went　to　the　window。　　It　was　still　thundering　at　a　distance：　a　soft　rain　was　pouring　down　over　the　country；　and　filled　the　air　around　us　with　delicious　odours。　　Charlotte　leaned　forward　on　her　arm；　her　eyes　wandered　over　the　scene；　she　raised　them　to　the　sky；　and　then　turned　them　upon　me；　they　were　moistened　with　tears；　she　placed　her　hand　on　mine　and　said；　〃Klopstock！〃　at　once　I　remembered　the　magnificent　ode　which　was　in　her　thoughts：　I　felt　oppressed　with　the　weight　of　my　sensations；　and　sank　under　them。　　It　was　more　than　I　could　bear。　　I　bent　over　her　hand；　kissed　it　in　a　stream　of　delicious　tears；　and　again　looked　up　to　her　eyes。　　Divine　Klopstock！　why　didst　thou　not　see　thy　apotheosis　in　those　eyes？　　And　thy　name　so　often　profaned；　would　that　I　never　heard　it　repeated！

JUNE　19。

I　no　longer　remember　where　I　stopped　in　my　narrative：　I　only　know　it　was　two　in　the　morning　when　I　went　to　bed；　and　if　you　had　been　with　me；　that　I　might　have　talked　instead　of　writing　to　you；　I　should；　in　all　probability；　have　kept　you　up　till　daylight。

I　think　I　have　not　yet　related　what　happened　as　we　rode　home　from　the　ball；　nor　have　I　time　to　tell　you　now。　　It　was　a　most　magnificent　sunrise：　the　whole　country　was　refreshed；　and　the　rain　fell　drop　by　drop　from　the　trees　in　the　forest。　　Our　companions　were　asleep。　Charlotte　asked　me　if　I　did　not　wish　to　sleep　also；　and　begged　of　me　not　to　make　any　ceremony　on　her　account。　　Looking　steadfastly　at　her；　I　answered；　〃As　long　as　I　see　those　eyes　open；　there　is　no　fear　of　my　falling　asleep。〃　　We　both　continued　awake　till　we　reached　her　door。　　The　maid　opened　it　softly；　and　assured　her；　in　answer　to　her　inquiries；　that　her　father　and　the　children　were　well；　and　still　sleeping。　　I　left　her　asking　permission　to　visit　her　in　the　course　of　the　day。　　She　consented；　and　I　went；　and；　since　that　time；　sun；　moon；　and　stars　may　pursue　their　course：　I　know　not　whether　it　is　day　or　night；　the　whole　world　is　nothing　to　me。　　　JUNE　21。

My　days　are　as　happy　as　those　reserved　by　God　for　his　elect；　and；　whatever　be　my　fate　hereafter；　I　can　never　say　that　I　have　not　tasted　joy；　　the　purest　joy　of　life。　　You　know　Walheim。　　I　am　now　completely　settled　there。　　In　that　spot　I　am　only　half　a　league　from　Charlotte；　and　there　I　enjoy　myself；　and　taste　all　the　pleasure　which　can　fall　to　the　lot　of　man。　

Little　did　I　imagine；　when　I　selected　Walheim　for　my　pedestrian　excursions；　that　all　heaven　lay　so　near　it。　　How　often　in　my　wanderings　from　the　hillside　or　from　the　meadows　across　the　river；　have　I　beheld　this　hunting…lodge；　which　now　contains　within　it　all　the　joy　of　my　heart！

I　have　often；　my　dear　Wilhelm；　reflected　on　the　eagerness　men　feel　to　wander　and　make　new　discoveries；　and　upon　that　secret　impulse　which　afterward　inclines　them　to　return　to　their　narrow　circle；　conform　to　the　laws　of　custom；　and　embarrass　themselves　no　longer　with　what　passes　around　them。

It　is　so　strange　how；　when　I　came　here　first；　and　gazed　upon　that　lovely　valley　from　the　hillside；　I　felt　charmed　with　the　entire　scene　surrounding　me。　　The　little　wood　opposite　　how　delightful　to　sit　under　its　shade！　　How　fine　the　view　from　that　point　of　rock！　　Then；　that　delightful　chain　of　hills；　and　the　exquisite　valleys　at　their　feet！　　Could　I　but　wander　and　lose　myself　amongst　them！　　I　went；　and　returned　without　finding　what　I　wished。　　Dis