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第13节

the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第13节


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quite natural: we so continually feel our own imperfections; and
fancy we perceive in others the qualities we do not possess;
attributing to them also all that we enjoy ourselves; that by this
process we form the idea of a perfect; happy man;  a man; however;
who only exists in our own imagination。
  
But when; in spite of weakness and disappointments; we set to work
in earnest; and persevere steadily; we often find; that; though
obliged continually to tack; we make more way than others who have
the assistance of wind and tide; and; in truth; there can be no
greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip
them in the race。

November 26。

I begin to find my situation here more tolerable; considering all
circumstances。  I find a great advantage in being much occupied;
and the number of persons I meet; and their different pursuits;
create a varied entertainment for me。  I have formed the acquaintance
of the Count C and I esteem him more and more every day。  He is
a man of strong understanding and great discernment; but; though
he sees farther than other people; he is not on that account cold
in his manner; but capable of inspiring and returning the warmest
affection。  He appeared interested in me on one occasion; when I
had to transact some business with him。  He perceived; at the first
word; that we understood each other; and that he could converse
with me in a different tone from what he used with others。  I
cannot sufficiently esteem his frank and open kindness to me。  It
is the greatest and most genuine of pleasures to observe a great
mind in sympathy with our own。

DECEMBER 24。

As I anticipated; the ambassador occasions me infinite annoyance。
He is the most punctilious blockhead under heaven。  He does
everything step by step; with the trifling minuteness of an old
woman; and he is a man whom it is impossible to please; because
he is never pleased with himself。  I like to do business regularly
and cheerfully; and; when it is finished; to leave it。  But he
constantly returns my papers to me; saying; 〃They will do;〃 but
recommending me to look over them again; as 〃one may always improve
by using a better word or a more appropriate particle。〃  I then
lose all patience; and wish myself at the devil's。  Not a conjunction;
not an adverb; must be omitted: he has a deadly antipathy to all
those transpositions of which I am so fond; and; if the music of
our periods is not tuned to the established; official key; he
cannot comprehend our meaning。  It is deplorable to be connected
with such a fellow。

My acquaintance with the Count C is the only compensation for
such an evil。  He told me frankly; the other day; that he was much
displeased with the difficulties and delays of the ambassador;
that people like him are obstacles; both to themselves and to
others。  〃But;〃 added he; 〃one must submit; like a traveller who
has to ascend a mountain: if the mountain was not there; the road
would be both shorter and pleasanter; but there it is; and he must
get over it。〃
 
The old man perceives the count's partiality for me: this annoys
him; and; he seizes every opportunity to depreciate the count in
my hearing。  I naturally defend him; and that only makes matters
worse。  Yesterday he made me indignant; for he also alluded to me。
〃The count;〃 he said; 〃is a man of the world; and a good man of
business: his style is good; and he writes with facility; but;
like other geniuses; he has no solid learning。〃  He looked at me
with an expression that seemed to ask if I felt the blow。  But it
did not produce the desired effect: I despise a man who can think
and act in such a manner。  However; I made a stand; and answered
with not a little warmth。  The count; I said; was a man entitled
to respect; alike for his character and his acquirements。  I had
never met a person whose mind was stored with more useful and
extensive knowledge;  who had; in fact; mastered such an infinite
variety of subjects; and who yet retained all his activity for the
details of ordinary business。  This was altogether beyond his
comprehension; and I took my leave; lest my anger should be too
highly excited by some new absurdity of his。

And you are to blame for all this; you who persuaded me to bend
my neck to this yoke by preaching a life of activity to me。  If
the man who plants vegetables; and carries his corn to town on
market…days; is not more usefully employed than I am; then let me
work ten years longer at the galleys to which I am now chained。

Oh; the brilliant wretchedness; the weariness; that one is doomed
to witness among the silly people whom we meet in society here!
The ambition of rank!  How they watch; how they toil; to gain
precedence!  What poor and contemptible passions are displayed in
their utter nakedness!  We have a woman here; for example; who
never ceases to entertain the company with accounts of her family
and her estates。  Any stranger would consider her a silly being;
whose head was turned by her pretensions to rank and property; but
she is in reality even more ridiculous; the daughter of a mere
magistrate's clerk from this neighbourhood。  I cannot understand
how human beings can so debase themselves。

Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others
by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myseif; and my own
heart is in such constant agitation; that I am well content to let
others pursue their own course; if they only allow me the same
privilege。

What provokes me most is the unhappy extent to which distinctions
of rank are carried。  I know perfectly well how necessary are
inequalities of condition; and I am sensible of the advantages I
myself derive therefrom; but I would not have these institutions
prove a barrier to the small chance of happiness which I may enjoy
on this earth。

I have lately become acquainted with a Miss B; a very agreeable
girl; who has retained her natural manners in the midst of artificial
life。  Our first conversation pleased us both equally; and; at
taking leave; I requested permission to visit her。  She consented
in so obliging a manner; that I waited with impatience for the
arrival of the happy moment。  She is not a native of this place;
but resides here with her aunt。  The countenance of the old lady
is not prepossessing。  I paid her much attention; addressing the
greater part of my conversation to her; and; in less than half an
hour; I discovered what her niece subsequently acknowledged to me;
that her aged aunt; having but a small fortune; and a still smaller
share of understanding; enjoys no satisfaction except in the
pedigree of her ancestors; no protection save in her noble birth;
and no enjoyment but in looking from her castle over the heads of
the humble citizens。  She was; no doubt; handsome in her youth;
and in her early years probably trifled away her time in rendering
many a poor youth the sport of her caprice: in her riper years she
has submitted to the yoke of a veteran officer; who; in return for
her person and her small independence; has spent with her what we
may designate her age of brass。  He is dead; and she is now a
widow; and deserted。  She spends her iron age alone; and would not
be approached; except for the loveliness of her niece。

JANUARY 8; 1772。

What beings are men; whose whole thoughts are occupied with form
and ceremony; who for years together devote their mental and
physical exertions to the task of advancing themselves but one
step; and endeavouring to occupy a higher place at the table。  Not
that such persons would otherwise want employment: on the contrary;
they give themselves much trouble by neglecting important business
for such petty trifles。  Last week a question of precedence arose
at a sledging…party; and all our amusement was spoiled。

The silly creatures cannot see that it is not place which constitutes
real greatness; since the man who occupies the first place but
seldom plays the principal part。  How many kings are governed by
their ministers  how many ministers by their secretaries?  Who; in
such cases; is really the chief?  He; as it seems to me; who can
see through the others; and possesses strength or skill enough to
make their power or passions subservient to the execution of his
own designs。

JANUARY 20。

I must write to you from this place; my dear Charlotte; from a
small room in a country inn; where I have taken shelter from a
severe storm。  During my whole residence in that wretched place
D; where I lived amongst strangers;  strangers; indeed; to
this heart;  I never at any time felt the smallest inclination
to correspond with you; but in this cottage; in this retirement;
in this solitude; with the snow and hail beating against my
lattice…pane; you are my first thought。  The instant I entered;
your figure rose up before me; and the remembrance!  O my Charlotte;
the sacred; tender remembrance!  Gracious Heaven! restore to me
the happy moment of our first acquaintance。

Could you but see me; my dear Charlotte; in the whirl of
dissipation;  how my senses are dried up; but my heart is at no
time full。  I enjoy no single moment of happiness: all is vain 
nothing touches me。  I stand; as it wer

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