太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼) >

第14节

the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第14节


按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



time full。  I enjoy no single moment of happiness: all is vain 
nothing touches me。  I stand; as it were; before the raree…show:
I see the little puppets move; and I ask whether it is not an
optical illusion。  I am amused with these puppets; or; rather; I
am myself one of them: but; when I sometimes grasp my neighbour's
hand; I feel that it is not natural; and I withdraw mine with a
shudder。  In the evening I say I will enjoy the next morning's
sunrise; and yet I remain in bed: in the day I promise to ramble
by moonlight; and I; nevertheless; remain at home。  I know not why
I rise; nor why I go to sleep。

The leaven which animated my existence is gone: the charm which
cheered me in the gloom of night; and aroused me from my morning
slumbers; is for ever fled。

I have found but one being here to interest me; a Miss B。  She
resembles you; my dear Charlotte; if any one can possibly resemble
you。  〃Ah!〃 you will say; 〃he has learned how to pay fine compliments。〃
And this is partly true。  I have been very agreeable lately; as
it was not in my power to be otherwise。  I have; moreover; a deal
of wit: and the ladies say that no one understands flattery better;
or falsehoods you will add; since the one accomplishment invariably
accompanies the other。  But I must tell you of Miss B。  She has
abundance of soul; which flashes from her deep blue eyes。  Her
rank is a torment to her; and satisfies no one desire of her heart。
She would gladly retire from this whirl of fashion; and we often
picture to ourselves a life of undisturbed happiness in distant
scenes of rural retirement: and then we speak of you; my dear
Charlotte; for she knows you; and renders homage to your merits;
but her homage is not exacted; but voluntary; she loves you; and
delights to hear you made the subject of conversation。

Oh; that I were sitting at your feet in your favourite little room;
with the dear children playing around us!  If they became troublesome
to you; I would tell them some appalling goblin story; and they
would crowd round me with silent attention。  The sun is setting
in glory; his last rays are shining on the snow; which covers the
face of the country: the storm is over; and I must return to my
dungeon。  Adieu! Is Albert with you? and what is he to you?  God
forgive the question。

FEBRUARY 8。

For a week past we have had the most wretched weather: but this
to me is a blessing; for; during my residence here; not a single
fine day has beamed from the heavens; but has been lost to me by
the intrusion of somebody。  During the severity of rain; sleet;
frost; and storm; I congratulate myself that it cannot be worse
indoors than abroad; nor worse abroad than it is within doors; and
so I become reconciled。  When the sun rises bright in the morning;
and promises a glorious day; I never omit to exclaim; 〃There; now;
they have another blessing from Heaven; which they will be sure
to destroy: they spoil everything;  health; fame; happiness;
amusement; and they do this generally through folly; ignorance;
or imbecility; and always; according to their own account; with
the best intentions!〃  I could often beseech them; on my bended
knees; to be less resolved upon their own destruction。

FEBRUARY 17。

I fear that my ambassador and I shall not continue much longer
together。  He is really growing past endurance。  He transacts
his business in so ridiculous a manner; that I am often compelled
to contradict him; and do things my own way; and then; of course;
he thinks them very ill done。  He complained of me lately on this
account at court; and the minister gave me a reprimand;  a
gentle one it is true; but still a reprimand。  In consequence of
this; I was about to tender my resignation; when I received a
letter; to which I submitted with great respect; on account of the
high; noble; and generous spirit which dictated it。  He endeavoured
to soothe my excessive sensibility; paid a tribute to my extreme
ideas of duty; of good example; and of perseverance in business;
as the fruit of my youthful ardour; an impulse which he did not
seek to destroy; but only to moderate; that it might have proper
play and be productive of good。  So now I am at rest for another
week; and no longer at variance with myself。  Content and peace
of mind are valuable things: I could wish; my dear friend; that
these precious jewels were less transitory。  

FERRUARY 20。

God bless you; my dear friends; and may he grant you that happiness
which he denies to me!

I thank you; Albert; for having deceived me。  I waited for the
news that your wedding…day was fixed; and I intended on that day;
with solemnity; to take down Charlotte's profile from the wall;
and to bury it with some other papers I possess。  You are now
united; and her picture still remains here。  Well; let it remain!
Why should it not?  I know that I am still one of your society;
that I still occupy a place uninjured in Charlotte's heart; that
I hold the second place therein; and I intend to keep it。  Oh; I
should become mad if she could forget!  Albert; that thought is
hell!  Farewell; Albert farewell; angel of heaven farewell; Charlotte!

MARCH 15。

I have just had a sad adventure; which will drive me away from
here。  I lose all patience!  Death!  It is not to be remedied;
and you alone are to blame; for you urged and impelled me to fill
a post for which I was by no means suited。  I have now reason to
be satisfied; and so have you!  But; that you may not again attribute
this fatality to my impetuous temper; I send you; my dear sir; a
plain and simple narration of the affair; as a mere chronicler of
facts would describe it。

The Count of O likes and distinguishes me。  It is well known;
and I have mentioned this to you a hundred times。  Yesterday I
dined with him。  It is the day on which the nobility are accustomed
to assemble at his house in the evening。  I never once thought of
the assembly; nor that we subalterns did not belong to such society。
Well; I dined with the count; and; after dinner; we adjourned to
the large hall。  We walked up and down together: and I conversed
with him; and with Colonel B; who joined us; and in this manner
the hour for the assembly approached。  God knows; I was thinking
of nothing; when who should enter but the honourable Lady accompanied
by her noble husband and their silly; scheming daughter; with her
small waist and flat neck; and; with disdainful looks and a haughty
air they passed me by。  As I heartily detest the whole race; I
determined upon going away; and only waited till the count had
disengaged himself from their impertinent prattle; to take leave;
when the agreeable Miss B came in。  As I never meet her without
experiencing a heartfelt pleasure; I stayed and talked to her;
leaning over the back of her chair; and did not perceive; till
after some time; that she seemed a little confused; and ceased to
answer me with her usual ease of manner。  I was struck with it。
〃Heavens!〃 I said to myself; 〃can she; too; be like the rest?〃  I
felt annoyed; and was about to withdraw; but I remained;
notwithstanding; forming excuses for her conduct; fancying she did
not mean it; and still hoping to receive some friendly recognition。
The rest of the company now arrived。 There was the Baron F ; in
an entire suit that dated from the coronation of Francis I。; the
Chancellor N; with his deaf wife; the shabbily…dressed I; whose
old…fashioned coat bore evidence of modern repairs: this crowned
the whole。  I conversed with some of my acquaintances; but they
answered me laconically。  I was engaged in observing Miss B; and
did not notice that the women were whispering at the end of the
room; that the murmur extended by degrees to the men; that Madame
S addressed the count with much warmth (this was all related to
me subsequently by Miss B); till at length the count came up to
me; and took me to the window。  〃You know our ridiculous customs;〃
he said。  〃I perceive the company is rather displeased at your
being here。  I would not on any account〃  〃I beg your excellency's
pardon!〃 I exclaimed。  〃I ought to have thought of this before;
but I know you will forgive this little inattention。  I was going;〃
I added; 〃some time ago; but my evil genius detained me。〃  And I
smiled and bowed; to take my leave。  He shook me by the hand; in
a manner which expressed everything。  I hastened at once from the
illustrious assembly; sprang into a carriage; and drove to M。
I contemplated the setting sun from the top of the hill; and read
that beautiful passage in Homer; where Ulysses is entertained by
the hospitable herdsmen。  This was indeed delightful。
  
I returned home to supper in the evening。  But few persons were
assembled in the room。  They had turned up a corner of the table…cloth;
and were playing at dice。  The good…natured A came in。  He laid
down his hat when he saw me; approached me; and said in a low tone;
〃You have met with a disagreeable adventure。〃  〃I!〃 I exclaimed。
〃The count obliged you to withdraw from the assembly!〃  〃Deuce
take the assembly!〃 said I。  〃I was very glad to be gone。〃  〃I am
delighted;〃 he added; 〃that you take it so lightly。  I am only
sorry that it is already so much spo

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的