the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第21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！


cannot　be　saved！〃

Werther　was　highly　incensed　at　the　observations　which　Albert　had
made　to　the　judge　in　this　matter　of　the　prisoner。　　He　thought　he
could　detect　therein　a　little　bitterness　toward　himself　personally；
and　although；　upon　reflection；　it　could　not　escape　his　sound
judgment　that　their　view　of　the　matter　was　correct；　he　felt　the
greatest　possible　reluctance　to　make　such　an　admission。

A　memorandum　of　Werther's　upon　this　point；　expressive　of　his　general
feelings　toward　Albert；　has　been　found　amongst　his　papers。

〃What　is　the　use　of　my　continually　repeating　that　he　is　a　good　and
estimable　man？　　He　is　an　inward　torment　to　me；　and　I　am　incapable
of　being　just　toward　him。〃

One　fine　evening　in　winter；　when　the　weather　seemed　inclined　to
thaw；　Charlotte　and　Albert　were　returning　home　together。　　The
former　looked　from　time　to　time　about　her；　as　if　she　missed　Werther's
company。　　Albert　began　to　speak　of　him；　and　censured　him　for　his
prejudices。　　He　alluded　to　his　unfortunate　attachment；　and　wished
it　were　possible　to　discontinue　his　acquaintance。　〃I　desire　it　on
our　own　account；〃　he　added；　〃and　I　request　you　will　compel　him　to
alter　his　deportment　toward　you；　and　to　visit　you　less　frequently。
The　world　is　censorious；　and　I　know　that　here　and　there　we　are
spoken　of。〃　　Charlotte　made　no　reply；　and　Albert　seemed　to　feel
her　silence。　　At　least；　from　that　time　he　never　again　spoke　of
Werther；　and；　when　she　introduced　the　subject；　he　allowed　the
conversation　to　die　away；　or　else　he　directed　the　discourse　into
another　channel。

The　vain　attempt　Werther　had　made　to　save　the　unhappy　murderer　was
the　last　feeble　glimmering　of　a　flame　about　to　be　extinguished。
He　sank　almost　immediately　afterward　into　a　state　of　gloom　and
inactivity；　until　he　was　at　length　brought　to　perfect　distraction
by　learning　that　he　was　to　be　summoned　as　a　witness　against　the
prisoner；　who　asserted　his　complete　innocence。

His　mind　now　became　oppressed　by　the　recollection　of　every　misfortune
of　his　past　life。　　The　mortification　he　had　suffered　at　the
ambassador's；　and　his　subsequent　troubles；　were　revived　in　his
memory。　　He　became　utterly　inactive。　　Destitute　of　energy；　he　was
cut　off　from　every　pursuit　and　occupation　which　compose　the　business
of　common　life；　and　he　became　a　victim　to　his　own　susceptibility；
and　to　his　restless　passion　for　the　most　amiable　and　beloved　of
women；　whose　peace　he　destroyed。　　In　this　unvarying　monotony　of
existence　his　days　were　consumed；　and　his　powers　became　exhausted
without　aim　or　design；　until　they　brought　him　to　a　sorrowful　end。

A　few　letters　which　he　left　behind；　and　which　we　here　subjoin；
afford　the　best　proofs　of　his　anxiety　of　mind　and　of　the　depth
of　his　passion；　as　well　as　of　his　doubts　and　struggles；　and　of
his　weariness　of　life。

DECEMBER　12。

Dear　Wilhelm；　I　am　reduced　to　the　condition　of　those　unfortunate
wretches　who　believe　they　are　pursued　by　an　evil　spirit。　　Sometimes
I　am　oppressed；　not　by　apprehension　or　fear；　but　by　an　inexpressible
internal　sensation；　which　weighs　upon　my　heart；　and　impedes　my
breath！　　Then　I　wander　forth　at　night；　even　in　this　tempestuous
season；　and　feel　pleasure　in　surveying　the　dreadful　scenes　around
me。

Yesterday　evening　I　went　forth。　　A　rapid　thaw　had　suddenly　set
in：　I　had　been　informed　that　the　river　had　risen；　that　the　brooks
had　all　overflowed　their　banks；　and　that　the　whole　vale　of　Walheim
was　under　water！　　Upon　the　stroke　of　twelve　I　hastened　forth。　　I
beheld　a　fearful　sight。　　The　foaming　torrents　rolled　from　the
mountains　in　the　moonlight；　　fields　and　meadows；　trees　and
hedges；　were　confounded　together；　and　the　entire　valley　was
converted　into　a　deep　lake；　which　was　agitated　by　the　roaring
wind！　　And　when　the　moon　shone　forth；　and　tinged　the　black　clouds
with　silver；　and　the　impetuous　torrent　at　my　feet　foamed　and　resounded
with　awful　and　grand　impetuosity；　I　was　overcome　by　a　mingled　sensation
of　apprehension　and　delight。　　With　extended　arms　I　looked　down　into
the　yawning　abyss；　and　cried；　〃Plunge！'〃　For　a　moment　my　senses
forsook　me；　in　the　intense　delight　of　ending　my　sorrows　and　my
sufferings　by　a　plunge　into　that　gulf！　　And　then　I　felt　as　if　I
were　rooted　to　the　earth；　and　incapable　of　seeking　an　end　to　my
woes！　　But　my　hour　is　not　yet　come：　I　feel　it　is　not。　　O　Wilhelm；
how　willingly　could　I　abandon　my　existence　to　ride　the　whirlwind；
or　to　embrace　the　torrent！　and　then　might　not　rapture　perchance　be
the　portion　of　this　liberated　soul？

I　turned　my　sorrowful　eyes　toward　a　favourite　spot；　where　I　was
accustomed　to　sit　with　Charlotte　beneath　a　willow　after　a　fatiguing
walk。　　Alas！　it　was　covered　with　water；　and　with　difficulty　I　found
even　the　meadow。　　And　the　fields　around　the　hunting…lodge；　thought
I。　　Has　our　dear　bower　been　destroyed　by　this　unpitying　storm？
And　a　beam　of　past　happiness　streamed　upon　me；　as　the　mind　of　a
captive　is　illumined　by　dreams　of　flocks　and　herds　and　bygone　joys
of　home！　　But　I　am　free　from　blame。　　I　have　courage　to　die！　　Perhaps
I　have；　　but　I　still　sit　here；　like　a　wretched　pauper；　who　collects
fagots；　and　begs　her　bread　from　door　to　door；　that　she　may　prolong
for　a　few　days　a　miserable　existence　which　she　is　unwilling　to　resign。

DECEMBER　15。

What　is　the　matter　with　me；　dear　Wilhelm？　　I　am　afraid　of　myself！
Is　not　my　love　for　her　of　the　purest；　most　holy；　and　most　brotherly
nature？　　Has　my　soul　ever　been　sullied　by　a　single　sensual　desire？
but　I　will　make　no　protestations。　　And　now；　ye　nightly　visions；
how　truly　have　those　mortals　understood　you；　who　ascribe　your
various　contradictory　effects　to　some　invincible　power！　　This　night
I　tremble　at　the　avowal　　I　held　her　in　my　arms；　locked　in　a　close
embrace：　I　pressed　her　to　my　bosom；　and　covered　with　countless
kisses　those　dear　lips　which　murmured　in　reply　soft　protestations
of　love。　　My　sight　became　confused　by　the　delicious　intoxication
of　her　eyes。　　Heavens！　is　it　sinful　to　revel　again　in　such　happiness；
to　recall　once　more　those　rapturous　moments　with　intense　delight？
Charlotte！　　Charlotte！　　I　am　lost！　　My　senses　are　bewildered；　my
recollection　is　confused；　mine　eyes　are　bathed　in　tears　　I　am
ill；　and　yet　I　am　well　　I　wish　for　nothing　　I　have　no　desires
　it　were　better　I　were　gone。

Under　the　circumstances　narrated　above；　a　determination　to　quit
this　world　had　now　taken　fixed　possession　of　Werther's　soul。　　Since
Charlotte's　return；　this　thought　had　been　the　final　object　of　all
his　hopes　and　wishes；　but　he　had　resolved　that　such　a　step　should
not　be　taken　with　precipitation；　but　with　calmness　and　tranquillity；
and　with　the　most　perfect　deliberation。

His　troubles　and　internal　struggles　may　be　understood　from　the
following　fragment；　which　was　found；　without　any　date；　amongst
his　papers；　and　appears　to　have　formed　the　beginning　of　a　letter
to　Wilhelm。

〃Her　presence；　her　fate；　her　sympathy　for　me；　have　power　still　to
extract　tears　from　my　withered　brain。

〃One　lifts　up　the　curtain；　and　passes　to　the　other　side；　　that
is　all！　　And　why　all　these　doubts　and　delays？　　Because　we　know　not
what　is　behind　　because　there　is　no　returning　　and　because　our
mind　infers　that　all　is　darkness　and　confusion；　where　we　have
nothing　but　uncertainty。〃

His　appearance　at　length　became　quite　altered　by　the　effect　of
his　melancholy　thoughts；　and　his　resolution　was　now　finally　and
irrevocably　taken；　of　which　the　following　ambiguous　letter；　which
he　addressed　to　his　friend；　may　appear　to　afford　some　proof。

DECEMBER　2O。

I　am　grateful　to　your　love；　Wilhelm；　for　having　repeated　your
advice　so　seasonably。　　Yes；　you　are　right：　it　is　undoubtedly
better　that　I　should　depart。　　But　I　do　not　entirely　approve　your
scheme　of　returning　at　once　to　your　neighbourhood；　at　least；　I
should　Iike　to　make　a　little　excursion　on　the　way；　particularly
as　we　may　now　expect　a　continued　frost；　and　consequently　good
roads。　　I　am　much　pleased　with　your　intention　of　coming　to　fetch
me；　only　delay　your　journey　for　a　fortnight；　and　wait　for　another
letter　from　me。　　One　should　gather　nothing　before　it　is　ripe；　and
a　fortnight　sooner　or　later　makes　a　great　difference。　　Entreat　my
mother　to　pray　for　her　son；　and　tell　her　I　beg　her　pardon　for　all
the　unhappiness　I　have　occasioned　her。　　It　has　ever　been　my　fate
to　give　pain　to　those　whose　happiness　I　should　have　promoted。
Adieu；　my　dearest　friend。　　May　every　blessing　of　Heaven　attend
you！　　Farewell。

We　find　it　difficult　to　express　the　emotions　with　which　Charlotte's
soul　was　agitated　during　the　whole　of　this　time；　whether　in　relation
to　her　husband　or　to　her　unfortunate　friend；　although　we　are　enabled；
by　our　knowledge　of　her　character；　to　understand　their　nature。

It　is　certain　that　she　had　formed　a　determination；　by　every　means
in　her　power　to　keep　Werther　at　a　distance；　and；　if　she　hesitated
in　her　decision；　it　was　from　a　sincere　feeling　of　friendly　pity；
knowing　how　much　it　would　cost　him；　indeed；　that　he　would　find　it
almost　impossible　to　comply　with　her　wishes。　　But　various　causes
now　urged　her　to　be　firm。　　Her　hushand　preserved　a　strict　silence
about　the　whole　matter；　and　she　never　made　it　a　subject　of
conversation；　feeling　bound　to　prove