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第4节

the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第4节


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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 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
e

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