the sorrows of young werther-第12部分

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aid；　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　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