少年维特之烦恼(英文版)-第23部分

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to　ply　with　her　request。　He　trembled　；　his　heart　was　ready　to　burst
：　then　，　taking　up　the　book　again　，　he　remenced　reading　，　in　a
voice　broken　by　sobs。　〃Why　dost　thou　waken　me　，　O　spring　？　Thy　voice
woos　me　，　exclaiming　，　I　refresh　thee　with　heavenly　dews；　but　the　time
of　my　decay　is　approaching，　the　storm　is　nigh　that　shall　whither　my　leaves。
Tomorrow　the　traveller　shall　e　，　he　shall　e，　who　beheld　me　in
beauty：　his　eye　shall　seek　me　in　the　field　around，　but　he　shall　not
find　me。〃

　　The　whole　force　of　these　words　fell　upon　the　unfortunate　Werther。
Full　of　despair　，　he　threw　himself　at　Charlotte's　feet　，　seized　her
hands　，　and　pressed　them　to　his　eyes　and　to　his　forehead。　An　apprehension
of　his　fatal　project　now　struck　her　for　the　first　time。　Her　senses　were
bewildered：　she　held　his　hands　，　pressed　them　to　her　bosom；　and，　leaning
toward　him　with　emotions　of　the　tenderest　pity，　her　warm　cheek　touched
his。　They　lost　sight　of　everything。　The　world　disappeared　from　their　eyes。
He　clasped　her　in　his　arms，　strained　her　to　his　bosom，　and　covered　her
trembling　lips　with　passionate　kisses。　〃Werther　！〃　she　cried　with　a　faint
voice　，　turning　herself　away　；　〃Werther　！〃　and　，　with　a　feeble　hand，
she　pushed　him　from　her。　At　length，　with　the　firm　voice　of　virtue，　she
exclaimed　，　〃Werther　！〃　He　resisted　not　，　but，　tearing　himself　from
her　arms，　fell　on　his　knees　before　her。　Charlotte　rose　，　and，　with
disordered　grief，　in　mingled　tones　of　love　and　resentment，　she　exclaimed，
〃It　is　the　last　time，　Werther！　You　shall　never　see　me　any　more！〃　Then，
casting　one　last，　tender　look　upon　her　unfortunate　lover　，　she　rushed
into　the　adjoining　room　，　and　locked　the　door。　Werther　held　out　his　arms，
but　did　not　dare　to　detain　her。　He　continued　on　the　ground，　with　his
head　resting　on　the　sofa，　for　half　an　hour　，　till　he　heard　a　noise　which
brought　him　to　his　senses。　The　servant　entered。　He　then　walked　up　and
down　the　room　；　and，　when　he　was　again　left　alone　，　he　went　to　Charlotte's
door，　and，　in　a　low　voice　，　said　，　〃Charlotte　，　Charlotte！　but　one
word　more　，　one　last　adieu　！〃　She　returned　no　answer。　He　stopped，　and
listened　and　entreated；　but　all　was　silent。　At　length　he　tore　himself
from　the　place，　crying　，　〃Adieu　，　Charlotte，　adieu　for　ever　！〃

　　Werther　ran　to　the　gate　of　the　town。　The　guards　，　who　knew　him　，
let　him　pass　in　silence。　The　night　was　dark　and　stormy，——　it　rained
and　snowed。　He　reached　his　own　door　about　eleven。　His　servant　，　although
seeing　him　enter　the　house　without　his　hat，　did　not　venture　to　say　anything
；　and；　as　he　undressed　his　master　，　he　found　that　his　clothes　were
wet。　His　hat　was　afterward　found　on　the　point　of　a　rock　overhanging　the
valley；　and　it　is　inconceivable　how　he　could　have　climbed　to　the　summit
on　such　a　dark，　tempestuous　night　without　losing　his　life。

　　He　retired　to　bed　，　and　slept　to　a　late　hour。　The　next　morning　his
servant　，　upon　being　called　to　bring　his　coffee，　found　him　writing。
He　was　adding　，　to　Charlotte　，　what　we　here　annex。

　　〃For　the　last　，　last　time　I　open　these　eyes。　Alas！　they　will　behold
the　sun　no　more。　It　is　covered　by　a　thick　，　impenetrable　cloud。　Yes，
Nature！　put　on　mourning：　your　child　，　your　friend，　your　lover　，　draws
near　his　end！　This　thought　，　Charlotte，　is　without　parallel；　and　yet
it　seems　like　a　mysterious　dream　when　I　repeat——　this　is　my　last　day！
The　last！　Charlotte，　no　word　can　adequately　express　this　thought。　The
last！　To…day　I　stand　erect　in　all　my　strength　to…morrow，　cold　and　stark，
I　shall　lie　extended　upon　the　ground。　To　die！　what　is　death？　We　do　but
dream　in　our　discourse　upon　it。　I　have　seen　many　human　beings　die　；　but，
so　straitened　is　our　feeble　nature，　we　have　no　clear　conception　of　the
beginning　or　the　end　of　our　existence。　At　this　moment　I　am　my　own　——
or　rather　I　am　thine，　thine，　my　adored！　and　the　next　we　are　parted　，
severed　——　perhaps　for　ever　！　No　，　Charlotte，　no　！　How　can　I，　how
can　you　，　be　annihilated　？　We　exist。　What　is　annihilation　？　A　mere
word，　an　unmeaning　sound　that　fixes　no　impression　on　the　mind。　Dead，
Charlotte　！　laid　in　the　cold　earth　，　in　the　dark　and　narrow　grave　！
I　had　a　friend　once　who　was　everything　to　me　in　early　youth。　She　died。
I　followed　her　hearse　；　I　stood　by　her　grave　when　the　coffin　was　lowered
；　and　when　I　heard　the　creaking　of　the　cords　as　they　were　loosened　and
drawn　up，　when　the　first　shovelful　of　earth　was　thrown　in，　and　the　coffin
returned　a　hollow　sound　，　which　grew　fainter　and　fainter　till　all　was
pletely　covered　over　，　I　threw　myself　on　the　ground　；　my　heart　was
smitten　，　grieved，　shattered，　rent　——　but　I　neither　knew　what　had
happened，　nor　what　was　to　happen　to　me。　Death！　the　grave！　I　understand
not　the　words。——　Forgive，　oh　，　forgive　me　！　Yesterday——　ah　，　that
day　should　have　been　the　last　of　my　life！　Thou　angel　！　for　the　first
time　in　my　existence，　I　felt　rapture　glow　within　my　inmost　soul。　She
loves　，　she　loves　me　！　Still　burns　upon　my　lips　the　sacred　fire　they
received　from　thine。　New　torrents　of　delight　overwhelm　my　soul。　Forgive
me，　oh　，　forgive！

　　〃I　knew　that　I　was　dear　to　you；　I　saw　it　in　your　first　entrancing
look，　knew　it　by　the　first　pressure　of　your　hand　；　but　when　I　was　absent
from　you，　when　I　saw　Albert　at　your　side　，　my　doubts　and　fears　returned。

　　〃Do　you　remember　the　flowers　you　sent　me，　when　，　at　that　crowded
assembly，　you　could　neither　speak　nor　extend　your　hand　to　me　？　Half
the　night　I　was　on　my　knees　before　those　flowers，　and　I　regarded　them
as　the　pledges　of　your　love　；　but　those　impressions　grew　fainter　，　and
were　at　length　effaced。

　　〃Everything　passes　away　；　but　a　whole　eternity　could　not　extinguish
the　living　flame　which　was　yesterday　kindled　by　your　lips　，　and　which
now　burns　within　me。　She　loves　me　！　These　arms　have　encircled　her　waist，
these　lips　have　trembled　upon　hers。　She　is　mine　！　Yes，　Charlotte，　you
are　mine　for　ever　！

　　〃And　what　do　they　mean　by　saying　Albert　is　your　husband　？　He　may
be　so　for　this　world；　and　in　this　world　it　is　a　sin　to　love　you，　to
wish　to　tear　you　from　his　embrace。　Yes，　it　is　a　crime；　and　I　suffer
the　punishment，　but　I　have　enjoyed　the　full　delight　of　my　sin。　I　have
inhaled　a　balm　that　has　revived　my　soul。　From　this　hour　you　are　mine；
yes　，　Charlotte，　you　are　mine　！　I　go　before　you。　I　go　to　my　Father
and　to　your　Father。　I　will　pour　out　my　sorrows　before　him　，　and　he　will
give　me　fort　till　you　arrive。　Then　will　I　fly　to　meet　you。　I　will　claim
you　，　and　remain　your　eternal　embrace，　in　the　presence　of　the　Almighty。

　　〃I　do　not　dream　，　I　do　not　rave。　Drawing　nearer　to　the　grave　my　perceptions
bee　clearer。　We　shall　exist；　we　shall　see　each　other　again；　we　shall
behold　your　mother；　I　shall　behold　her　，　and　expose　to　her　my　inmost
heart。　Your　mother——　your　image　！〃

　　About　eleven　o'clock　Werther　asked　his　servant　if　Albert　had　returned。
He　answered　，　〃Yes　；〃　for　he　had　seen　him　pass　on　horseback　：　upon
which　Werther　sent　him　the　following　note　，　unsealed　：

　　〃Be　so　good　as　to　lend　me　your　pistols　for　a　journey。　Adieu。〃

　　Charlotte　had　slept　little　during　the　past　night。　All　her　apprehensions
were　realised　in　a　way　that　she　could　neither　foresee　nor　avoid。　Her　blood
was　boiling　in　her　veins，　and　a　thousand　painful　sensations　rent　her
pure　heart。　Was　it　the　ardour　of　Werther's　passionate　embraces　that　she
felt　within　her　bosom　？　Was　it　anger　at　his　daring　？　Was　it　the　sad
parison　of　her　present　condition　with　former　days　of　innocence　，　tranquillity，
and　self…confidence　？　How　could　she　approach　her　husband　，　and　confess
a　scene　which　she　had　no　reason　to　conceal，　and　which　she　yet　felt　，
nevertheless，　unwilling　to　avow？　They　had　preserved　so　long　a　silence
toward　each　other　and　should　she　be　the　first　to　break　it　by　so　unexpected
a　discovery　？　She　feared　that　the　mere　statement　of　Werther's　visit　would
trouble　him　，　and　his　distress　would　be　heightened　by　her　perfect　candour。
She　wished　that　he　could　see　her　in　her　true　light，　and　judge　her　without
prejudice　；　but　was　she　anxious　that　he　should　read　her　inmost　soul？
On　the　other　hand　，　could　she　deceive　a　being　to　whom　all　her　thoughts
had　ever　been　exposed　as　clearly　as　crystal　，　and　from　whom　no　sentiment
had　ever　been　concealed　？　These　reflections　made　her　anxious　and　thoughtful。
Her　mind　still　dwelt　on　Werther　，　who　was　now　lost　to　her，　but　whom
she　could　not　bring　herself　to　resign　，　and　for　whom　she　knew　nothing
was　left　but　despair　if　she　should　be　lost　to　him　for　ever。

　　A　recollection　of　that　mysterious　estrangement　which　had　lately　subsisted
between　herself　and　Albert，　and　which　she　could　never　thoroughly　understand，
was　now　beyond　measure　painful　to　her。　Even　the　prudent　and　the　good　have
before　now　hesitated　to　explain　their　mutual　differences，　and　have　dwelt
in　silence　upon　their　imaginary　grievances，　until　circumstances　have
bee　so　entangled　，　that　in　that　critical　juncture　，　when　a　calm　explanation
would　have　saved　all　parties，　an　understanding　was　impossible。　And　thus
if　domestic　confidence　had　been　earlier　established　between　them，　if
love　and　kind　forbearance　had　mutually　animated　and　expanded　their　hearts，
it　might　not，　perhaps，　even　yet　have　been　too　late　to　save　our　friend。

　　But　we　must　not　forget　one　remarkable　circumstance。　We　may　observe
from　the　character　of　Werther's　correspondence，　that　he　had　never　affected
to　conceal　his　anxious　desire　to　quit　this　world。　He　had　often　discussed
the　subject　with　Albert　；　and，　between　the　latter　and　Charlotte　，　it
had　not　unfrequently　formed　a　topic　of　conversation。　Albert　was　so　opposed
to　the　very　idea　of　such　an　action，　that　，　with　a　degree　of　irritation
unusual　in　him，　he　had　more　than　once　given　Werther　to　understand　that
he　doubted　the　seriousness　of　his　threats　，　and　not　only　turned　them
into　ridicule　，　but　caused　Charlotte　to　share　his　feelings　of　incredulity。
Her　heart　was　thus　tranquillised　when　she　felt　disposed　to　view　the　melancholy
subje