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！
man can instil his strength into the invalid； by whose bedside he
is seated。〃
Albert thought this too general。 I reminded him of a girl who had
drowned herself a short time previously； and I related her history。
She was a good creature； who had grown up in the narrow sphere of
household industry and weekly appointed labour； one who knew no
pleasure beyond indulging in a walk on Sundays； arrayed in her
best attire； accompanied by her friends； or perhaps joining in the
dance now and then at some festival； and chatting away her spare
hours with a neighbour； discussing the scandal or the quarrels of
the village； trifles sufficient to occupy her heart。 At length
the warmth of her nature is influenced by certain new and unknown
wishes。 Inflamed by the flatteries of men； her former pleasures
become by degrees insipid； till at length she meets with a youth
to whom she is attracted by an indescribable feeling； upon him she
now rests all her hopes； she forgets the world around her； she
sees； hears； desires nothing but him； and him only。 He alone
occupies all her thoughts。 Uncorrupted by the idle indulgence of
an enervating vanity； her affection moving steadily toward its
object； she hopes to become his； and to realise； in an everlasting
union with him； all that happiness which she sought； all that bliss
for which she longed。 His repeated promises confirm her hopes：
embraces and endearments； which increase the ardour of her desires；
overmaster her soul。 She floats in a dim； delusive anticipation
of her happiness； and her feelings become excited to their utmost
tension。 She stretches out her arms finally to embrace the object
of all her wishes and her lover forsakes her。 Stunned and bewildered；
she stands upon a precipice。 All is darkness around her。 No
prospect； no hope； no consolation forsaken by him in whom her
existence was centred！ She sees nothing of the wide world before
her； thinks nothing of the many individuals who might supply the
void in her heart； she feels herself deserted； forsaken by the
world； and； blinded and impelled by the agony which wrings her
soul； she plunges into the deep； to end her sufferings in the broad
embrace of death。 See here； Albert； the history of thousands； and
tell me； is not this a case of physical infirmity？ Nature has no
way to escape from the labyrinth： her powers are exhausted： she
can contend no longer； and the poor soul must die。
〃Shame upon him who can look on calmly； and exclaim； 'The foolish
girl！ she should have waited； she should have allowed time to wear
off the impression； her despair would have been softened； and she
would have found another lover to comfort her。' One might as well
say； 'The fool； to die of a fever！ why did he not wait till his
strength was restored； till his blood became calm？ all would then
have gone well； and he would have been alive now。'〃
Albert； who could not see the justice of the comparison； offered
some further objections； and； amongst others； urged that I had
taken the case of a mere ignorant girl。 But how any man of sense；
of more enlarged views and experience； could be excused； he was
unable to comprehend。 〃My friend！〃 I exclaimed； 〃man is but man；
and； whatever be the extent of his reasoning powers； they are of
little avail when passion rages within； and he feels himself
confined by the narrow limits of nature。 It were better； then
but we will talk of this some other time；〃 I said； and caught up
my hat。 Alas！ my heart was full； and we parted without conviction
on either side。 How rarely in this world do men understand each
other！
AUGUST 15。
There can be no doubt that in this world nothing is so indispensable
as love。 I observe that Charlotte could not lose me without a
pang； and the very children have but one wish； that is； that I
should visit them again to…morrow。 I went this afternoon to tune
Charlotte's piano。 But I could not do it； for the little ones
insisted on my telling them a story； and Charlotte herself urged
me to satisfy them。 I waited upon them at tea； and they are now
as fully contented with me as with Charlotte； and I told them my
very best tale of the princess who was waited upon by dwarfs。
I improve myself by this exercise； and am quite surprised at the
impression my stories create。 If I sometimes invent an incident
which I forget upon the next narration； they remind one directly
that the story was different before； so that I now endeavour to
relate with exactness the same anecdote in the same monotonous
tone； which never changes。 I find by this； how much an author
injures his works by altering them； even though they be improved
in a poetical point of view。 The first impression is readily
received。 We are so constituted that we believe the most incredible
things； and； once they are engraved upon the memory； woe to him
who would endeavour to efface them。
AUGUST 18。
Must it ever be thus； that the source of our happiness must
also be the fountain of our misery？ The full and ardent sentiment
which animated my heart with the love of nature； overwhelming me
with a torrent of delight； and which brought all paradise before
me； has now become an insupportable torment； a demon which perpetually
pursues and harasses me。 When in bygone days I gazed from these
rocks upon yonder mountains across the river； and upon the green；
flowery valley before me； and saw alI nature budding and bursting
around； the hills clothed from foot to peak with tall； thick forest
trees； the valleys in all their varied windings； shaded with the
loveliest woods； and the soft river gliding along amongst the
lisping reeds； mirroring the beautiful clouds which the soft evening
breeze wafted across the sky； when I heard the groves about me
melodious with the music of birds； and saw the million swarms of
insects dancing in the last golden beams of the sun； whose setting
rays awoke the humming beetles from their grassy beds； whilst the
subdued tumult around directed my attention to the ground； and I
there observed the arid rock compelled to yield nutriment to the
dry moss； whilst the heath flourished upon the barren sands below
me； all this displayed to me the inner warmth which animates all
nature； and filled and glowed within my heart。 I felt myself
exalted by this overflowing fulness to the perception of the
Godhead； and the glorious forms of an infinite universe became
visible to my soul！ Stupendous mountains encompassed me； abysses
yawned at my feet； and cataracts fell headlong down before me；
impetuous rivers rolled through the plain； and rocks and mountains
resounded from afar。 In the depths of the earth I saw innumerable
powers in motion； and multiplying to infinity； whilst upon its
surface； and beneath the heavens； there teemed ten thousand varieties
of living creatures。 Everything around is alive with an infinite
number of forms； while mankind fly for security to their petty
houses； from the shelter of which they rule in their imaginations
over the wide…extended universe。 Poor fool！ in whose petty
estimation all things are little。 From the inaccessible mountains；
across the desert which no mortal foot has trod