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！
her hand； kissed it in a stream of delicious tears； and again
looked up to her eyes。 Divine Klopstock！ why didst thou not see
thy apotheosis in those eyes？ And thy name so often profaned；
would that I never heard it repeated！
JUNE 19。
I no longer remember where I stopped in my narrative： I only know
it was two in the morning when I went to bed； and if you had been
with me； that I might have talked instead of writing to you； I
should； in all probability； have kept you up till daylight。
I think I have not yet related what happened as we rode home from
the ball； nor have I time to tell you now。 It was a most magnificent
sunrise： the whole country was refreshed； and the rain fell drop
by drop from the trees in the forest。 Our companions were asleep。
Charlotte asked me if I did not wish to sleep also； and begged of
me not to make any ceremony on her account。 Looking steadfastly
at her； I answered； 〃As long as I see those eyes open； there is
no fear of my falling asleep。〃 We both continued awake till we
reached her door。 The maid opened it softly； and assured her； in
answer to her inquiries； that her father and the children were
well； and still sleeping。 I left her asking permission to visit
her in the course of the day。 She consented； and I went； and；
since that time； sun； moon； and stars may pursue their course： I
know not whether it is day or night； the whole world is nothing
to me。
JUNE 21。
My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect； and；
whatever be my fate hereafter； I can never say that I have not
tasted joy； the purest joy of life。 You know Walheim。 I am
now completely settled there。 In that spot I am only half a league
from Charlotte； and there I enjoy myself； and taste all the pleasure
which can fall to the lot of man。
Little did I imagine； when I selected Walheim for my pedestrian
excursions； that all heaven lay so near it。 How often in my
wanderings from the hillside or from the meadows across the river；
have I beheld this hunting…lodge； which now contains within it all
the joy of my heart！
I have often； my dear Wilhelm； reflected on the eagerness men feel
to wander and make new discoveries； and upon that secret impulse
which afterward inclines them to return to their narrow circle；
conform to the laws of custom； and embarrass themselves no longer
with what passes around them。
It is so strange how； when I came here first； and gazed upon that
lovely valley from the hillside； I felt charmed with the entire
scene surrounding me。 The little wood opposite how delightful
to sit under its shade！ How fine the view from that point of
rock！ Then； that delightful chain of hills； and the exquisite
valleys at their feet！ Could I but wander and lose myself amongst
them！ I went； and returned without finding what I wished。 Distance；
my friend； is like futurity。 A dim vastness is spread before our
souls： the perceptions of our mind are as obscure as those of our
vision； and we desire earnestly to surrender up our whole being；
that it may be filled with the complete and perfect bliss of one
glorious emotion。 But alas！ when we have attained our object；
when the distant there becomes the present here； all is changed：
we are as poor and circumscribed as ever； and our souls still
languish for unattainable happiness。
So does the restless traveller pant for his native soil； and find
in his own cottage； in the arms of his wife； in the affections of
his children； and in the labour necessary for their support； that
happiness which he had sought in vain through the wide world。
When； in the morning at sunrise； I go out to Walheim； and with my
own hands gather in the garden the pease which are to serve for
my dinner； when I sit down to shell them； and read my Homer during
the intervals； and then； selecting a saucepan from the kitchen；
fetch my own butter； put my mess on the fire； cover it up； and sit
down to stir it as occasion requires； I figure to myself the
illustrious suitors of Penelope； killing； dressing； and preparing
their own oxen and swine。 Nothing fills me with a more pure and
genuine sense of happiness than those traits of patriarchal life
which； thank Heaven！ I can imitate without affectation。 Happy is
it； indeed； for me that my heart is capable of feeling the same
simple and innocent pleasure as the peasant whose table is covered
with food of his own rearing； and who not only enjoys his meal； but
remembers with delight the happy days and sunny mornings when he
planted it； the soft evenings when he watered it； and the pleasure
he experienced in watching its daily growth。
JUNE 29。
The day before yesterday； the physician came from the town to pay
a visit to the judge。 He found me on the floor playing with
Charlotte's children。 Some of them were scrambling over me； and
others romped with me； and； as I caught and tickled them； they
made a great noise。 The doctor is a formal sort of personage： he
adjusts the plaits of his ruffles； and continually settles his
frill whilst he is talking to you； and he thought my conduct beneath
the dignity of a sensible man。 I could perceive this by his
countenance。 But I did not suffer myself to be disturbed。 I
allowed him to continue his wise conversation； whilst I rebuilt
the children's card houses for them as fast as they threw them
down。 He went about the town afterward； complaining that the
judge's children were spoiled enough before； but that now Werther
was completely ruining them。
Yes； my dear Wilhelm； nothing on this earth affects my heart so
much as children。 When I look on at their doings； when I mark in
the little creatures the seeds of all those virtues and qualities
which they will one day find so indispensable； when I behold in
the obstinate all the future firmness and constancy of a noble
character； in the capricious； that levity and gaiety of temper
which will carry them lightly over the dangers and troubles of
life； their whole nature simple and unpolluted； then I call
to mind the golden words of the Great Teacher of mankind； 〃Unless
ye become like one of these！〃 And now； my friend； these children；
who are our equals； whom we ought to consider as our models； we
treat them as though they were our subjects。 They are allowed no
will of their own。 And have we； then； none ourselves？ Whence comes
our exclusive right？ Is it because we are older and more experienced？
Great God！ from the height of thy heaven thou beholdest great
children and little children； and no others； and thy Son has long
since declared which afford thee greatest pleasure。 But they
believe in him； and hear him not； that； too； is an old story；
and they train their children after their own image； etc。
Adieu； Wilhelm： I will not further bewilder myself with this subject。
JULY 1。
The consolation Charlotte can bring to an invalid I experience
from my own heart； which suffers more from her absence than many
a poor creature lingering on a bed of sickness。 She is gone to
spend a few days in the town with a very worthy woman； who is given
over by the physicians； and wishes to have Charlotte near her in
her last moments。 I accompanied