少年维特之烦恼(英文版)-第19部分

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！


——　that　a　peasant　had　been　murdered　！　But　this　made　little　impression
upon　him。　Entering　the　apartment，　he　found　Charlotte　engaged　reasoning
with　her　father　，　who，　in　spite　of　his　infirmity，　insisted　on　going
to　the　scene　of　the　crime　，　in　order　to　institute　an　inquiry。　The　criminal
was　unknown　；　the　victim　had　been　found　dead　at　his　own　door　that　morning。
Suspicions　were　excited　：　the　murdered　man　had　been　in　the　service　of
a　widow　，　and　the　person　who　had　previously　filled　the　situation　had
been　dismissed　from　her　employment。

　　As　soon　as　Werther　heard　this　，　he　exclaimed　with　great　excitement，
〃Is　it　possible　！　I　must　go　to　the　spot——　I　cannot　delay　a　moment！
〃　He　hastened　to　Walheim。　Every　incident　returned　vividly　to　his　remembrance
；　and　he　entertained　not　the　slightest　doubt　that　that　man　was　the　murderer
to　whom　he　had　so　often　spoken，　and　for　whom　he　entertained　so　much　regard。
His　way　took　him　past　the　well…known　lime　trees　，　to　the　house　where
the　body　had　been　carried　；　and　his　feelings　were　greatly　excited　at
the　sight　of　the　fondly　recollected　spot。　That　threshold　where　the　neighbours'
children　had　so　often　played　together　was　stained　with　blood；　love　and
attachment，　the　noblest　feelings　of　human　nature　，　had　been　converted
into　violence　and　murder。　The　huge　trees　stood　there　leafless　and　covered
with　hoarfrost；　the　beautiful　hedgerows　which　surrounded　the　old　churchyard
wall　were　withered；　and　the　gravestones，　half　covered　with　snow　，　were
visible　through　the　openings。

　　As　he　approached　the　inn，　in　front　of　which　the　whole　village　was
assembled　，　screams　were　suddenly　heard。　A　troop　of　armed　peasants　was
seen　approaching，　and　every　one　exclaimed　that　the　criminal　had　been
apprehended。　Werther　looked　，　and　was　not　long　in　doubt。　The　prisoner
was　no　other　than　the　servant　，　who　had　been　formerly　so　attached　to
the　widow　，　and　whom　he　had　met　prowling　about　，　with　that　suppressed
anger　and　ill…concealed　despair　，　which　we　have　before　described。

　　〃What　have　you　done　，　unfortunate　man？〃　inquired　Werther，　as　he
advanced　toward　the　prisoner。　The　latter　turned　his　eyes　upon　him　in　silence，
and　then　replied　with　perfect　posure　；　〃No　one　will　now　marry　her　，
and　she　will　marry　no　one。〃　The　prisoner　was　taken　into　the　inn　，　and
Werther　left　the　place。　The　mind　of　Werther　was　fearfully　excited　by　this
shocking　occurrence。　He　ceased，　however，　to　be　oppressed　by　his　usual
feeling　of　melancholy　，　moroseness　，　and　indifference　to　everything
that　passed　around　him。　He　entertained　a　strong　degree　of　pity　for　the
prisoner，　and　was　seized　with　an　indescribable　anxiety　to　save　him　from
his　impending　fate。　He　considered　him　so　unfortunate，　he　deemed　his　crime
so　excusable，　and　thought　his　own　condition　so　nearly　similar，　that
he　felt　convinced　he　could　make　every　one　else　view　the　matter　in　the
light　in　which　he　saw　it　himself。　He　now　became　anxious　to　undertake　his
defence　，　and　menced　posing　an　eloquent　speech　for　the　occasion
；　and，　on　his　way　to　the　hunting…lodge，　he　could　not　refrain　from　speaking
aloud　the　statement　which　he　resolved　to　make　to　the　judge。

　　Upon　his　arrival，　he　found　Albert　had　been　before　him：　and　he　was
a　little　perplexed　by　this　meeting；　but　he　soon　recovered　himself，　and
expressed　his　opinion　with　much　warmth　to　the　judge。　The　latter　shook　，
his　head　doubtingly　；　and　although　Werther　urged　his　case　with　the　utmost
zeal，　feeling，　and　determination　in　defence　of　his　client　，　yet，　as
we　may　easily　suppose　，　the　judge　was　not　much　influenced　by　his　appeal。
On　the　contrary　，　he　interrupted　him　in　his　address，　reasoned　with　him
seriously　，　and　even　administered　a　rebuke　to　him　for　being　the　advocate
of　a　murderer。　He　demonstrated，　that　，　according　to　this　precedent，
every　law　might　be　violated　，　and　the　public　security　utterly　destroyed。
He　added，　moreover　，　that　in　such　a　case　he　could　himself　do　nothing，
without　incurring　the　greatest　responsibility　；　that　everything　must
follow　in　the　usual　course，　and　pursue　the　ordinary　channel。

　　Werther　，　however，　did　not　abandon　his　enterprise　，　and　even　besought
the　judge　to　connive　at　the　flight　of　the　prisoner。　But　this　proposal
was　peremptorily　rejected。　Albert　，　who　had　taken　some　part　in　the　discussion，
coincided　in　opinion　with　the　judge。　At　this　Werther　became　enraged　，
and　took　his　leave　in　great　anger　，　after　the　judge　had　more　than　once
assured　him　that　the　prisoner　could　not　be　saved。

　　The　excess　of　his　grief　at　this　assurance　may　be　inferred　from　a　note
we　have　found　amongst　his　papers，　and　which　was　doubtless　written　upon
this　very　occasion。

　　〃You　cannot　be　saved，　unfortunate　man！　I　see　clearly　that　we　cannot
be　saved！〃

　　Werther　was　highly　incensed　at　the　observations　which　Albert　had　made
to　the　judge　in　this　matter　of　the　prisoner。　He　thought　he　could　detect
therein　a　little　bitterness　toward　himself　personally　；　and　although　，
upon　reflection　，　it　could　not　escape　his　sound　judgment　that　their　view
of　the　matter　was　correct　，　he　felt　the　greatest　possible　reluctance
to　make　such　an　admission。

　　A　memorandum　of　Werther's　upon　this　point　，　expressive　of　his　general
feelings　toward　Albert，　has　been　found　amongst　his　papers。

　　〃What　is　the　use　of　my　continually　repeating　that　he　is　a　good　and
estimable　man　？　He　is　an　inward　torment　to　me，　and　I　am　incapable　of
being　just　toward　him。〃

　　One　fine　evening　in　winter，　when　the　weather　seemed　inclined　to　thaw，
Charlotte　and　Albert　were　returning　home　together。　The　former　looked　from
time　to　time　about　her，　as　if　she　missed　Werther's　pany。　Albert　began
to　speak　of　him　，　and　censured　him　for　his　prejudices。　He　alluded　to
his　unfortunate　attachment，　and　wished　it　were　possible　to　discontinue
his　acquaintance。　〃I　desire　it　on　our　own　account　，〃　he　added；　〃and
I　request　you　will　pel　him　to　alter　his　deportment　toward　you，　and
to　visit　you　less　frequently。　The　world　is　censorious　，　and　I　know　that
here　and　there　we　are　spoken　of。〃　Charlotte　made　no　reply　，　and　Albert
seemed　to　feel　her　silence。　At　least，　from　that　time　he　never　again　spoke
of　Werther；　and，　when　she　introduced　the　subject，　he　allowed　the　conversation
to　die　away　，　or　else　he　directed　the　discourse　into　another　channel。

　　The　vain　attempt　Werther　had　made　to　save　the　unhappy　murderer　was
the　last　feeble　glimmering　of　a　flame　about　to　be　extinguished。　He　sank
almost　immediately　afterward　into　a　state　of　gloom　and　inactivity　，　until
he　was　at　length　brought　to　perfect　distraction　by　learning　that　he　was
to　be　summoned　as　a　witness　against　the　prisoner，　who　asserted　his　plete
innocence。

　　His　mind　now　became　oppressed　by　the　recollection　of　every　misfortune
of　his　past　life。　The　mortification　he　had　suffered　at　the　ambassador's，
and　his　subsequent　troubles　，　were　revived　in　his　memory。　He　became　utterly
inactive。　Destitute　of　energy　，　he　was　cut　off　from　every　pursuit　and
occupation　which　pose　the　business　of　mon　life；　and　he　became　a
victim　to　his　own　susceptibility，　and　to　his　restless　passion　for　the
most　amiable　and　beloved　of　women　，　whose　peace　he　destroyed。　In　this
unvarying　monotony　of　existence　his　days　were　consumed；　and　his　powers
became　exhausted　without　aim　or　design，　until　they　brought　him　to　a　sorrowful
end。

　　A　few　letters　which　he　left　behind，　and　which　we　here　subjoin，　afford
the　best　proofs　of　his　anxiety　of　mind　and　of　the　depth　of　his　passion，
as　well　as　of　his　doubts　and　struggles，　and　of　his　weariness　of　life。

　　DECEMBER　12。　Dear　Wilhelm　，　I　am　reduced　to　the　condition　of　those
unfortunate　wretches　who　believe　they　are　pursued　by　an　evil　spirit。　Sometimes
I　am　oppressed，　not　by　apprehension　or　fear，　but　by　an　inexpressible
internal　sensation，　which　weighs　upon　my　heart　，　and　impedes　my　breath！
Then　I　wander　forth　at　night，　even　in　this　tempestuous　season，　and　feel
pleasure　in　surveying　the　dreadful　scenes　around　me。

　　Yesterday　evening　I　went　forth。　A　rapid　thaw　had　suddenly　set　in：
I　had　been　informed　that　the　river　had　risen，　that　the　brooks　had　all
overflowed　their　banks，　and　that　the　whole　vale　of　Walheim　was　under
water　！　Upon　the　stroke　of　twelve　I　hastened　forth。　I　beheld　a　fearful
sight。　The　foaming　torrents　rolled　from　the　mountains　in　the　moonlight，
——　fields　and　meadows　，　trees　and　hedges　，　were　confounded　together
；　and　the　entire　valley　was　converted　into　a　deep　lake　，　which　was　agitated
by　the　roaring　wind　！　And　when　the　moon　shone　forth，　and　tinged　the
black　clouds　with　silver，　and　the　impetuous　torrent　at　my　feet　foamed
and　resounded　with　awful　and　grand　impetuosity，　I　was　overe　by　a　mingled
sensation　of　apprehension　and　delight。　With　extended　arms　I　looked　down
into　the　yawning　abyss，　and　cried，　〃Plunge！'〃　For　a　moment　my　senses
forsook　me，　in　the　intense　delight　of　ending　my　sorrows　and　my　sufferings
by　a　plunge　into　that　gulf！　And　then　I　felt　as　if　I　were　rooted　to　the
earth　，　and　incapable　of　seeking　an　end　to　my　woes　！　But　my　hour　is
not　yet　e：　I　feel　it　is　not。　O　Wilhelm，　how　willingly　could　I　abandon
my　existence　to　ride　the　whirlwind，　or　to　embrace　the　torrent！　and　then
might　not　rapture　perchance　be　the　portion　of　this　liberated　soul　？

　　I　turned　my　sorrowful　eyes　toward　a　favourite　spot，　where　I　was　accustomed
to　sit　with　Charlotte　beneath　a　willow　after　a　fatiguing　walk。　Alas　！
it　was　covered　with　water　，　and　with　difficulty　I　found　even　the　meadow。
And　the　fields　around　the　hunting…lodge　，　thought　I。　Has　our　dear　bower
been　destroyed　by　this　unpitying　storm？　And　a　beam　of　past　happiness
streamed　upon　me，　as　the　mind　of　a　captive　is　illumined　by　dreams　of
flocks　and　herds　and　bygone　joys　of　home！　But　I　am　free　from　blame。　I
have　courage　to　die　！　Perhaps　I　have　，——　but　I　still　sit　here　，　like
a　wretched　pauper　，　who　collects　fagots，　and　begs　her　bread　from　door
to　door　，　that　she　may　prolong　for　a　few　days　a　miserable　existence　which
she　is　unwilling　to　resign。

　　DECEMBER　15。　What　is　the　matter　with　me　，　dear　Wilhelm　？　I　am　afraid
o