the sorrows of young werther-第6部分

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nd　he　was　of　that　tree；　and　it　is　fully　as　dear　to　me。　　Under　the　shade　of　that　very　tree；　upon　a　log　of　wood；　my　wife　was　seated　knitting；　when　I；　a　poor　student；　came　into　this　court　for　the　first　time；　just　seven　and　twenty　years　ago。〃　Charlotte　inquired　for　his　daughter。　　He　said　she　was　gone　with　Herr　Schmidt　to　the　meadows；　and　was　with　the　haymakers。　　The　old　man　then　resumed　his　story；　and　told　us　how　his　predecessor　had　taken　a　fancy　to　him；　as　had　his　daughter　likewise；　and　how　he　had　become　first　his　curate；　and　subsequently　his　successor。　　He　had　scarcely　finished　his　story　when　his　daughter　returned　through　the　garden；　accompanied　by　the　above…mentioned　Herr　Schmidt。　　She　welcomed　Charlotte　affectionately；　and　I　confess　I　was　much　taken　with　her　appearance。　　She　was　a　lively…looking；　good…humoured　brunette；　quite　competent　to　amuse　one　for　a　short　time　in　the　country。　　Her　lover　（for　such　Herr　Schmidt　evidently　appeared　to　be）　was　a　polite；　reserved　personage；　and　would　not　join　our　conversation；　notwithstanding　all　Charlotte's　endeavours　to　draw　him　out。　　I　was　much　annoyed　at　observing；　by　his　countenance；　that　his　silence　did　not　arise　from　want　of　talent；　but　from　caprice　and　ill…humour。　　This　subsequently　became　very　evident；　when　we　set　out　to　take　a　walk；　and　Frederica　joining　Charlotte；　with　whom　I　was　talking；　the　worthy　gentleman's　face；　which　was　naturally　rather　sombre；　became　so　dark　and　angry　that　Charlotte　was　obliged　to　touch　my　arm；　and　remind　me　that　I　was　talking　too　much　to　Frederica。　　Nothing　distresses　me　more　than　to　see　men　torment　each　other；　particularly　when　in　the　flower　of　their　age；　in　the　very　season　of　pleasure；　they　waste　their　few　short　days　of　sunshine　in　quarrels　and　disputes；　and　only　perceive　their　error　when　it　is　too　late　to　repair　it。　　This　thought　dwelt　upon　my　mind；　and　in　the　evening；　when　we　returned　to　the　vicar's；　and　were　sitting　round　the　table　with　our　bread　end　milk；　the　conversation　turned　on　the　joys　and　sorrows　of　the　world；　I　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　inveigh　bitterly　against　ill…humour。　　〃We　are　apt；〃　said　I；　〃to　complain；　but　…　with　very　little　cause；　that　our　happy　days　are　few；　and　our　evil　days　many。　　If　our　hearts　were　always　disposed　to　receive　the　benefits　Heaven　sends　us；　we　should　acquire　strength　to　support　evil　when　it　comes。〃　〃But；〃　observed　the　vicar's　wife；　〃we　cannot　always　command　our　tempers；　so　much　depends　upon　the　constitution：　when　the　body　suffers；　the　mind　is　ill　at　ease。〃　〃I　acknowledge　that；〃　I　continued；　〃but　we　must　consider　such　a　disposition　in　the　light　of　a　disease；　and　inquire　whether　there　is　no　remedy　for　it。〃　　　〃I　should　be　glad　to　hear　one；〃　said　Charlotte：　〃at　least；　I　think　very　much　depends　upon　ourselves；　I　know　it　is　so　with　me。　When　anything　annoys　me；　and　disturbs　my　temper；　I　hasten　into　the　garden；　hum　a　couple　of　country　dances；　and　it　is　all　right　with　me　directly。〃　　〃That　is　what　I　meant；〃　I　replied；　〃ill…humour　resembles　indolence：　it　is　natural　to　us；　but　if　once　we　have　courage　to　exert　ourselves；　we　find　our　work　run　fresh　from　our　hands；　and　we　experience　in　the　activity　from　which　we　shrank　a　real　enjoyment。〃　　Frederica　listened　very　attentively：　and　the　young　man　objected；　that　we　were　not　masters　of　ourselves；　and　still　less　so　of　our　feelings。　　〃The　question　is　about　a　disagreeable　feeling；〃　I　added；　〃from　which　every　one　would　willingly　escape；　but　none　know　their　own　power　without　trial。　　Invalids　are　glad　to　consult　physicians；　and　submit　to　the　most　scrupulous　regimen；　the　most　nauseous　medicines；　in　order　to　recover　their　health。〃　I　observed　that　the　good　old　man　inclined　his　head；　and　exerted　himself　to　hear　our　discourse；　so　I　raised　my　voice；　and　addressed　myself　directly　to　him。　　We　preach　against　a　great　many　crimes；〃　I　observed；　〃but　I　never　remember　a　sermon　delivered　against　ill…humour。〃　　〃That　may　do　very　well　for　your　town　clergymen；〃　said　he：　〃country　people　are　never　ill…humoured；　though；　indeed；　it　might　be　useful；　occasionally；　to　my　wife　for　instance；　and　the　judge。〃　　We　all　laughed；　as　did　he　likewise　very　cordially；　till　he　fell　into　a　fit　of　coughing；　which　interrupted　our　conversation　for　a　time。　　Herr　Schmidt　resumed　the　subject。　　〃You　call　ill　humour　a　crime；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　I　think　you　use　too　strong　a　term。〃　　〃Not　at　all；〃　I　replied；　〃if　that　deserves　the　name　which　is　so　pernicious　to　ourselves　and　our　neighbours。　　Is　it　not　enough　that　we　want　the　power　to　make　one　another　happy；　must　we　deprive　each　other　of　the　pleasure　which　we　can　all　make　for　ourselves？　Show　me　the　man　who　has　the　courage　to　hide　his　ill…humour；　who　bears　the　whole　burden　himself；　without　disturbing　the　peace　of　those　around　him。　　No：　ill…humour　arises　from　an　inward　consciousness　of　our　own　want　of　merit；　from　a　discontent　which　ever　accompanies　that　envy　which　foolish　vanity　engenders。　　We　see　people　happy；　whom　we　have　not　made　so；　and　cannot　endure　the　sight。〃　　Charlotte　looked　at　me　with　a　smile；　she　observed　the　emotion　with　which　I　spoke：　and　a　tear　in　the　eyes　of　Frederica　stimulated　me　to　proceed。　〃Woe　unto　those；〃　I　said；　〃who　use　their　power　over　a　human　heart　to　destroy　the　simple　pleasures　it　would　naturally　enjoy！　　All　the　favours；　all　the　attentions；　in　the　world　cannot　compensate　for　the　loss　of　that　happiness　which　a　cruel　tyranny　has　destroyed。〃　My　heart　was　full　as　I　spoke。　　A　recollection　of　many　things　which　had　happened　pressed　upon　my　mind；　and　filled　my　eyes　with　tears。　〃We　should　daily　repeat　to　ourselves；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃that　we　should　not　interfere　with　our　friends；　unless　to　leave　them　in　possession　of　their　own　joys；　and　increase　their　happiness　by　sharing　it　with　them！　　But　when　their　souls　are　tormented　by　a　violent　passion；　or　their　hearts　rent　with　grief；　is　it　in　your　power　to　afford　them　the　slightest　consolation？

〃And　when　the　last　fatal　malady　seizes　the　being　whose　untimely　grave　you　have　prepared；　when　she　lies　languid　and　exhausted　before　you；　her　dim　eyes　raised　to　heaven；　and　the　damp　of　death　upon　her　pallid　brow；　there　you　stand　at　her　bedside　like　a　condemned　criminal；　with　the　bitter　feeling　that　your　whole　fortune　could　not　save　her；　and　the　agonising　thought　wrings　you；　that　all　your　efforts　are　powerless　to　impart　even　a　moment's　strength　to　the　departing　soul；　or　quicken　her　with　a　transitory　consolation。〃

At　these　words　the　remembrance　of　a　similar　scene　at　which　I　had　been　once　present　fell　with　full　force　upon　my　heart。　I　buried　my　face　in　my　handkerchief；　and　hastened　from　the　room；　and　was　only　recalled　to　my　recollection　by　Charlotte's　voice；　who　reminded　me　that　it　was　time　to　return　home。　　With　what　tenderness　she　chid　me　on　the　way　for　the　too　eager　interest　I　took　in　everything！　She　declared　it　would　do　me　injury；　and　that　I　ought　to　spare　myself。　　Yes；　my　angel！　　I　will　do　so　for　your　sake。

JULY　6。

She　is　still　with　her　dying　friend；　and　is　still　the　same　bright；　beautiful　creature　whose　presence　softens　pain；　and　sheds　happiness　around　whichever　way　she　turns。　　She　went　out　yesterday　with　her　little　sisters：　I　knew　it；　and　went　to　meet　them；　and　we　walked　together。　　In　about　an　hour　and　a　half　we　returned　to　the　town。　We　stopped　at　the　spring　I　am　so　fond　of；　and　which　is　now　a　thousand　times　dearer　to　me　than　ever。　　Charlotte　seated　herself　upon　the　low　wall；　and　we　gathered　about　her。　　I　looked　around；　and　recalled　the　time　when　my　heart　was　unoccupied　and　free。　〃Dear　fountain！〃　I　said；　〃since　that　time　I　have　no　more　come　to　enjoy　cool　repose　by　thy　fresh　stream：　I　have　passed　thee　with　careless　steps；　and　scarcely　bestowed　a　glance　upon　thee。〃　　I　looked　down；　and　observed　Charlotte's　little　sister；　Jane；　coming　up　the　steps　with　a　glass　of　water。　　I　turned　toward　Charlotte；　and　I　felt　her　influence　over　me。　　Jane　at　the　moment　approached　with　the　glass。　　Her　sister；　Marianne；　wished　to　take　it　from　her。　〃No！〃　cried　the　child；　with　the　sweetest　expression　of　face；　〃Charlotte　must　drink　first。〃

The　affection　and　simplicity　with　which　this　was　uttered　so　charmed　me；　that　I　sought　to　express　my　feelings　by　catching　up　the　child　and　kissing　her　heartily。　　She　was　frightened；　and　began　to　cry。　〃You　should　not　do　that；〃　said　Charlotte：　I　felt　perplexed。　　〃Come；　Jane；〃　she　continued；　taking　her　hand；　and　leading　her　down　the　steps　again；　〃it　is　no　matter：　wash　yourself　quickly　in　the　fresh　water。〃　　I　stood　and　watched　them；　and　when　I　saw　the　little　dear　rubbing　her　cheeks　with　her　wet　hands；　in　full　belief　that　all　the　impurities　contracted　from　my　ugly　beard　would　be　washed　off　by　the　miraculous　water；　and　how；　though　Charlotte　said　it　would　do；　she　continued　still　to　wash　with　all　her　might；　as　though　she　thought　too　much　were　better　than　too　little；　I　assure　you；　Wilhelm；　I　never　attended　a　baptism　with　greater　reverence；　and；　when　Charlotte　came　up　from　the　well；　I　could　have　prostrated　myself　as　before　the　prophet　of　an　Eastern　nation。

In　the　evening　I　would　not　resist　telling　the　story　to　a　person　who；　I　thought；　possessed　some　natural　feeling；　because　he　was　a　man　of　understanding。　　But　what　a　mistake　I　made。　　He　maintained　it　was　very　wrong　of　Charlotte；　that　we　should　not　deceive　children；　that　such　things　occasioned　countless　mistakes　and　superstitions；　from　which　we　were　bound　to　protect　the　young。　　It　occurred　to　me　then；　that　this　very　man　had　been　baptised　only　a　week　before；　so　I　said　nothing　further；　but　maintained　the　justice　of　my　own　convictions。　　We　should　deal　with　children　as　God　deals　with　us；　we　are　happiest　under　the　influence　of　innocent　delusions。

JULY　8。

What　a　child　is　man　that　he　should　be　so　solicitous　about　a　look！　What　a　child　is　man！　　We　had　been　to　Walheim：　the　ladies　went　in　a　carriage；　but　during　our　walk　I　thought　I　saw　in　Charlotte's　dark　eyes　　I　am　a　fool　　but　forgive　me！　you　should　see　them；　　those　eyes。　　However；　to　be　brief　（for　my　own　eyes　are　weighed　down　with　sleep）；　you　must　know；　when　the　ladies　stepped　into　their　carriage　again；　young　W。　Seldstadt；　Andran；　and　I　were　standing　about　the　door。　　They　are　a　merry　set　of　fellows；　and　they　were　all　laughing　and　joking　together。　　I　watched　Charlotte's　eyes。　They　wandered　from　one　to　the　other；　but　they　did　not　light　on　me；　on　me；　who