★让拿破仑爱不释手的小说 ★德语书信体小说的开山之作 ★德国文学史上划时代的杰作 ★问世以来畅销全球,引发“维特热” ★买中文版送英文版 本书简介: 《少年维特的烦恼》是用日记和书信体写成的。维特来到一个小城,在一次舞会上,结识了一个名叫绿蒂的少女。他爱上了绿蒂。但绿蒂已与他人订婚。维特看出已不能赢得绿蒂,毅然离去,接受了充任公使秘书的职务。公使的迂腐鄙陋和官僚恶习以及尔虞我诈的人际关系给维特带来了莫大的痛苦,他便辞去这项公职,应邀前往一位侯爵的庄园。然而在侯爵那里,维特发现自己的才能照旧无法施展。爱情破灭了,社会抛弃了维特,而维特也厌弃了一切。最后,在绝望中维特自杀。这部小说一出版就使年轻一代如痴如狂,有的与维特遭遇相仿的人甚至轻生而死。 作者简介: : 约翰·沃尔夫冈·冯·歌德(1749—1832),德国著名思想家、作家、博物学家。他十分博学,涉猎广泛,在诸多领域都取得了卓越的成就。他最著名的作品是书信体小说《少年维特的烦恼》、诗体哲理悲剧《浮士德》。 译者简介: 杨武能,重庆人,著名翻译家,曾师从冯至,主修歌德研究。已出版《浮士德》、《少年维特的烦恼》、《格林童话全集》等经典译著三十余种,编著的《歌德文集》、《海涅文集》等十余种译作影响深远。 它(《少年维特的烦恼》)是欧洲文学的杰作之一。 ——拿破仑·波拿巴 这篇描写炽热而不幸的爱情的故事(《少年维特的烦恼》),其重要意义在于,它表现的不仅是一个人孤立的感情和痛苦,而是整个时代的感情、憧憬和痛苦。 ——〔丹麦〕勃兰兑斯 关于可怜的维特的故事,凡是我能找到的,我都努力搜集起来,呈献在诸位面前了;我知道,诸位是会感谢我的。对于他的精神和品格,诸位定将产生钦慕与爱怜;对于他的命运,诸位都不免一洒自己的同情泪。 而你,正感受着与他同样烦恼的善良人呵,就从他的痛苦中汲取安慰,并让这本薄薄的小书做你的朋友吧,要是你由于命运的不济或自身的过错,已不可能有更知己的人的话。 第一编 一七七一年五月四日我多高兴啊,我终于走了!好朋友,人心真不知是个什么东西!我离开了你,离开了自己相爱相亲、朝夕不舍的人,竟然会感到高兴!我知道你会原谅我。命运偏偏让我结识了另外几个人,不正是为了来扰乱我这颗心么?可怜的蕾奥诺莱!但我是没有错的。她妹妹的非凡魅力令我赏心悦目,却使她可怜的心中产生了痛苦,这难道怪得着我?然而——我就真的完全没有错吗?难道我不曾助长她的感情?难道当她自自然然地流露真情时,我不曾沾沾自喜,并和大家一起拿这原本不可笑的事情来取笑她么?难道我?……唉,这人啊真是一种惯会自怨自责的怪物!而我,亲爱的朋友,我向你保证,我一定改弦更张,绝不再像已往那样,总把命运加给我们的一点儿痛苦拿来反复咀嚼回味,而要乐享眼前,过去了的就让它过去。是的,好朋友,诚如你所说:人们要是不这么没完没了地运用想象力去唤起昔日痛苦的回忆——上帝才知道为什么把人造成这个样子——,而是多多考虑考虑如何挨过眼前的话,人间的痛苦本来就会少一些的。劳驾告诉我母亲,我将尽力料理好她那件事,并尽快回信给她。我已见过我姑妈了,发现她远非我们在家里所讲的那么个刁婆子,而是一位热心快肠的夫人。我向她转达了我母亲对于扣下一部分遗产未分的不满;她则对我说明了这样做的种种理由和原因,以及要在什么条件下,她才准备全部交出来,也就是说比我们要求的还多……简单讲,我现在还不想具体谈什么;请转告我母亲,一切都会好起来的。就在这件小小的事情上,好朋友,我再次发现误解与成见,往往会在世界上铸成比诡诈与恶意更多的过错。至少可以肯定,后两者要罕见一些。再就是我在此间非常愉快。这个乐园一般的地方,它的岑寂正好是医治我这颗心的灵丹妙药;还有眼前的大好春光,它的温暖已充满我这颗时常寒栗的心。每一株树,每一排篱笆上,都是繁花盛开;人真想变成一只金甲虫,到那馥郁的香海中去遨游,去尽情地吸露吮蜜。城市本身并不舒适,四郊的自然环境却说不出的美妙。也许这才打动了已故的M伯爵,把他的花园建在一座小丘上。类似的小丘在城外交错纵横,千姿百态,美不胜收,丘与丘之间还构成一道道幽静宜人的峡谷。花园布局单纯,一进门便可感觉出绘制蓝图的并非某位高明的园艺家,而是一颗渴望独享幽寂的敏感的心。对于这座废园的故主人,我在那间业已破败的小亭中洒下了不少追怀的眼泪;这小亭子是他生前最爱待的地方,如今也成了我流连忘返的所在。不久我便会成为这花园的主人;没几天工夫看园人已对我产生好感,再说我搬进去也亏待不了他。五月十日一种奇妙的欢愉充溢着我的整个灵魂,使它甜蜜得就像我专心一意地享受着的那些春晨。这地方好似专为与我有同样心境的人创造的;我在此独自享受生的乐趣。我真幸福啊,朋友,我完全沉湎在对宁静生活的感受中,结果我的艺术便荒废了。眼下我无法作画,哪怕一笔也不成;尽管如此,我现在却比任何时候都更配称一个伟大的画家。每当我周围的可爱峡谷霞气蒸腾,杲杲的太阳悬挂在林梢,将它的光芒这儿那儿地偷射进幽暗密林的圣地中来时,我便躺卧在飞泉侧畔的茂草里,紧贴地面观察那千百种小草,感觉到叶茎间有个扰攘的小小世界——这数不尽也说不清的形形色色的小虫子、小蛾子——离我的心更近了,于是我感受到按自身模样创造我们的全能上帝的存在,感受到将我们托付于永恒的欢乐海洋之中的博爱天父的嘘息,我的朋友!随后,每当我的视野变得朦胧,周围的世界和整个天空都像我爱人的形象似的安息在我心中时,我便常常产生一种急切的向往,啊,要是我能把它再现出来,把这如此丰富、如此温暖地活在我心中的形象,如神仙似的呵口气吹到纸上,使其成为我灵魂的镜子,正如我的灵魂是无所不在的上帝的镜子一样,这该有多好啊!——我的朋友!——然而我真去做时却会招致毁灭,我将在壮丽自然的威力底下命断魂销。 五月十二日不知是附近一带有愚弄人的精灵呢,还是我自己异想天开,竟觉得周围的一切都如乐园中一般美好。就在城外不远有一口井,我真像人鱼美露西娜和她的姊妹似的迷上了它。——下了一座小丘,来到一顶凉棚前,再走下二十步石阶,便可见大理石岩缝中涌出一泓清澈的泉水。那绕井而筑的矮墙,那浓荫匝地的大树,那井泉周围的清凉,这一切都有一股诱人的力量,令人怦然心悸。我没有一天不去那儿坐上个把小时。常有城里的姑娘们来打水,这是一种最平凡又最必要的工作,古时候连公主们也亲自做过的。每当我坐在那儿,古代宗法社会的情景便活现在我眼前,我仿佛看见老祖宗们全聚在井泉边,会友的会友,联姻的联姻;而在井泉四周的空中,却飞舞着无数善良的精灵。呵,谁若无此同感,谁就必定从不曾在夏日的长途跋涉后,把令人神怡气爽的清泉啜饮。 五月十三日你问需不需要寄书给我?——好朋友,我求你看在上帝分上,千万别再拿它们来烦扰我吧。我不愿意再被指导,被鼓舞,被激励;我这颗心本身已够不平静的了。我需要的是催眠曲;而我的荷马,就是一首很长很长的催眠曲。为了使自己沸腾的血液冷静下来,我常常轻轻哼这支曲子;要知道你还不曾见过任何东西,像我这颗心似的反复无常,变化莫测哟,我的爱友!关于这点我对你毋须解释;你不是已无数次地见过我从忧郁一变而为喜悦,从感伤一变而为兴奋,因而担惊受怕过么?我自己也把我这颗心当作一个生病的孩子,对他有求必应。别把这话讲出去,传开了有人会骂我的。 五月十五日本地的老乡们已经认识我,喜欢我,特别是那班孩子们。起初,我去接近他们,友好地向他们问这问那,他们中有几个还当我是拿他们开心,便想粗暴地打发走我。我并不气恼;相反只对一个我已多次发现的情况,有了切身的体会:就是某些稍有地位的人,总对老百姓采取冷淡疏远的态度,似乎一接近就会失去什么来着;同时又有一些轻薄仔和捣蛋鬼,跑来装出一副纡尊降贵的模样,骨子里却想叫穷百姓更好地尝尝他们那傲慢的滋味。我清楚地知道,我与他们不是一样的人,也不可能是一样的人;但是,我认为谁如果觉得自己有必要疏远所谓下等人以保持尊严,那他就跟一个因为怕失败而躲避敌人的懦夫一样可耻。最近我去井边,碰到一个年轻使女,见她把自己的水瓮搁在最低的一级台阶上,正在那儿东瞅瞅,西望望,等着同伴来帮助她把水瓮顶到头上去。我走下台阶,望着她。“要我帮助你吗,姑娘?”我问。她顿时满脸通红。“噢不,先生!”她道。“别客气!”她放正头上的垫环,我便帮她顶好水瓮。她道过谢,登上台阶走了。PREFACEIhavecarefullycollectedwhateverIhavebeenabletolearnofthestoryofpoorWerther,andherepresentittoyou,knowingthatyouwillthankmeforit.Tohisspiritandcharacteryoucannotrefuseyouradmirationandlove:tohisfateyouwillnotdenyyourtears. Andthou,goodsoul,whosufferestthesamedistressasheendured once,drawcomfortfromhissorrows;andletthislittlebookbethyfriend,if,owingtofortuneorthroughthineownfault,thoucanstnotfindadearercompanion.BOOKIMAY4,1771HowhappyIamthatIamgone!Mydearfriend,whatathingistheheartofman!Toleaveyou,fromwhomIhavebeeninseparable,whomIlovesodearly,andyettofeelhappy!Iknowyouwillforgiveme.Havenototherattachmentsbeenspeciallyappointedbyfatetotormentaheadlikemine?PoorLeonora!andyetIwasnottoblame.Wasitmyfault,that,whilstthepeculiarcharmsofhersisteraffordedmeanagreeableentertainment,apassionformewasengenderedinherfeebleheart?AndyetamIwhollyblameless?DidInotencourageheremotions?DidInotfeelcharmedatthosetrulygenuineexpressionsofnature,which,thoughbutlittlemirthfulinreality,sooftenamusedus?DidInot—butoh!whatisman,thathedaressotoaccusehimself?MydearfriendIpromiseyouIwillimprove;Iwillnolonger,ashaseverbeenmyhabit,continuetoruminateoneverypettyvexationwhichfortunemaydispense;Iwillenjoythepresent,andthepastshallbeformethepast.Nodoubtyouareright,mybestoffriends,therewouldbefarlesssufferingamongstmankind,ifmen—andGodknowswhytheyaresofashioned—didnotemploytheirimaginationssoassiduouslyinrecallingthememoryofpastsorrow,insteadofbearingtheirpresentlotwithequanimity.BekindenoughtoinformmymotherthatIshallattendtoherbusinesstothebestofmyability,andshallgivehertheearliestinformationaboutit.Ihaveseenmyaunt,andfindthatsheisveryfarfrombeingthedisagreeablepersonourfriendsallegehertobe.Sheisalively,cheerfulwoman,withthebestofhearts.Iexplainedtohermymother’swrongswithregardtothatpartofherportionwhichhasbeenwithheldfromher.Shetoldmethemotivesandreasonsofherownconduct,andthetermsonwhichsheiswillingtogiveupthewhole,andtodomorethanwehaveasked.Inshort,Icannotwritefurtheruponthissubjectatpresent;onlyassuremymotherthatallwillgoonwell.AndIhaveagainobserved,mydearfriend,inthistriflingaffair,thatmisunderstandingsandneglectoccasionmoremischiefintheworldthanevenmaliceandwickedness.Atallevents,thetwolatterareoflessfrequentoccurrence.InotherrespectsIamverywelloffhere.Solitudeinthisterrestrialparadiseisagenialbalmtomymind,andtheyoungspringcheerswithitsbounteouspromisesmyoftentimesmisgivingheart.Everytree,everybush,isfullofflowers;andonemightwishhimselftransformedintoabutterfly,tofloataboutinthisoceanofperfume,andfindhiswholeexistenceinit.Thetownitselfisdisagreeable;butthen,allaround,youfindaninexpressiblebeautyofnature.ThisinducedthelateCountMtolayoutagardenononeoftheslopinghillswhichhereintersecteachotherwiththemostcharmingvariety,andformthemostlovelyvalleys.Thegardenissimple;anditiseasytoperceive,evenuponyourfirstentrance,thattheplanwasnotdesignedbyascientificgardener,butbyamanwhowishedtogivehimselfupheretotheenjoymentofhisownsensitiveheart.ManyatearhaveIalreadyshedtothememoryofitsdepartedmasterinasummer-housewhichisnowreducedtoruins,butwashisfavouriteresort,andnowismine.Ishallsoonbemasteroftheplace.Thegardenerhasbecomeattachedtomewithinthelastfewdays,andhewilllosenothingthereby. MAY10.Awonderfulserenityhastakenpossessionofmyentiresoul,likethesesweetmorningsofspringwhichIenjoywithmywholeheart.Iamalone,andfeelthecharmofexistenceinthisspot,whichwascreatedfortheblissofsoulslikemine.Iamsohappy,mydearfriend,soabsorbedintheexquisitesenseofmeretranquilexistence,thatIneglectmytalents.Ishouldbeincapableofdrawingasinglestrokeatthepresentmoment;andyetIfeelthatIneverwasagreaterartistthannow.When,whilethelovelyvalleyteemswithvapouraroundme,andthemeridiansunstrikestheuppersurfaceoftheimpenetrablefoliageofmytrees,andbutafewstraygleamsstealintotheinnersanctuary,Ithrowmyselfdownamongthetallgrassbythetricklingstream;and,asIlieclosetotheearth,athousandunknownplantsarenoticedbyme:whenIhearthebuzzofthelittleworldamongthestalks,andgrowfamiliarwiththecountlessindescribableformsoftheinsectsandflies,thenIfeelthepresenceoftheAlmighty,whoformedusinhisownimage,andthebreathofthatuniversallovewhichbearsandsustainsus,asitfloatsaroundusinaneternityofbliss;andthen,myfriend,whendarknessoverspreadsmyeyes,andheavenandearthseemtodwellinmysoulandabsorbitspower,liketheformofabelovedmistress,thenIoftenthinkwithlonging,oh,wouldIcoulddescribetheseconceptions,couldimpressuponpaperallthatislivingsofullandwarmwithinme,thatitmightbethemirrorofmysoul,asmysoulisthemirroroftheinfiniteGod!Omyfriend—butitistoomuchformystrength—Isinkundertheweightofthesplendourofthesevisions! MAY12.Iknownotwhethersomedeceitfulspiritshauntthisspot,orwhetheritbethewarm,celestialfancyinmyownheartwhichmakeseverythingaroundmeseemlikeparadise.Infrontofthehouseisafountain,—afountaintowhichIamboundbyacharmlikeMelusinaandhersisters.Descendingagentleslope,youcometoanarch,where,sometwentystepslowerdown,wateroftheclearestcrystalgushesfromthemarblerock.Thenarrowwallwhichenclosesitabove,thetalltreeswhichencirclethespot,andthecoolnessoftheplaceitself,—everythingimpartsapleasantbutsublimeimpression.NotadaypassesonwhichIdonotspendanhourthere.Theyoungmaidenscomefromthetowntofetchwater,—innocentandnecessaryemployment,andformerlytheoccupationofthedaughtersofkings.AsItakemyrestthere,theideaoftheoldpatriarchallifeisawakenedaroundme.Iseethem,ouroldancestors,howtheyformedtheirfriendshipsandcontractedalliancesatthefountain-side;andIfeelhowfountainsandstreamswereguardedbybeneficentspirits.Hewhoisastrangertothesesensationshasneverreallyenjoyedcoolreposeatthesideofafountainafterthefatigueofawearysummerday. MAY13.Youaskifyoushallsendmebooks.Mydearfriend,Ibeseechyou,fortheloveofGod,relievemefromsuchayoke!Ineednomoretobeguided,agitated,heated.Myheartfermentssufficientlyofitself.Iwantstrainstolullme,andIfindthemtoperfectioninmyHomer.OftendoIstrivetoallaytheburningfeverofmyblood;andyouhaveneverwitnessedanythingsounsteady,souncertain,asmyheart.ButneedIconfessthistoyou,mydearfriend,whohavesooftenenduredtheanguishofwitnessingmysuddentransitionsfromsorrowtoimmoderatejoy,andfromsweetmelancholytoviolentpassions?Itreatmypoorheartlikeasickchild,andgratifyitseveryfancy.Donotmentionthisagain:therearepeoplewhowouldcensuremeforit.MAY15.Thecommonpeopleoftheplaceknowmealready,andloveme,particularlythechildren.WhenatfirstIassociatedwiththem,andinquiredinafriendlytoneabouttheirvarioustrifles,somefanciedthatIwishedtoridiculethem,andturnedfrommeinexceedingill-humour.Ididnotallowthatcircumstancetogrieveme:IonlyfeltmostkeenlywhatIhaveoftenbeforeobserved.Personswhocanclaimacertainrankkeepthemselvescoldlyalooffromthecommonpeople,asthoughtheyfearedtolosetheirimportancebythecontact;whilstwantonidlers,andsuchasarepronetobadjoking,affecttodescendtotheirlevel,onlytomakethepoorpeoplefeeltheirimpertinenceallthemorekeenly.Iknowverywellthatwearenotallequal,norcanbeso;butitismyopinionthathewhoavoidsthecommonpeople,inordernottolosetheirrespect,isasmuchtoblameasacowardwhohideshimselffromhisenemybecausehefearsdefeat.TheotherdayIwenttothefountain,andfoundayoungservant-girl,whohadsetherpitcherontheloweststep,andlookedaroundtoseeifoneofhercompanionswasapproachingtoplaceitonherhead.Irandown,andlookedather.“ShallIhelpyou,prettylass?”saidI.Sheblusheddeeply.“Oh,sir!”sheexclaimed.“Noceremony!”Ireplied.Sheadjustedherhead-gear,andIhelpedher.Shethankedme,andascendedthesteps.
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